Leys News Online

The FREE monthly community newspaper for Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys, Oxford, UK.

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Archaeology in Blackbird Leys

04 May

On the 19 May the ‘Archeox: Archaeology of East Oxford’ project will be at the Leys Community Buildings Open Day Celebration, digging a test pit at the Old Barn and members of the public can come and get involved, ask the team questions or have a go at finds washing.

The project runs events throughout east Oxford which are open to volunteers. Events include: walks, talks, excavation, post excavation such as finds washing, drawing workshops, GIS training, geophysical surveying and more. No experience is necessary; someone will always be available to give training and guidance. Anyone who would like to get involved can sign up through their website, follow them on Facebook: Archaeology of East Oxford (archeox) and on twitter: @archeoxnet, or call a member of the team on 01865 270 319.

BLAP reopens on April 16

29 March

THE Blackbird Leys Adventure Playground will reopen on April 16, and volunteers have been trained to work for
free as play helpers. Those on the course complete their training by working at the adventure playground for a further ten hours. It means that the staff both paid or voluntary have all had to think about the challenges of an adventure playground and be trained in the basics of play.

The plan is first to open BLAP as an after school club on Monday April 16 at the beginning of the summer term under the leadership of Alston Quammie.

BLAP’s after-school club will open on Monday through Fridays from 3.15pm to 5.30pm for £1 a session. Families with more than one child attending have reduced fees. Day long sessions will follow for four weeks of the summer holidays.

The aim is to provide lots of fun activities for 8 – 13 year olds in a safe and supervised environment. Other activities include gardening and opportunities to cook some of the produce, art and recycling projects, making music, den building and advice on bicycle maintenance.

The zip wire and tower bridge have been refurbished with help from the Thames Valley Probation Services work without pay offenders.

Contact Kieran Watson on 07773 848998

Celebrating on the Leys!

22 February

AN open day to celebrate the work of more than 20 community groups across the Leys will take place in May. Ines Kretzschmar, Leys Housing Consortium Worker, said that the idea behind the open day is to let people know what goes on in the community buildings on the estate, and to encourage them to take part in the activities that are on offer.

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Grant Success for the Leys

22 February

COMMUNITY groups across the Leys are celebrating after being awarded thousands of pounds worth of grants to help continue their vital work. The Credit Union, BLITZ IT Hub and the Leys Community Development Initiative were all winners following the announcement by Oxford City Council. Leys News is also celebrating and making its own headlines this month, following the news that your community paper has been awarded a grant of £10,000.

John Charlton, Business Development Manager for Leys News said: “We are over the moon about this news and feel extremely privileged to have been awarded the full grant that we applied for. We are very grateful to Oxford City Council for their tremendous support and for supporting our vision for community newspapers in Oxford.

“This funding will help the business to grow, offer more training and volunteering opportunities to local people and help us to make your community newspaper even better. This really is great news for everyone. At a time when many charities and groups are having their grants cut, it is positive to see some community projects are still being supported.”

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BLAP: Call for volunteers

27 January

The Blackbird Leys Adventure Playground needs your help. The group is refurbishing the grounds and premises of the adventure playground and hopes to be open by the beginning of the summer term.

Volunteers are needed to help run the sessions on Monday to Fridays from 3-5pm during term time and during the summer holidays for a four week play scheme.

Sue Price from BLAP said: “We will train all volunteers. We hope to offer training in February and March and all volunteers will be CRB checked so we know all are safe to work with children.

“No qualifications are necessary only a willingness to help children aged from eight to 13 as they play and learn new skills. BLAP will have a gardening and cooking area, an arts and craft centre, outdoor play and organised games. We could even offer music sessions as we have steel drums and guitars. Grandparents might also like to help the young people build dens, mend bikes, garden or cook, and we hope that parents might like to spend one session a week with us.”

Sue added: “People currently looking for employment might also find the training helpful as an addition to their CV, and we aim to work on Olympic and Jubilee themes during the summer.”

Find out more by phoning Sue Price as soon as possible on 01865 429036 or 07773848998

Blooming Winners!

27 October

GARDENERS from the Leys triumphed at this year’s Oxford Allotment Competition, scooping top prizes and beating off tough competition from more than 70 other enthusiasts.
Local gardening legend Reg Curnock from the Kestrel Crescent Allotment Association in Blackbird Leys was the winner of the Challenge Trophy, the overall award for allotment holders.
Cliff Thomkins also from Kestrel Crescent took the over 70s Senior Award.

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Blackbird Leys girl starts London magazine

29 September

FORMER Leys News community journalist, Kohinoor
Sahota, 25, from Blackbird Leys, has won backing from
the Prince’s Trust Enterprise Scheme to launch a new
magazine for London students.

Called The Book, the magazine will launch this week.
Since graduating fromUniversity College London,Kohinoor has interned for a dozen prestigious publications
including the Financial Times and Vogue, worked for Time
Out London, and written freelance articles for The Times, The Guardian and City AM.

Kohinoor said: “Despite all my work experience, with so many graduates looking for work I still couldn’t find
a full time job, so I have created a role for myself, and potentially many other young people by launching a glossy entertainment and lifestyle bi-monthly called The Book. Eighteen–25 year olds often get a negative representation
in popular media, but The Book is written by young people, for young people. It engages with the good and bad, and is not afraid to feature an ethnic minority on the cover and address provocative issues.

“It also embraces the new digitally minded generation with reviews on music videos and downloads rather than albums, blogs as well as books, and street art more than exhibitions.”

In addition to 20 pages of reviews on music, film, stage, art, gadgets, and blogs, highlights of the first issue include stories such as Our wild poker weekend...with X-Factor judge Kelly Rowland, NUS President Liam Burns asks: at up to £135 a lecture, is university still worth it? Hoodies, the history behind the hysteria: how they went from medieval monks to grime star Chimpunk, and a photo-story on the Cosplay craze, in which young fans dress up as their favourite comic-book characters.

Town Green status could scupper swimming pool plans

15 September

AN application for Blackbird Leys Park to be given Town Green status could scupper plans for the new swimming pool. The application is currently being considered by Oxfordshire County Council, and has been made to prevent the building work starting for the new competition standard swimming pool next to Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre.

If the Town Green application had not been made Oxford City Council would now be starting work on the pool and it would open just after the 2012 London Olympics.

A spokesman for the city council said: “If the Town Green application goes ahead and is successful, Oxford City Council would be unable to enforce its by-laws. This includes restricting activities such as golf, and preventing vehicles such as motorbikes riding on the park.

“There would be no development on the site and the £150,000 development of the play area on Pegasus Road which is due to open early next year would not be able to happen. This is anticipated to be one of our biggest and best play areas in the city. Our ability to offer organised sport such as football would be greatly compromised as people would have the right to roam over the pitches.”

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