March 2023
Dear neighbours,
We hope you are well and enjoying the sunshine.
Project update: Food Justice
The number of people coming to the Newington Green Food Hub is growing weekly. Your support has meant that as of this week we are now supporting 140 local families (5 more than we designed the poster below).
Even with a number of other grants we are struggling to keep up. For Easter we’re taking donations of non-perishable items and Easter eggs for kids.
You can donate here or drop a donation on Tuesday (tomorrow). A reminder that every penny we raise goes directly towards food and hygiene products.
Project Update: Events
Jazz on the Green 2023
Thanks very much for the volunteers who have come forward to help with organising Jazz on the Green 2023. We’re thrilled that it can go ahead. The provisional date is Saturday July 1st.
Please email jazz@newingtongreen.org if:
you or your business would like to sponsor the event or to have a retail stall
or
you have ideas of musicians/acts we should hire.
We will be reaching out to local food businesses very soon. The trustees have agreed to prioritise businesses that have opened since the last year, those that are owned by people of colour and those that are slightly away from the Green and therefore less able to benefit from the extra footfall the festival brings.
Other news
Charity Trustees Wanted!
The Wollstonecraft Society is looking for trustees.
WS was established in 2019 with the goal of carrying Mary Wollstonecraft's legacy of human rights, equality and justice into young people's lives. They are a national charity working in schools across the country and have a particular focus on the most deprived areas.
WS is a charity without staff so like NGAG everything that needs doing is done by the trustees and volunteers. They recognise that this could be a challenge for new trustees and are keen to have chats about the level of time and energy people are able to commit. They would particularly welcome interest from people from minority ethnic communities and those with experience in fundraising/ income generation and/or experience in working with youth charities/ young people.
If you want to know more please email admin@wollstonecraftsociety.org.uk answering the question ‘why I want to join the Board of the WS’ by April 14th 2023.
Richard Price blue plaque
In honor of the 300th anniversary of Richard Price’s birth an English Heritage blue plaque was unveiled at his old house at 54 Newington Green by Huw Edwards. It was followed by a lovely reception at Newington Green Meeting House.
This project has been in the works for over a decade and ex-NGAG Chair Nicky Southin played a large part. There’s lots of coverage of the event but one of the best pieces was in the Islington Tribune.
Energy Grant for small for cafes/restaurants
Islington Council has launched a programme for assisting small restaurants and cafes with a grant towards their energy bills. Most local business owners are subscribed to this newsletter but please spread the word in case your favourite cafe isn’t.
Project Update: Environment
We are continuing to chase Islington Council about the state of the grass on the Green. There has been some improvement but the main lawn needs a lot of work. We will update you as soon as we have had a definitive reply from them.
There will be an update directly from the Environment Sub-Committee about the Mildmay Liveable Neighbourhood this week. Please look out for it in your inboxes.
In solidarity,
Team NGAG