And as I reflect on these last few years, well there are many so exciting moments in our journey: the launch in 2009 (Oh my god it really is happening!), the 1st year anniversary (Oh my god we are still going!), the 2nd year relaunch, the new notes and our new Pay by Text service (Oh my god, it works!).

And many things I have loved, and still love, about being involved with the B£, including:  being part of such bold and visionary bunch of people who decided that it was high time we reclaimed some control over our money; the empowering feeling you get when you are able to decide where your money goes and who it benefits;  getting to know for the first time the community in which I have lived for many years, and the realisation of the amazing wealth of talent which is right on my doorstep! Discovering quirky new places and interesting businesses; seeing the evolution of some incredibly worthwhile social enterprises and community initiatives (e.g. Brixton Energy, Transition Town Brixton, Cycooldelic Revoutions, the Remakery, Velocal, IRMO, Makerhood, the Market Traders Federation, Brixton People’s Kitchen, the Vida Walsh Centre, to name only but a few) and ultimately feeling part of something important, bold and bigger than myself.

And I never cease to be amazed by the commitment and drive of the many people I have come into contact with through the Brixton Pound, and who often voluntarily embark on initiatives that seek to better the community in which they live, to create connections, to engage, to support local enterprise and skills, to help promote a more inclusive and sustainable way of life. Truly inspiring stuff, and necessary, and it is all happening right here! Times are achangin, and it’s not all doom and gloom.

So there is much to celebrate you see. I hope you’ll be able to join us on Thursday 3rd May for some drinks and also introductions of new B£ team members and to find out the latest exciting developments and partnerships ahead.

The venue: Kaff Bar, 64 Atlantic Road. The time: from 6pm till late. It is election day of course, so get your votes in and come join!

And if you can’t make it, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you all and I wish you the best of luck in all your pursuits.

With love, respect and admiration.

Annalisa

This Ain't Rock'n'Roll creations and nominees of the D&AD Awards 2012

This Ain’t Rock’n'Roll, aka the designers behind the Brixton Pound’s new look, were last night recognised at  the D&AD’s Awards for their creative talents in the design of the the Brixton Pound second edition’s notes.

In case you are wondering, the D&AD are the creative industry Oscars, and a Nomination is the equivalent of a Silver.

Indeed the awards attract entrants from all over the world, including household names  agencies/clients with mega-budgets, so  MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS to This Ain’t Rock’n'Roll! This is no mean feast and we are absolutely thrilled for them!

And should you need yet another reason to love our notes, well there you have it: they are Oscars’ material, and they deserved to be seen.  Do circulate them, healthy glow guaranteed.

These are very much the concerns of Move Your Money, a new campaign launched last week , at the onset of the banking bonus season.

Move Your Money UK seeks to use consumer power to both raise awareness around and support mutually owned, ethical and socially useful banking providers, such as credit unions, building societies, community development finance institutions. It wants to see a financial system that works for people and society, it seeks to engage the public with the financial system and to promote an open and constructive dialogue between the two.

The B£ is delighted to support the Move Your Money campaign, as it is very much in line with our own aims of empowering people to reclaim control over their money through their spending decisions (a local currency enables just that!), and through supporting ethical banking providers (such as the London Mutual Credit Union on Acre Lane) who will reinvest into local communities, small businesses, and those who are financially excluded.

You can check out the Move Your Money campaign here, and also see a very funny video about some high street performers…Lastly, you can read more about our Brixton based ethical bank, the London Mutual Credit Union, right here.  (Place your cursor over any of the bold text and a link will appear).

Will you move your money?

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!

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.

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 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!

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.

Stallholders will be accepting Brixton £s on the day so it’s a great opportunity to pick up the last (or, in my case, the first) of your Christmas presents. Shopping in the Dogstar – it’s got to be less stressful than Oxford Street!

On that note, we’d love to hear from anyone who’s decided to buy all their Christmas presents using Brixton Pounds. Simon Woolf did it last year and you can watch a video of him Christmas shopping here.

Watch this space for more hints and tips about how to support independent businesses in Brixton over the festive period…