A Wheely Good Listen

After a busy and very eventful day of cleaning at the Moselle Community Project at Broadwater Farm Community Centre, David, Nicolette, Venuse and Kate reflect on the importance and value of community spirit and connecting with each other. Towards the end of the podcast we were joined by the amazing Phee Kingshott from Haringey Council who is normally based at Northumberland Park Resource Centre.

In this episode, Lydia, Wheely Tots' Project Manager, takes you to our weekly foodbank on Broadwater Farm Estate in Tottenham on a sunny and windy May Saturday morning. The podcast features the stories of some of the dedicated volunteers who support the foodbank: who they are, their connection with the estate and why they help out. 

The foodbank began quite organically in March 2020 as we continued to distribute food from the Felix Project to residents after having to cancel our bike maintenance sessions with young people, which we originally organised the food for. Over the last 14 fourteen months, the project has evolved into more than a foodbank. As well as reaching over 50 households a week, it has become a source of valuable social connection and community support. As Renate, one of the volunteers, points out, "It's a place where you can find new friends, new people, new ideas. It's a great place. I love it." While Esther comments that if everyone has enough, everyone in the community will feel safe and comfortable.

Lots of thank yous for this episode: all the volunteers, past and present, including Esther, Renate, Aaron, Grace, Jacob, Natalie, Meg, Richie, Ganna, Leticia, Judith, James and Cynthia; the funders who have supported the project these past 14 months - Segro and the City Bridge Trust, via the London Community Response, Haringey Council and Haringey Giving; Roxanne Williams of Impact Cuisine who brings hot food and cakes each week; and, of course, the staff and volunteers at The Felix Project. 

This video shows some of the activities on offer on Care to Challenge

Women's History Month in Haringey

Haringey Women's Leadership Summit

Sewn Together

Windrush Square War Memorial

To check out more of Shenika's dance classes visit: defineme.net or enquire at shenika@defineme.net or visit her Instagram @define_me__

To join our classes every Friday @ 6pm, email: Antoinette@wheelytots.com

Purposely Podcast

David's interview on Purposely Podcast

Heart Kids New Zealand

Devonport

Wheely Tots Walking Projects

Lydia and David get to chat with the awesome Cassie Williams from the Federated 4 Health the GP federation based in the London Borough of Haringey and we learn about its work and how Wheely Tots are helping deliver Covid Kits around the Borough - obviously by bicycle….

Even though the three of use were in completely different places,  we still marvel at the fact that we can still go for walks together at the same time and have good quality chats  -almost in the way that we would if we were all in the same place….

Its was recorded in December 2020 outdoors one of those days,  so unbelievably cold, we decided to share some “pro tips” for staying warm  so that even when the weather is too cold you can still get out and about comfortably

You get to learn about bottles, clothing tech , gloves, socks, layers , and the all important "huddle" as demonstrated by David or Esme

Take care and stay safe

The Wheely Tots team

Esme and David get asked to run some parent & toddler sessions south of the river.  

NB in 2021 these sessions will operate "virtually" and this means you can join as individual families, groups of families from literally anywhere in the world!  Sign up to our newsletter (in the right hand sidebar )  to be the first in the know about all this :)  And, yes, we'll post bikes out to you if you need them!

What could be more straightforward, strap a few balance bikes on the back of regular bikes , walk them (because there are lots and they aren't necessarily tied down optimally,,,,,) down to the nearest overground train station, get the overground to Peckham (ish) run the sessions and pedal/train it back....

This was recorded pre lockdown (around the time of the Jonathan Jenkins, air Ambulance one) and we've been saving it....like a good cheese or nice wine....or a meal that you've been meaning to cook but because the oven has got ideas of its own you need to wait till it will let you....

Its got some great train noises (if you like that kind of thing ie you're a 2 year old that doesn't know any better or you're an adult and want to hark back to those days when you were a 2 year old and everything was "big" and "exciting" and there were so many "firsts" )

You can also get a sense of what its like getting 2 bikes on a (relatively quiet) train......

And David was (for reasons he can't remember) absolutely not in the mood for any kind of a bike ride and was really, really looking forward to sitting on the train and having a nap all the way to Honor Oak.....

And the main learning is that if you're going anywhere....ever.... always be with a Scout Leader (which Esme is) because they are not only always prepared but thoroughly good company and will get you to your desination and back because that's just the kind of awesome people they are! 

The canal without a canal 

Seabass Cycles - we don't know these people but love the name and  - like all bike shops - are bound to be great

Citymapper  - free and very, very good! and of course other apps are available but we do think this is the best ;)

The Gruffalo - other childrens tales (and gloves) are available

Wishing you all a relaxing and peaceful Christmas and hope you get a walk or two in and for ideas wheelytots.com/walking for those in North London.  And for everyone else you can find similar on your doorstep (if you can't just send your postcode to info@wheelytots.com and we'll curate a route for you)

Listen to Clasford Stirling MBE who evokes memories of the days of being at loggerheads with the Council and whether we think much has changed. We planned to find out what’s going on at the moment and look to the future and as both are so uncertain we retreat to the comfort of the past and learn some snippets of history about the mosaic and the mural of Broadwater Farm.

Clasford has been a "social entrepreneur" for over 40 years but was doing positive sports and community  development, particularly through football, way before it had this modern title along with so many others.  So if you think that organisations with a social purpose are somehow a "new thing" then rest assured there are countless examples in recent and distant past in the community, public and private sectors.  

As always it's lovely to get your feedback and we hope you enjoy the listen as it re awakens memories or gives you a pause for thought and reflection before you head back to your regular routine.

Take care and stay safe,

The Wheely Tots Team

To entice you to listen or if you would like some reading notes from which to do further research there here is some of what's covered:

Community development at Broadwater Farm 

History of Broadwater Farm

Clasford is absolutely still a pillar of the local community and this is backed up by the 20 or so people who pass us and wave or smile as everyone knows Clasford

Clasford mentioned George Meehan  and George Meehan House 

And a real understanding of the value of community development work and specifically the need for this type of work to be regarded as the domain of professionals ie properly resourced and remunerated

The history for equality and the issues with policing in the past

May Richards 

Bishop Frimpong 

Photo of Clasford back in the day 

In this episode of the plodcast, Rhiannon talks to Rebecca Lees, an OS Get Outside Champion about, well, getting outside, local walks, getting teenagers outdoors and more. 

Click here for photos.

Links

Ordnance Survey Get Outside app

Get Outside Champion: Rebecca Lees

Rebecca's website: Girl on the Trail

Rebecca's walk to the fort

Rebecca's books

Rebecca's Instagram

Brynn's Challenge

Your Bike Project

Walking Connections

David's Box Hill Walk

London's Air Ambulance Charity 

The School for Social Entrepreneurs

Your Bike Project

Wheely Tots Foodbank

David's Walk Route shared by The Chiltern Society, a small charity (like us), check them out

If you like what you hear, please share and continue to send in your thoughts and messages and subscribe to the podcast - thank your for your support :)

Jer makes an incredibly kind offer that Wheely Tot's gratefully accept....David and Esme head off to say thank you and be supportive and have a slightly challenging experience that takes them out of their comfort zone....We will loop back in (bonus part 2 ....coming soon)  and chat with Jer about his experience and find out about how his run actually went and how far out of his comfort zone he went....all this "slightly challenging stuff" falls within our theory of change.....

This is all about the Virtual London Marathon , what its really like to support fund raisers and how to make all this seem effortless and well prepared so that it all runs like clockwork.  Obviously its all about what actually happened and we hope you enjoy the listen and we will keep the fundraiser open a bit longer so if you enjoy the podcast and would like to support Wheely Tots then here is the fundraising link

https://www.givey.com/jeromahony2020 and please consider to donate generously.  All proceeds go directly to;

 - buying extra balance bikes for wheely tots kit library so more families can participate in our sessions without having to buy a bike 

and any excess  beyond the target will go to

 - The foodbank 

Links

This is the video for the elephants bit....and also Esme's huddle which we will incorporate when we get the right file!

Alexandra Palace (Pally Pally)

Uber

Virtual London Marathon

Lydia, Rhiannon and David go for a walk...Wheely Tots have a number of walking initiatives e.g. wheelytots.com/walking and the idea to walk from our homes near Finsbury Park or Tottenham to Town past so many other people’s homes...including the Queen...was slightly challenging but only took 2 hours.  It fits in well with our beliefs around health, confidence and resilience; and themes around planning, being comfortable and doing stuff all core to YourBikeProject.uk and the foodbank we help out with.
If you’d like the route map email us and we’ll send it out to you otherwise the links below give good enough clues! Finsbury Park -> Gillespie Park -> Paradise Park -> La Taverna Roman -> London Green Cycles -> Hammerton Brewery -> Granary Square -> Pearly Kings & Queens -> Indian YMCA (open for take away!) -> wheelytots.com/toddlers, @Victoria Pendleton, @Prince Louis, @YourBikeProject, @Frank Lowe - Thinking Space, Tavistock Centre -> Green Park

Click here to see some photos from our walk. 

Your Bike Project

Foodbank 

Family Session

Space Race

Sponsor the Space Race 

Send us a voice message

To join the Space Race please click here to sign up or to support the team click here. 

As a message to you, our listener  - thank you so much for listening and please keep sending your feedback via the message function at https://anchor.fm/wheelytots 

wheelytots.com has all the information and you can also  listen to David and Armagan talk you through what you need to do :)

Letting us know you have listened to this podcast means that you can come along to an in person outdoor session.  It also means that you know the answers to  the following questions;

1. Do I need to bring a bike and helmet?

2. If I don't have a bike and helmet , what should I do?

David then introduces Lydia and they both reflect on the Space Race......We'd love to know what you think and  to join the Space Race  please visit http://wheelytots.com/spacerace/ to sign up.  

Then we'll get straight back in touch with your fundraising pack and, more importantly, help and support you with your walking, running and cycling....cake baking or lemonade stalls

We'd love to have you on the podcast so send us your audio via the message function at https://anchor.fm/wheelytots

In Episode 1 we talk to Stephanie and Angela, who both decided to use their new found free 'furlough' time to volunteer with Wheely Tots. 

Volunteering from home without meeting anyone face to face is a unique and interesting situation which has turned out to be pretty good fun too.

Both Stephanie and Angela found their volunteering opportunities on Do It. Current volunteer roles at Wheely Tots can be found here.