Issue 20 – July 2021

The Prime Minister has outlined his final plans on easing lockdown in advance of next week’s formal announcement as to whether lockdown lifting will go ahead on 19 July. We will quickly assess the impact on our service and let staff and user groups know what changes we will be making to reflect the announcement. Please watch for our email update.

We appreciate the last 15 months have not been easy and has had a massive impact on a large number of groups who have not been able to meet face-to-face. In the last month we have received positive enquiries from Forget-me-Nots, Jujitsu and Remark Deaf Lunch Club who have all been unable to meet. Several groups have told us they intend to return in September.

If your group has not yet let us know of your plans to return, we hope next week’s announcement will enable you to make us aware when you expect to return. We have the bookings diary open waiting to hear from you, and the monthly £5 reduction in the £60 affiliation fee still applies until September. As ever, you can email us at admin@stmarys-eltham.co.uk or ring us on 020 850 2040.

There is good news about our application for a Greenwich Neighbourhood Growth Fund (GNGF) grant to install WiFi in all our buildings. Thank you to all those who voted! We understand the grant funding has been agreed but have not received official notification from Royal Greenwich council. Once we have this we will be able to plan for the installation work. Having WiFi in our buildings will benefit all our groups and will also be a positive selling point in attracting new business to St Mary’s.

We have also been successful in obtaining a GNGF grant to refurbish the toilets at Progress Hall and Lionel Road. This is good news for those groups who meet at these venues. We are in discussion with a contractor about carrying out the works.

Controlled Parking Zone affecting Progress Hall

A proposed Control Parking Zone (CPZ) has been proposed for the roads surrounding Progress Hall. This is bad news for staff and users and would stop them from getting to and from the hall (as they need to use their cars) unless they pay for a permit. This is not going to help if group leaders decide they cannot afford it possibly leading to groups folding. We are still in the grips of a pandemic and business has dropped off. St Mary’s has lodged an objection to the proposal. If others feel the CPZ will have a detrimental effect on their use of Progress Hall, the consultation period runs until 14 July to lodge an objection.

Specialist debt advice

A new specialist debt advice centre has recently been established at The Forum in Greenwich Community Centre. James Kirkham is the Advice Manager for ‘Debt Free London’, This is a very welcome service which helps to augment access to advice services for vulnerable residents in the borough. As a new service, there is currently a lot of capacity for referrals. A team of advisors are available for face-to-face and telephone advice on Monday to Friday between 10am and 5pm Appointments can be booked by email, phone or in person.

James can be reached at James.kirkham@debtfree.london or 07939 590206. Alternatively visit the Debt Free London website at https://debtfree.london/find-advice-centre/debtfree-london-greenwich or call 0800 808 5700.

St Mary’s departures

Deo Singh has resigned from the St Mary’s Board of Trustees on health grounds.

Deo had been on the Board since November 2010. Over the years he had been of great help to St Mary’s. The Board will miss his legal knowledge, valid views and experience as a local resident.

We wish him all the very best for the future.

Jenny Benavente has also left the St Mary’s team. Jenny had been with us for five and a half years and left after finding another job closer to where she had moved to be with her Mum.

We wish her all the best in her new job and the move to be with her Mum.

We marked both departures with gift tokens.

Staying connected

If you have any news for the August 2021 newsletter please email admin@stmaryseltham.co.uk by Friday 6
August 2021.

It’s important to carry on washing or sanitising your hands, wearing a face mask, keeping our distance and meeting in fresh air where possible – even after having two doses of the vaccine.