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ELHAP is a specialist playground for children with disabilities nestled in a large woodland off Roding Lane North. Fundraising manager Sophie Blythe is working to keep the magic of play alive

If you’ve ever travelled down Roding Lane North and wondered what was behind the big green gates, then you may be surprised to learn that, as well as a five-acre woodland boasting an ancient orchard and nature reserve, it is home to the largest specialist adventure playground in the country.

Since 1976, ELHAP (Every Life Has a Purpose) has been facilitating adventure and nature play opportunities for children and young people with disabilities and complex support needs. Each year, we host over 6,000 visits to our site and directly support 300 families. We believe it’s everyone’s birthright to be able to play freely and adventurously – but for many young people with disabilities, these opportunities are limited due to the numerous challenges they face.

At ELHAP, we remove the barriers. Our services are designed to give children and young people the freedom to ‘just be kids’, explore, be challenged and have fun! They can fly through the air on our zip wire, climb trees or our weird and wonderful wooden play structures, ride bikes, go bug hunting, cook over an open fire or take part in craft, music and dance activities. Assisted by our amazing team of playworkers, each child’s support needs are met and the opportunities for imaginative fun are endless… and often very messy!

Parents describe ELHAP as a lifeline. “You can’t imagine the precious break ELHAP gives me, every hour is absolutely precious. ELHAP takes away the stress for both of us,” said one mum. Families can enjoy desperately needed respite, which they often can’t access elsewhere. Children benefit from being active outdoors, but our sessions also help build resilience, confidence and self-esteem, whilst providing opportunities to socialise and develop important friendships. Being part of the ELHAP community creates a genuine sense of belonging and acceptance, where children with disabilities have the freedom to be themselves and thrive.

Like many frontline organisations, COVID-19 had a huge impact on our magical and unique charity. Today, due to the closure of other support services, coupled with the cost-of-living crisis, demand for our playscheme is at an all-time high. We’ve been working hard to rebuild our services, and we’re delighted that this summer’s playscheme was the busiest it’s been since before the pandemic.

However, there is still a way to go. There are many families in Redbridge who are, unfortunately, without any support at all and waiting for a place at ELHAP. We desperately need to raise funds to create more capacity. Without the generosity of the local community, we simply won’t be able to provide our vital services to those who need us most.

There are many ways you can support us directly, for example, by making a donation, taking on a challenge, volunteering or, if you shop at the Co-op, by choosing ELHAP as your local cause. Perhaps your workplace would be interested in becoming our corporate partner? And we are thrilled to have been selected for this year’s Redbridge Mayor’s Appeal, which will see a number of fundraising events and activities taking place throughout the borough.

ELHAP is located at 119 Roding Lane North, Woodford Green, IG8 8NA. For more information, visit elhap.org.uk 

A stem cell transplant registration session will be held at Woodford Rugby Club on 21 September.

The club – located near Woodford County High School – is appealing for volunteers aged 16-30 to come forward (this age range is dictated by the Anthony Nolan Trust charity, who are organising the event).

“My good friend Anne Juliff has a rare form of blood cancer and needs urgent help as she searches for potential stem cell donors to arrest her blood cancer, Myelofibrosis. And there are many others who need a donor. None of the current stem cell banks throughout Europe have a match and time for Anne is running out. The chances of a match for Anne and others is extremely rare but the more volunteers who come forward the greater the chance of a match,” said Claire Clegg.

The registration session runs from 4pm to 9pm and  involves a Covid test-style swab and supplying some contact details. If a match is found they will be contacted to discuss the next steps.

Some South Woodford scribbles from DD, our resident diarist and observer of all things local. Illustrated by Evelyn Rowland

My friend, Audrey, was 80 last week. Her son gave her a new wetsuit, ready for the start of the competitive kayaking season. This stunning information prompted me to wonder about the hobbies and pastimes of my fellow shoppers in E18. Are there any amateur tightrope walkers in the queue at Sainsbury’s? Or part-time taxidermists, perhaps? I set out to investigate today.

Fred has been joyfully making and flying model aeroplanes for 15 years with no problems or accidents. “Of course, as you get older, you are limited by eyesight; you lose track of where the plane is!” Hassain loves a game of five-a-side, but with two very young sons, it can only be an occasional treat. Stefan didn’t hesitate: “Football is Life for me with a capital L, playing and watching.” Yes, he was a West Ham supporter. 

Elaine and Jill were enjoying a coffee in the sunshine. Soon, Elaine was sharing her passion for car-boot sales. “I get out at the crack of dawn to be sure of the best bargains. But it’s the socialising, the chatting, the open air and exercise, often lovely views to be had from a field out in the country. I was in Cambridge last week. Bought a beautiful new sofa.”

“It was volunteering that helped me through Covid,” said Jill. “Fostering guide dogs. Normally, those that had failed their training and needed looking after till they were rehomed as pets. Some were ‘buddy dogs’, not reliable enough to guide adults safely, but with sweet temperaments, ideal for placement in a family that included a child with sight-loss. The child would learn to feel happy with a dog; good preparation for possibly relying on one later in life.” 

Sixth-former Matt was on his lunch break. “I used to love skateboarding. Got very skilled at it. Then I broke my arm and my wrist. That’s history now!” Phil has been into martial arts for 47 years. His job has gone on to be his hobby. He trains every morning, Chinese and Filipino exercise systems combined. “I don’t jump about and spin as I did in my younger days. Too dangerous. I’m just going to speak to a women’s coffee morning, advising them on fitness and self-defence. There is a circle round each of us. If you are arguing with someone across the road you can still feel safe. But if you are disagreeing with a tall, strong man standing close-up, you will have good reason to be scared.”

Young Sue was queueing at Barclays. “Oh! Travel! That’s my big thing! The more distant and the more exotic, the better. That’s where all my pocket money goes: Costa Rica, Fiji, Polynesia.” Peter stopped for a chat at my garden gate. “My hobbies and pastimes? Well, I play badminton twice a week. Lift weights every day. I’ve got a mini gym in the garage. I’ve had two hip replacements, one six months ago, the other six months before that. The surgeon said: ‘That’ll be the end of your badminton playing, won’t it?’ ‘What?’ I said, I’ve had the hip ops so that it won’t be!” Peter is 87.

Elegant Jo is a collector: but it’s not stamps or book matches or coins. She collects random, single playing cards. (Honestly, I’m not making this up!) “I cover a lot of pavement. I love walking. I pick up cards from all over the world. About four a year. The Philippines, Bali, Rio, wherever. If I find a whole pack I choose one card only, but without looking first. That would be cheating. Some cards are muddy. That doesn’t disqualify them. Occasionally pornographic. Ditto. In some countries, the jokers are truly works of art. I started in 1986 and now I have only the 10 of hearts left to find. The last of the 52. One of my friends asked me: ‘If you do ever find the 10 of hearts and it has poo on it, what will you do?’ To be honest, deep down, I don’t really want to find it, mucky or not. I love the thrill of the chase.”

Aylin is just 21 but admits she ‘prefers the older ways of doing things’. “My fiancé and I, we have challenged ourselves. Each year we take ourselves off to a different borough in Wales. We want to visit them all in turn. We shed our phones. We book a cottage for a week, completely remote. No-one around. Just greenery, maybe a few cows and sheep. All of us human beings need to experience this sort of lifestyle, right away from social media, the constant pull of the electronic world. Right away from everything. Really encountering each other. Genuinely recreative. We strongly recommend it.”

Alex has ‘a really full-on hobby’. As he describes it, I get the impression it’s almost a kind of meditative process but sensuous and with indulgent, pleasure-filled refreshment thrown in. Smoking meat very slowly – maybe six hours – on the barbecue. “Sitting, lounging comfortably, probably a glass in hand, perhaps intermittent conversation with a friend. Infusing the meat with amazingly varied flavours according to the choice of woodchips. The sweet, smoky taste. Sometimes, a bowl of fruit juice adding its aroma. Endless possibilities.”

Bob didn’t hesitate. “For me, it’s films. I go to the cinema at least three times a week. It’s the bigger picture. It’s escapism. No interruptions. It’s how I feel about reading a good book; you don’t want to put it down; you want to read it through in one sitting. I say to people, do what you love doing. I’ve no time for snobbery or elitism. Just because you love opera, it doesn’t mean you won’t thoroughly enjoy going to the dog tracks. I relish both. Yes, do what you love doing, I say. And if you are in a job that you love too, as I am, you are amongst the most fortunate of people.”

To contact DD with your thoughts or feedback, email dd@swvg.co.uk

Local resident and dietitian Nikki Ottonaro is keen to help reduce the high rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes in our area, and will be running free workshops on healthy eating this autumn

Are you concerned about the health of you and your family? Do you need to know how to nourish your family on a budget with meals you can all enjoy? Are you looking for ideas for fun activities to promote more movement for you and your family? Are you overwhelmed with all the healthy eating information available?

These are frequent questions I have been asked over the last 14 years as a community-based NHS and freelance dietitian. I’m a working mum with three children and have first-hand experience of the challenges we face when trying to provide the family with a nutritious meal and continually trying to encourage a healthy lifestyle in this digital age.

In my years working as a specialist diabetes dietitian, I recognise the important role that a healthy, balanced diet plays in people’s lives, particularly children and young people. I meet many patients who have complex medical needs, which have either been caused or worsened by poor nutrition. It’s so important to have a varied diet with a good level of vitamins and minerals to ensure optimal growth and development. 

In many cases, poor diet and lack of exercise can lead to a number of serious health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke, amongst many others. In my experience, the best way to combat this increasing problem is to tackle the root cause of the issue, which is improving knowledge and awareness of a healthy diet in the home and providing parents and guardians with information on cooking healthy, nutritious meals. Children often develop eating habits based on those of their parents and take these forward into their adult life. I want to impart my knowledge and expertise to local parents and help to debunk some of the confusing healthy eating messages we are bombarded with.

Current figures show there are 3.8 million people living with the diagnosis of diabetes in the UK and 90% of those have type 2. It is thought there are also another million people in the UK living with diabetes who don’t know they have it. By 2030, it is predicted the numbers will rise by 17%. Worryingly, Redbridge has one of the highest rates of type 2 diabetes in London – currently at 8.66% (the average for London boroughs is 6.51%). Obesity is the main driver for the condition, but age, family history and ethnicity all play a role.

With a background in fitness, I also understand the connection between our physical and mental health. So, it’s essential to have a holistic approach to healthy living, looking at lifestyle and exercise, as well as food.

Nikki’s free workshop will take place at Woodford Community Centre, Prospect Road on 14 October from 2.30pm to 4.30pm. Email n.ottonaro@nhs.net

In the fourth of a series of articles featuring the images of local photographers who document the wildlife of Wanstead Park and the surrounding area, James Ball presents his close-up of a long-tailed tit

I’m James, a local estate agent with a passion for photographing all types of wildlife and, in particular, birds. I find it amazing the variety of wildlife we can see almost on our doorsteps.

Here’s an image I took earlier this year in Wanstead Park. It was an overcast day, which didn’t provide brilliant light but did mean the light was evenly spread with little shadow.

This bird is a long-tailed tit, resembling a pink, white and black ball of fluff, with a long tail. Like candy floss with wings, they can be very photogenic. Gregarious and noisy residents, long-tailed tits are most usually noticed in small, excitable flocks of about 20 birds.

Like most tits, they rove the woods and hedgerows but are also seen on heaths and commons with suitable bushes. They move quickly and rarely stop for longer than a second or two, so you have to try and get a step ahead. I positioned myself in front of the flock and took this image when the bird landed on an isolated branch with a clean foreground and background.

Here are some of my top tips for taking better wildlife photographs. 

Patience
You’ll be lucky to stumble across your target subject on the first attempt, even the second or third. Learning your subject’s habits will help you put yourself a step ahead.

Eye-level
Try to position yourself as close to the subject’s eye level as you can, even if it means lying on the ground! This connects your camera to the subject, creating a more emotive and often dramatic image.

Fast shutter speed
This will allow you to capture wildlife whilst it’s on the move. Birds all move at different speeds, depending on their size and how much of a rush they are in. So, you’ll need to adjust your settings accordingly. Gulls over a lake are a great entry subject for capturing birds in flight.

Use ‘continuous shooting’ mode and ‘continuous focusing’ to take multiple bursts of photographs and to continually track the subject. These modes will have different names on different brands of camera.

Sunlight
In my opinion, the best lighting is at dusk and dawn during the ‘golden hour’. The sunrises over Wanstead Flats and the sunsets in Wanstead Park are beautiful, and when you can time this with passing birds, you can achieve great results; well worth the early alarm!

Position yourself so the sun is behind you and you’re facing the bird you’re photographing for the best lighting setup. Shooting into the sun can also sometimes create lovely photographs, especially when the sun is low and the light is less harsh, making perfect conditions for artistic silhouettes.

To view more of James’s wildlife photos, visit swvg.co.uk/jamesball

Residents looking to enhance their communication skills or conquer their fear of public speaking are invited to join the Woodford Green Speakers’ virtual open house event on 26 September.

“We recognise the profound impact public speaking skills can have on personal growth and professional success, so join us for an enlightening session and gain confidence,” said a spokesperson for the club, which is affiliated with Toastmasters International. The free online event runs from 7pm to 9pm.

Visit swvg.co.uk/speak

Age UK is keen to raise awareness of its activity centre in Wanstead (also known as the Allan Burgess Centre).

“The centre has struggled to replenish visitor numbers since reopening after COVID. We run daily exercise, games and craft classes, and our fabulous new chefs, Teresa and Julie, prepare freshly cooked meals Monday to Friday,” said centre manager Jackie Balman. Located at 2 Grove Park (opposite the Co-op), the centre’s two-course lunches (£7) are available to any Redbridge resident aged 55 and over.

Call 020 8989 6338

Woodbridge High School is looking for local businesses to help with their careers programme.

“Much of this involves getting businesses into the school for a variety of interactions, from simply explaining their business, career prospects and apprenticeship schemes to mock interviews and workshops. It’s a real win-win opportunity and fulfils an important contribution to the community,” said Peter Hughes, who is part of the Mayor of London’s voluntary Enterprise Advisor Network.

Call 020 8504 9618 

With planning permission for the development of the former Woodford Police Station recently refused, Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP renews his call for a new permanent police hub in the Woodford area

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, made the appalling decision to shut the police station in Woodford in 2020, dismissing our concerns here that there would be no local police base as a result. Since then, my constituents and I have been campaigning for a new police hub.

The closure meant local Safer Neighbourhood Teams for Monkhams, Churchfields and South Woodford wards have been deprived of the police station they used as a base. Forced instead to travel every day from Barkingside Police Station by public transport.

The ludicrous outcome is that our local police spend a significant amount of time travelling in and out of Woodford, rather than policing the area. A hub here, which we have been promised, would free up more resource hours to tackle local crime. Importantly, being seen in the area would reassure residents.

I have been working hard to secure a permanent police hub in the Woodford area. I am pleased that the borough commander for Redbridge, Stuart Bell, following our campaign, has recognised the need for a police hub in Woodford to cover the wards of South Woodford, Churchfields and Monkhams. The campaign – which included a petition with over 2,000 signatures and a public meeting – made it clear residents want an increased police presence in the area. 

In the run-up to the local elections in 2022, Redbridge Council claimed they had secured a police hub; however, since then, no such hub has materialised. Peoples’ hopes were raised only to be dashed; they are now sick and tired of empty promises. I have lost count of the number of residents who have told me they want police who visit the local shops to be seen out and about deterring criminals, something they never see now. The public safety of those living in the area must be an absolute priority for Redbridge Council and the police. Residents want to see the police on the beat, knowing the police will respond quickly and efficiently to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour. Neighbourhood policing is at the core of cutting crime, and Safer Neighbourhoods Teams need to be appropriately resourced to tackle the challenges of their areas. 

Reducing local crime and antisocial behaviour has always been the priority for all of us. I am working closely with our local councillors and the police, and I welcome new Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley’s public commitment to neighbourhood policing. I welcome his confirmation of an extra 3,109 police for the Met, but repeat Woodford needs the police to have a proper patrol base to use their time efficiently for the benefit of my constituents. That’s why we need and want a police hub now!

Sir Iain Duncan Smith is the Conservative MP for Chingford and Woodford Green. For more information, visit swvg.co.uk/ids

The South Woodford Business Forum will be hosting a networking event for local business owners this autumn.

“Join us for an hour of fruitful conversations and engaging interactions as we aim to create a true business community in South Woodford… Local police officers will also be in attendance to listen to concerns of local business owners,” said a spokesperson for the group, which holds quarterly meetings to provide a voice for local businesses.

Details of the event will be published online.

Visit swvg.co.uk/swbf

Pearl Arbenser-Simmonds reports on a busy year for the South Woodford Pathfinder Group as they begin to finalise their work producing a local design code. But your input is still needed 

It has been a hectic 12 months and a bit of a rollercoaster ride since we were selected as one of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) Design Code Pathfinders in March 2022. We spent that time working in conjunction with JKA Architects, Azuko, DLUHC and Locality, with some support from Capita. The programme officially ended in May 2023 with the production of a draft design code. However, we are continuing to work on the code with the invaluable support of DLUHC, Redbridge officers and native north architects. 

The South Woodford Neighbourhood Forum was one of just four neighbourhood groups in England to have been selected to participate in this groundbreaking programme, to help us set our own standards for design locally. It’s all part of the government’s plans to level up across the country. The Design Code Pathfinder Programme aims to empower communities to have their say on the development of new homes, buildings and amenities in their area and help restore people’s pride in the places they live.

Design codes are important because they provide a framework for creating healthy, safe, sustainable and distinctive places, with a consistent and high-quality standard of design. This can provide greater certainty for communities about the design of development and bring conversations about design to the start of the planning process rather than the end. The built environment has a significant impact on health and well-being. It needs to feel safe and secure for all, including those who could be more vulnerable. Creating beautiful places requires a greener approach that supports progress towards national environmental goals. This means more energy-efficient buildings, well designed public spaces, enhancing nature and delivering progress towards meeting the net-zero carbon target by 2050.

We have regular meetings with Redbridge Council officers as we work to refine various aspects of the code following meetings with TfL and various other stakeholders. We are also continuing to work on the website to allow us to host a fully digital code. We hope to have the design code draft completed in time to allow us to run an engagement campaign this September. For those of you who may have been involved in the previous engagement campaign, you will be invited to participate again, but the process is open to everyone living within the Neighbourhood Forum boundary area (see website).

Now the design code work is almost complete, this has allowed us to pick up the Neighbourhood Plan again, with a view to completing both pieces of work within a year. Once again, we would ask if anyone has any skills they would be happy to share – particularly web design and content management – please do reach out to us.

For more information on the design code, visit swvg.co.uk/dc

Tickets are available for the first Wanstead Beer Festival, taking place in the halls of Christ Church on 14 October.

“The festival will include a number of real ales from the local area and beyond. There will also be craft ales, lagers and cider, and some carefully chosen wine and prosecco for non-beer drinkers,” said organiser Paul Donovan. Proceeds from the event – which runs from 1pm to 10.30pm – will be donated to local charities. The £12 ticket price (£10 in advance) includes a commemorative pint glass.

Visit swvg.co.uk/beer