And this year, and against a backdrop of failing economic recovery in the UK and pretty much in most Western societies, the Brixton Pound managed its own cameo appearance at Davos! See here (scroll forward some 4 minutes and 30 seconds) the interview with Stewart Wallis, Executive Director of the New Economics Foundation (the Lambeth based think thank that has nurtured the B£). Pretty amazing stuff!

And while it may not rock mainstream global economic thinking just yet (soon, soon…), well we are chuffed! Alternative solutions that empower communities to regain some control over local trade, production, supply-chains, and which promote consumer behaviour for the benefit of the most, initiatives such as complementary currencies, transition towns, time banking, community energy projects, credit unions, all deserve a proper shot on the menu of economic development tools. And current times, for all their gloom and doom, may just mean the beginning of something new. We live in hope.

Kaff's cool counter's mural

So with Christmas now really and truly out of the way…well we decided to postpone our Christmas party until mid-January when we thought we would be in serious need of cheering up.  But let’s just remove the ‘Christmas’ and focus on the ‘party’!

We hope you and your friends and loved ones can join us on the night, Thu 19th January from 6:30pm at Kaff Bar.

Kaff Bar are both on our paper and electronic currency schemes, so plenty chance to play with your phones on the night.

There will be DJs and some finger food, and more importantly a great crowd of Brixton residents and businesses to socialise and network with.   We shall also be  at hand to sign up any newbies onto our amazing Pay by Text service, for which you get a 10% automatically added to your account every time you top it up.

Other than that, it’ll be an informal evening of drinks, nibbles, chats and DJ’s spinning their tunes.

We look forward to seeing you then!

Photo by Allerleirau - Flickr photostream

Starting to panic about Christmas, finding the right present, being on a budget? You are not alone. However, no need to worry. The Brixton Pound is here to help remove all this stress from your festive season. ‘But how!?‘ I hear you say…

Brixton Pounds make perfect gifts for all the family, friends and colleagues. They are in fact vouchers which you can spend in some 200 independent businesses, amongst them: great eateries, pubs and cafes, numerous gift shops, complementary therapy centres,  second hand shops, books stores, a well established shoe shop, and of course Morley’s department store!

B£s make not only extremely practical gifts, but also very beautiful ones – after all who wouldn’t want to flash a Bowie or a Szabo every now and then? Or maybe a Len or a Deng? To get hold of these beauties, simply visit one of the B£ issuing points. Or for those with a particular predilection for all things collectable, these lovelies are also available as collector packs, which can be ordered online, and which also make for interesting gifts.

By giving Brixton Pounds as a gift this Christmas, you can also avoid embarrassing moments and ensure your loved ones get something they truly like, indeed with such a variety of participating businesses, they will be spoilt for choice. Of course if you actually enjoy going on the hunt for something unique, then why not check out all those independent businesses yourself, B£s at the ready of course!

And beyond simplicity, practicality and flexibility, in case you needed one more reason for giving B£s as gifts this Christmas… just think of our great independent businesses, and the support you will show them. Think of our local area and how much it needs those independent businesses, in order to remain a buzzing and thriving place for us all to enjoy.  And by the way, have you seen how beautiful our second edition notes are? Ah yes, I may have said that…

Photo by TahoeSunsets - Flickr photostream

You will be able to register and set-up an on-line Brixton Pound account from Tuesday 6th September 2011. Once set-up, you can top-up your Brixton Pound account via standing order or transfer from your current account. You will then be able to pay for goods either by text or on-line in an instant at any of the local independent shops that are taking part in the Brixton Pound Pay by Text or On-line pilot.

The Brixton Pound pay by text and pay on-line pilot is an exciting new scheme supported by the latest mobile phone and on-line technology. It will make transactions easier for customers and businesses, opening up more opportunities for local trade and strengthening our local economy and community in the face of recession.

A dedicated webpage on the Brixton Pound website will be available from Monday 5 September 2011. It will give you all the details on how to register, how it works and the businesses that are signed up to the Brixton Pound Pay by Text or On-line pilot. So watch this space!

The Brixton Pound is a Community Interest Company (CIC 07635113) that supports local independent businesses and a stronger and more sustainable local economy.

The local businesses and residents coming on board in support of the Brixton Pound has been nothing short of revolutionary: it shows their tremendous dose of good will and vision, and a desire for a fairer economic system in which the diversity of our high street is defended and encouraged.

This is a little piece of history which we are humbled to be part of, but the sort of thing that often still goes on unrecognised, and which is at risk of fading away in the aftermath of the recent sad turn of events which saw riots and looting within (but not only) our local community.

But, just as before, the Brixton Pound is still hard at work highlighting that Brixton is a thriving, creative and progressive place to live and work in. And luckily our beautiful Brixton Pound notes, featuring important people in the history of Brixton as voted by the public, and designed by a local artist, still offer a stunning reminder of all things great about our local area.

So if you haven’t got your Brixton Pound notes yet, this is your chance to own the Brixton Pound First Edition collector’s set, before the notes expire at the end of September and our second edition is unveiled. You can purchase our First Edition collector’s  set on line by clicking here.

Please make your order by Friday 30^th September 2011 – and guarantee yourself a little piece of history!

All proceeds are reinvested in the Brixton Pound, a Community Interest Company (CIC 07635113), that supports local independent businesses and a stronger and more sustainable local economy.

Lunch for a Fiver at Lounge Bar

Today sees the launch of the Brixton Pound ‘Lunch for a Fiver’ deal. Local independent shops and market stalls in the Brixton area are offering a lunch deal for just five Brixton Pounds or less.

You can experience the wonderful and diverse array of local produce that Brixton has to offer while supporting your local shops and community. Using your Brixton Pounds, you can get oodles of noodles in Satay Bar, juicy jerk chicken from Refill, delicious ciabattas from Rosie’s Café, fresh sandwiches from Duck Egg, Fish and chips from Olley’s or  falafel and hummus salad from Lounge Bar & Café…the list goes on! All for just five Brixton Pounds or less!

Download the ‘Lunch for a Fiver’ flyer here to find out all the deals and local shops in the offer.

“The Lounge Bar and Restaurant is proud to be part of the ‘Lunch for a Fiver’ deal. It is a great scheme which benefits local shops and traders by bringing in more trade to the local economy and at the same time providing a delicious bargain for the local community. The Brixton Pound scheme has supported local independently owned shops in Brixton for the past two years and has helped preserve the independence and much loved diversity of the Brixton.” Clover, Manager, Lounge Bar & Restaurant, Brixton.

The Brixton Pound is money that sticks to Brixton. It helps to support local shops, traders and

B£ Issuing Points

the local community to ensure a diverse and vibrant local economy.  You can exchange pound sterling into Brixton Pounds at the B£ issue points listed – or simply ask for your change in Brixton Pounds when you visit one of over 200 independent shops and market stalls in the Brixton Pound scheme. Look out for the Brixton Pound sign in shop windows.

The Brixton Pound works like a gift voucher, acting as an incentive for people to spend their money locally in any of over 200 independent shops and market stalls in the Brixton Pound scheme.  So take advantage of this generous offer and support your local shops; get your Brixton Pounds and bag a tasty bargain!

Kiss-Red by Julian Barras

That Brixton is a place for art is no longer a secret, and the proof is in a very successful Urban Art Fair now in its tenth year.

On Saturday 16^th and Sunday 17^th July, the leafy and rather sleepy Josephine Avenue is to turn once again into London biggest alfresco art fair, with over one hundred and fifty photographers, printers and painters exhibiting.

Entry is free and prices range from under a tenner to over a thousand pounds – so whatever your budget, this is a truly affordable event for all art lovers.

The fair will also show how the love for art and the love for a vibrant and diverse local economy can go hand in hand, with numerous artists accepting our beautiful notes.

So do look out for special offers and discounts available to anyone paying with Brixton Pounds, and do take a sneak preview at participating artists below. Sadly we are unable to upload pictures for everyone of them, but check out their websites, you will find some amazing pieces, including photography, print, painting and mixed media.

• Robert Kellard – check discount on the day
• Katherine Jones,  www.katherine-jones.co.uk – check discount on the day
  

  Vases I by Jo Oakley

  
  

• Clare Johnson, www.clarejohnson.co.uk – 10% discount
• Julian Barras, www.julianbarras.com – 10% discount
• Orson Kartt, www.orsonkartt.com – check out website for discount available
• Mark Thompson, www.perronet.com - 15% discount
  
• Martin Grover, www.martingrover.com – 10% discount
• Ben Oakley, www.benoakley.com – check discount on the day
• Jo Oakley, www.jooakley.co.uk – check discount on the day
• Staffan Gnosspelius, www.gnosspelius.com – 10% discount
• Adam Hemuss, www.hemussart.com – 10% discount
• Tess Stone – check discount on the day
• David Taylor, www.artwanted.com/davidtaylor – check discount on the day
• Thona Samba, www.artreview.com/profile/Thona – check discount on the day
• Paola Mikov, www.paolaminekov.com – check discount on the day
• Melanie Paice, www.melaniepaice.com – 10% discount
• Angelique Hartigan, www.angelique-hartigan-artist.co.uk – 10% discount
• Jaykoe, www.jaykoe.com - 10% discount
• Oleg Marat -  check discount on the day
• Grazyna Rafei – check discount on the day
• Shashi Patel – check discount on the day
• Tamar Lev-On and Dotan Bahat,  www.tamarlevon.com – check discount on the day

The B£ team will be at the event on Saturday morning  -  if you are visiting Saturday afternoon or Sunday, please ensure that you have some B£s with you. This is your chance to bag yourself some unique artworks by local artists, and to help make  Urban Art Fair 2011 the biggest yet. Don’t miss out!

The theme of the Saturday event was plants, gardening and growing – so we joined a number of local growers displaying their green and colourful wares on the square, such as the most gorgeous strawberries from the Sunday Farmers Market!

The day was an opportunity to be out talking to people, mingling with local growers and organisations, and generally encouraging the support of local sourcing, trade and production. Thanks to all who stopped by and for the many words of encouragement. Thanks to all the volunteers on the day, and last but not least thanks to Stuart the Watchman (Watch repairer extraordinaire, on Pope’s Road) for lending us his extremely cute barrow – the envy of many a trader on the day.

Look out for the B£ team next at the Brixton Windmill event on 10th July, from 1pm to 5pm in Windmill Gardens. Lots activities are in store for families and children, with wind power the theme of this year’s event.

The B£ latest outreach initiative, funded by the Walcot Foundation, seeks to reconnect people to the labour market via work placements within their local business community, thus helping to expand people’ social networks, reduce their social isolation and increase their knowledge about  local opportunities.

The team is now talking to businesses, community groups and social enterprises to identify potential work placement openings. The team is also talking with organisations, which might be able to refer candidates to the scheme.

For example, we are exploring ways of linking time bank members to work placement opportunities, and are working with the  Timebank Lambeth Southcentral to make this happen. Time banks enable residents to share their time and skills, and by doing so accrue time credits that can be spent on services they need. E.g.: you may do one hour of gardening in exchange for one hour of baby sitting, etc. No money is exchanged and everyone’s time is equal, therefore one hour of your time earns you one time credit to spend when you need. Click here to learn more.

So whether you are a local business or organisation with a potential work placement opportunity, or whether you are an organisation supporting those who are unemployed, we would like to hear from you.

Please get in touch to find out how the scheme could benefit you, contact Annalisa Dorigo at: projectmanager@brixtonpound.org.

The 7 Bridges project is an art led regeneration project, launched by the Loughborough Junction Action Group (LJAG) and funded through the Capital Community Foundation.

The initiative seeks to improve the local area through the engagement of local schools, artists, residents and organisations in the arts, literature and local history, geography and architecture. Click here if you too would like to get involved.

The 7 Bridges Festival will culminate on Sunday 5th June, with an action packed day to include: a big lunch, a parade, an invisible food walk, a steel pan orchestra, a choir, African drumming and dance, and much more, and ending with the premiere of the new Basement Jaxx track for the 7 Bridges Project.

Oh yes, you heard right!