Happy Christmas

We'd like to wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

This blog will be taking a break and will return again early in 2012. If you need to contact us in the meantime you can do so at the contact details on the left of the blog, or you can contact Hackney Council using the details here.

We hope you have a great break and return refreshed in the new year.

Tom, Gulay and Rob

New home for De Beauvoir Surgery

De Beauvoir Surgery is settling in to it's new home on Hertford Road, leaving behind its longtime base on Englefield Road.

Dr Gary Marlowe, Dr Haoli James and Dr Katy Young alongside the many nurses and support staff are now based at their new surgery in the Kingsland Wharf development, just east of De Beauvoir Estate.

The team will use the base to continue to serve the De Beauvoir area, providing high quality, personal healthcare to local residents.

Christmas at St. Peter's Church and St. John at Hackney

Following the recent successful carol service, there is a full programme of events to celebrate Christmas thoughout December at St. Peter's Church.

On Saturday 17th of December at 10am the Church's decorations will be put up followed by carol singing at 12 noon on the church steps.

At 5pm on Sunday 18th of December there will be carols by candlelight followed by wine and mince pies.

Midnight Mass commencing at 11.30 on Christmas Eve will be followed by Family Communion with blessing from the crib at 10am on Christmas day.

St. John at Hackney Church in neighbouring Clapton are also celebrating with their own Christmas events.

These include a children's nativity performance at 11am on December 18th followed by Carols by candlelight at 1.30pm. A children's carol service at 5pm on Christmas eve followed by midnight mass at 11.30pm. And the Christmas day celebration from 10am.

There are many other events taking place at the church.

For more information on St John at Hackney's events programme visit their website.

Hackney Homes Tenancy Agreement Changes

A number of changes have been proposed to update the Hackney Homes conditions of tenancy. These changes include new legislation and also best practice.

If you are a Hackney Homes resident you should already have received a consultation form through the post in order to have your say on these new conditions.

If you have not received the form you can pick one up at your local neighbourhood housing office.

You can also complete the form online if this is more convenient.

The new conditions of tenancy are available in full here.

And you can fill in the consultation form here.

If you require further information on these changes please call 020 8356 2060 or email tenancyconsultation@hackneyhomes.org.uk. Or visit your neighbourhood housing office.

Hackney Singers Carol Service

Christmas in De Beauvoir began in earnest last night with a stunning performance by Hackney Singers at St Peters Church.

Conducted by Dan Ludford-Thomas the Singers preformed a programme including the Coventry Carol and excerpts from Handel's Messiah.

A collection after the concert raised money for the De Beauvoir homeless shelter, which re-opens in St Peters Crypt at the start of next month.

Hackney Active Residents Awards

The Hackney Homes Active Residents Awards recognise people in our borough that make a positive difference to the community.

Winners of the Awards win prize money to go towards community initiatives.

There are several award categories: Young Resident of the Year (under 25); Resident of the Year; Resident Group of the Year, and the Ron Devoti Award which recognises residents who have dedicated several years of their lives to improving their community.

Public nominations for the awards close on 16th December.

If you know of a person or group deserving of recognition for their community work you can nominate them in several ways. You can pick up a nomination form from your local neighbourhood Housing Office, download a nomination form, fill in an online nomination or email your nomination.

All shortlisted nominees will be invited to the awards ceremony in the new year where the winners will be announced.

Full details on the awards are available on the Hackney Homes website.

New Dalston CLR James Library

The first new library to be built in Hackney for 20 years will open in late January 2012.

This state-of-the-art facility will feature separate adult and children libraries.

As well as a wide range of books, study materials and online reference there will also be an education area.

There will also be an area for teenagers and a 'quick picks' function where visitors can issue books to themselves using modern self-service technology.

The new building will also house Hackney Archives which is moving from its previous base in De Beauvoir ward.

Further details on all the Council's libraries are available on the Hackney Council website.

Free School meals

Recent government figures have shown that close to 40% of families in Hackney could be eligible for free school meals. But the Learning Trust - which runs education services in our borough - found one in five families are not taking this up.

Families receiving Income Support or other benefits are entitled to apply for free school meals which could represent an average saving of £390 a year.

If you have school-age children and think you may be entitled to this essential service you can find further information at the Learning Trust's website, where you can download the application form.

You can also call 020 8820 7248 to speak to a member of staff.

Duke of York reopening

The Duke of York pub on Downham Road bordering De Beauvoir estate will be reopening soon.

The pub will be renamed Duke's and will be a modern microbrewery establishment.

Some residents had earlier voiced concerns about this reopening due to an application to extend weekend opening hours to 5am. However this has now been resolved and the pub will operate normal opening hours.

Duke's is set to open before the end of the year and will be a Beavertown Breweries pub, who have a Facebook group page with further details.