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.

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!

This exciting development will facilitate B£ exchanges and circulation, it will raise the profile of LMCU, to be promoted amongst over 1000 B£ users and 190 B£ businesses, and will also boost LMCU’s reserves, enabling it to make more loans to local people.

So from today anyone can get hold of B£s from the branch, where the B£ Sterling backing is also held.

And if you are business, the branch will serve also as an exchange hub, therefore enabling you to change B£s in to sterling.

The LMCU exists to provide their members with financial services at fair rates. Once legislation passes through parliament, businesses will also be able to become members of LMCU. To find out about the organisation’s ethos, and how to become a member, read here.

A special thank you to Lakshman Chandrasekara, CEO of LMCU, Roy McLeod, LMCU Director, and Stephanie Butcher, Lambeth Town Centre Director, for their ongoing support and vision in making this happen. Thank you also to everyone else who joined us in celebrating the launch of this exciting new partnership.

And to all of you out there, whether working or living in Brixton, we hope that you too will soon be able to make the LMCU your bank of choice.

Ivan and his team at Hair Focus gave Brixton Pound supporters some gorgeous haircuts and makeovers at unbeatable prices, helping us raise a whopping £320.

However, for those of you who could not make it this time, worry not. Your tresses will still have the opportunity to get the Hair Focus treatment. The salon runs special offers all the time, and who knows, we may even be doing another fundraiser there soon…

So pop into Hair Focus, only five minutes walk from Brixton tube station, on Overton Road, in a relaxed setting away from the hustle and bustle of the town centre.

The salon has been offering haircuts and makeovers for three years, and is a favourite of returning customers and Brixton Pound supporters. Go once, and you won’t look back – you’ll get a super-relaxing head massage as your hair is washed by friendly stylists using quality Italian hair products. You can find Hair Focus on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/fy5bPj

And for all those dog lovers out there, you may even get a glimpse of the gorgeous four-month old puppy Sandia (‘sandia’ means ‘watermelon’ in Spanish) who will no doubt charm you with her clumsy puppy energy.

So from the Brixton Pound team, a huge thank you to Hair Focus and all those who came down to support us on the day!

All proceeds will help the Brixton Pound promote local trade and production, and a stronger local economy.

This blog is about the growing number of health and wellbeing practitioners accepting the B£.  So whether you are feeling tired, stressed, or just a little bit down, of whether you are recovering from an illness and you could do with a little extra nurture, look no further.

A number of health and well being practitioners is to hand, and some great offers are out there for the taking.

So if you are looking for a treatment or a treat, give them a go and get yourself relaxed, re-energised and rejuvenated.

Brixton Acupuncture – Enjoy the benefits of this traditional Eastern medicine at affordable prices. Brixton Acupuncture provides acupuncture treatments tailored to all needs and budgets.  Check out their very accessible prices. 

Brixton Therapy Centre – offering a range of holistic treatments, including osteopathy, Shiatzu, reflexology and aromatherapy. Any new client paying in B£’s will get £5 off their first full one hour treatment.

OnTrack Sports Therapy – this recent addition to the B£ offers injury rehabilitation and sports massage, and is giving 10% off to all B£ customers.

The Ford Clinic – also a newbie on the scheme – offers nutritional therapy for anyone wanting to feel and look well, or for those unlike me who are looking to achieve peak sports performance. You are what you eat.

Need massage therapy – Massage therapy delivered to your home, office or party, as well as available at various locations around Brixton. Massage night in anyone?

And for those looking for a more participatory kind of re-invigoration, the following options may be for you:

Yoga with Chris – it does exactly what it says on the tin, in Streatham Hill.

Joy Yoga Studio – a range of yoga classes in the heart of Brixton.

All of the above practitioners are happy to accept Brixton Pounds. Some will give you a great deal for it. All will seek to re-spend those B£s themselves, increasing circulation and helping the local economy.

The B£: supporting a stronger and stress-free Brixton.

Help is at hand! Lambeth council are looking to support Small and Medium size enterprises (SMEs) to do just that.

The service is FREE and is delivered by a team of business advisers who visit your business and carry out an energy and waste audit. The project is tailored to each individual business needs and help is provided also with drawing up an action plan.

SMEs in Lambeth qualify for this support, and if your business is within the Low Carbon Zone (map here) an additional £500 grant may also be available to help you implement any energy efficiency measures.

If you are interested, get in touch with Jeremy Keates, Enterprise Officer – jkeates@lambeth.gov.uk. Tel 020 7926 2702.

But do not hesitate, as this project will wrap up at the end of March.

OnTrack Sports Therapy - at Fitness First, Blue Star House, Stockwell Road, SW9 9SP. info@ontracksportstherapy.co.uk. Offering 10% off to B£ customers.

The Ford Clinic, Nutritional Therapy – at Fitness First, Blue Star House, Stockwell Road, SW9 9SP. louise@thefordclinic.co.uk

Copacabana – 12-14 Market Row, SW9 8LD. Authentic Brazilian cuisine.Offering 10% to B£ customers.

Casa Sibilla – Unit 67-68, Granville Arcade, SW8 9PS. Fresh Italian food prepared from scratch in front of you. Offering 10% every Tuesday to B£ customers

First Choice Bakers – 40 Atlantic Road, SW8 8JW. Producers of finest Jamaican Patties, cakes, buns, breads.

WAG Free Food – 26 Granville Arcade, SW9 8PR.  Freshly baked wheat and gluten free bread, pies, cakes and pastries.

KUBIFIT - Personal training programs, group exercises, in and outdoors.

Mobile Care – 1 Atlantic Road, SW9 8HX. Mobile phone sales and support.

Please do say hello and show them your support, in the shape of our lovely notes….

Focus Salon Ltd is preparing a new project in the fashion and beauty industry, within the Latin American market in the United Kingdom.

They are looking for a very dynamic and innovative Project Manager to work on a part-time basis and flexibly to develop the project.

The candidate must have a proficient level of  Spanish and English, both written and oral. In addition, applicants must be responsible, mature and able to work independently.

Minimum 2 year experience in project management also desired.

To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter to focussalons@yahoo.co.uk.

The B£ Reusable Cup

We are very proud to have now launched our very own B£ reusable cup!

Designed and manufactured by KeepCup, light, sleek and environmentally friendly, this is the first barista standard reusable cup.

Not only you will be able to use our B£ cup in Brixton and get a lovely discount, but you can literally use it in any other coffee place you fancy, and help reduce the amount of packaging going to landfill.

The following cafes in Brixton are offering a discount to B£ cup users – please check in store for details:

Cafe Tana, 96 Brixton Hill, SW2 1QN

C@fe Brixton, 8 Brixton Station Road, SW9 8PD

Cafe Viva, Brixton Station Road, SW9

Cafe Sitifis, 11 Rushcroft Road, off Coldharbour Lane, SW2 1JS

Rosie’s cafe, 14E Market Row, Brixton Market, SW9

Wild Caper, 11-13 Market Row, Electric Lane, SW9 8LB

Rahel Cafe & Bar, 16 Acre Lane, SW2 5SG

Azmarino Cafe, 2 Atlantic Road, SW9 8HY

Opus Cafe, 89 Acre Lane, SW2 5TN

Bellantoni’s, 81 Fifth Avenue, Granville Arcade, SW9 8PS

Duck Egg Cafe, 424 Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8LF

Also, keep an eye out for ‘Use your B£ cup here‘ posters, which will alert you to any new coffee places on the scheme.

The B£ cup makes a stylish and handy gift, it comes in three colour combinations (see picture), and is available from the Community Shop (Unit 6, First Avenue, Granville Arcade, Brixton Market, SW9 8PR), as well as: C@fe Brixton, Wild Caper, Rosie’s cafe, Cafe Sitifs, Viva Cafe (next door to Brixton Recreation Centre), Bellantoni’s, Azmarino Cafe, Opus Cafe, and Duck Egg Cafe.

Yours for B£6 or £6.50.

Cafe Sitifis

The cafe’ offers a delicious range of meze, hot and cold paninis, cooked and continental breakfasts, patisserie (including cakes to order), as well as good quality coffees at affordable prices.

The coffee is supplied directly from a Colombian producer, thus cutting the middle man and ensuring a fairer deal to the farmers.

Its North African themed interior is stylish yet laid-back, and the ambience is welcoming to business customers, coffee worshippers, and families alike.

Cafe Sitifis is open every day, giving Brixton a much welcome addition to the few places where you can enjoy Sunday breakfast while poring over the papers.

Cafe Sitifis is currently offering:

• Buffet meze at £3.95 – a generous portion of meze of your choice from the meze counter

In addition, B£ customers also get a 10% off their bill. What a bargain.

Contact Nourradine Lalmi on: 07533 872 804 for all your patisserie or catering needs.

Cafe Sitifis is at 11 Rushcroft Road, SW2 1JS.