This year, the TRA has been very active around community building on our estate. Here’s a round up of some of the things we’ve been up to!
First, we’ve played a key part in the newly formed St Martin’s community events group, comprising residents, representatives of the Housing Associations that run our estate, and local stakeholders. The group is helping to create, and share news about, community events such as the recent summer Fun Day. If you’re interested in getting involved, please email us and let us know!
Second, this year has seen even more community gardening on St Martin’s, on Challice Way and Huggins Corner. A major highlight was the collaboration between our community gardening team and Incredible Edible Lambeth on a project on biodiversity and housing estates, with workshops on vegetable and herb growing and building bug hotels. Detail of community gardening activity on St Martin’s can be found here. If you’d like to join in please email stmartinscommunitygarden@gmail.com.
Third, the TRA has had a critical role in getting local youth facilities back on track. The Yellow Qube youth club is scheduled to reopen in December 2025 and we have long been active in campaigning for better local facilities for young people in our community. See detail of a recent meeting with representatives of Lambeth Council here.
Fourth, the TRA proactively supported our local primary school in its successful efforts to remain open. Detail of the recent, great news about Fenstanton School is here.
Fifth, recognising the demographic make-up of our estate and the need to reflect it in our priorities and activities, we appointed an Equalities Officer and created a calendar of cultural good wishes messaging, enhancing our commitment to supporting diversity and inclusion on St Martin’s. Please get in touch with our Equalities Officer with questions, issues or concerns.
Sixth, we continued to engage with the local community police team, through membership of the Safer Neighbourhood Panel, to enhance safety on our estate. The panel is chaired by the Chair of the TRA committee and enables local residents to raise issues related to St Martin’s with the local police and other community representatives.
Challenges certainly remain. We are working with Southern Housing, Metropolitan Thames Valley and Notting Hill Genesis on the newly formed Joint Liaison Group to address residents’ and community concerns. The group was created in the wake of our highly successful campaign around tenant damp, which led amongst other things to a more joined up approach to St Martin’s on the part of the Housing Associations. While a partnership approach is growing, there is scope for the group to be more proactive in engaging with issues raised by the TRA.
Funding for community activity is always a challenge. MTVH have this year committed to providing very welcome gardening maintenance support for Huggins Corner, and NHG and Incredible Edible Lambeth funded new planters and compost for Challice Way. Southern and NHG provided beautiful murals on St Martin’s. We hope that more support for this area of community life on St Martin’s will be available in the future!
St Martins TRA 