Locals bring Christmas to children in poverty
Thousands of children experiencing poverty in North London will have a special gift to open this winter after an overwhelming response to the Local Buyers Club's annual toy appeal. Around 5,000 gifts were donated to the Winter Toy and Food Appeal, which is run by the Local Buyers Club with support from Location Location estate agency. It took a team of volunteers four days to sort through the donations and distribute them to around 4,000 children in most need. Smaller gifts w
Birthday celebrations at The Last Crumb
Best friends Paula Chapman and Helen Collier are celebrating a year of running The Last Crumb café and work hub and say they’ve “found their groove.” The biggest challenge for the popular Stoke Newington start-up has been finding the right chef to help run the kitchen and they say the answer lay in taking the unusual step of opting for a senior sous chef, instead of a Head Chef. Helen said: “While our core team has been with us since the beginning, finding the right head chef
Toy Appeal in Pictures
A huge thank you to everyone who has supported our Winter Toy & Food Appeal. We've been working our socks off since October, promoting the appeal, collecting donations, moving them into storage and seeking references from agencies in North and East London. Here's a little flavour of how this community has pulled together to donate Christmas gifts for thousands of children experiencing extreme poverty. Our thanks go to Location Location and Ivy Street Family Centre for their i
10 independent & unusual gift ideas
Flummoxed for Christmas shopping inspiration? We’ve spent all of 2018 getting to know local retailers (and independently-run websites) and have come up with a short snappy list that’ll make it look like you’ve done the legwork. Whether you’re shopping for a friend, filling a stocking for a loved one or planning the Secret Santa to beat all Secret Santa’s, we’ve got it covered. And we’ve negotiated some great discounts. GIFTS FOR A LOVED ONE 1. We’ve fallen hard for the creat
Hobby turned dream job for auntie and nephew
Former classical chef Trystan Lloyd Williams and his auntie Einir Williams have always been passionate about music. But the resurgence of vinyl and advertisement of a local record shop for sale piqued their interest in making it more than a hobby. Now they own Atomic, a vinyl and comic shop off Islington’s Camden Passage, which is about to celebrate its first birthday. It has been a steep learning curve and a major life change for 27-year-old Trystan, who looks after the day-
Step out for a Christmas Night in Stokey
Traders in Stoke Newington are pulling out all the stops for a festive late-night shopping event on Thursday December 13th and there’ll be mulled wine and fizz aplenty! The event, which is being coordinated by the Local Buyers Club in partnership with local traders, will feature choirs, a Santa’s grotto, a fire engine for the kids, live music and a raffle benefiting charities helping people in poverty. The fun starts at 5.30pm and carries on till late. Basil Fansa, of the Lo
10 BENEFITS OF SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT BUSINESS
1. You can help build communities. Popping out to your local butcher, florist, restaurant or pub builds familiarity. It’s the way friendships are made – the old-fashioned way, through eye-contact, a friendly ‘hello’ and a little small talk. And independent businesses often organise local events which create community ties. 2. For every £1 spent with a small or medium-sized business, an estimated 63p stays in the local economy, compared to 40p with a larger business. 3. Experi