Good afternoon fellow B£-ers, 

Just a very quick reminder that the much talked about [and somewhat delayed] Grand Opening of Windrush Square is happening this weekend. The weekend promises to be a lively one packed with live acts, dance and of course in true Brixton style… plenty of live music.

There’ll be lots of opportunities to get involved in during the day with art workshops… and later a lantern-lit procession will parade through Brixton leading to a spectacular firework display including a magnificent Phoenix and a human Catherine Wheel!! 

“The Windrush Square scheme has linked Tate Gardens and Windrush Square as a pedestrianised open space which has been designed with safety in mind and includes improved lighting, better sightlines and CCTV coverage. World class design that includes a new water feature, 21 new trees, new lighting and a sculptural granite seat have contributed to creating a brand new civic space.” Lambeth Council

The Brixton Pound team will be out in force from 1pm on Saturday 27th February. You’ll find us in a marquee by the stage; do pop in and introduce yourself. We will have:

• £:B£ exchange point available all day
• all the latest promotions and discounts you can receive when paying in Brixton Pounds
• badge making!!
• B£ video and documentary screening
• pedal powered music – bring along your ipod
• lots of information on how B£ works and friendly, knowledgable people to answer your questions
• Ways that you can get involved in the project
• B£ raffle with some great local prizes

Fingers crossed for fine weather. Hope to see you on Sat!

Our beautiful B£ notes

Give yourself or someone you know a piece of local history: B£ collectors sets make a wonderful gift, and each consist of 1 x B£20 note, 1 x B£10 note, 1 x B£5 note, 1 x B£1 note.   Beautiful images of Vincent Van Gogh, CLR James, James Lovelock and Olive Morris adorn our B£20 note, B£10 note, B£5 note and B£1 note respectively – these personalities have all had important links with Brixton at some point in their lives.

Designed by a local designer, all notes are uncirculated, and all have matching serial numbers. They are also accompanied by a letter of endorsement from the Mayor of Lambeth and a Brixton Pound user guide. 

We can deliver in UK, Europe and Rest of the World, and each set costs £50, plus P&P. You can make your order here, where you can also order other combinations of uncirculated notes Or you could place your order at our Community Shop.

The same deadline also applies for anyone interested in becoming a B£ director: although there are some skills that we feel would be particularly useful (e.g. business experience, community links, accountancy) essentially passion and a commitment to making the B£ work are the most importance qualities for the role.

To learn more about the responsibilities of the directors click here.

To show your interest, please click here. 

Brixton Customer Centre, Olive Morris House

We are delighted to announce that the council has agreed for Olive Morris House (Benefits centre, 18 Brixton Hill, SW2 1RL) to become a B£s issuing and exchange point, thereby making the currency ever more accessible.  B£ user guides will also be available on site, thus helping the B£ make further inroads within our community. Keep an eye on this site to find out when you will be able to buy your B£s at Olive Morris House.

Soothsayers New Album

The new CD release from local band The Soothsayers includes homage track to the Brixton Pound, aptly named The Brixton Pound.  Click here to find out more about the band and to listen to the track.

I’ve pledged to do all my christmas shopping this year in Brixton Pounds, so this Saturday I went off round Brixton to do just that. Not only did I manage it with ease, I also found a whole load of wonderful new shops I didn’t know existed until a few weeks ago. Many thanks to Wild Caper,  Gruff and Tackleton’s Winter Menagerie, Bricolage, Brixton Cornercopia, No. 1 Village Bakeries, Remade in Brixton and Bookmongers for providing such great gifts. I also got my wrapping paper at Pound & Plus taking advantage of their 5% B£ discount.

You can watch a short film of the whole experience right here – I hope it inspires you to reject the west end, chain stores, supermarkets and big name brands and get down to Brixton to spend your money where it matters. You won’t be disappointed.

Secondo, Coldharbour Lane

B£ offer = 25% off exclusive designer Rock U Later head scarves & scarves

as modeled by Abu

HQ Brixton, Market Row

B£ offer = 10% off all products
including exclusive HQ Brixton T Shirts

Original Products Ltd, Market Row

B£ offer = 10% off selected scented candles.

Empress Bellydance @ Brixton Lido, Dulwich Road
Give someone the chance to dance their way into 2010:

B£7 – A voucher for a Bellydance class (usually £8)
B£10 A BellydanceT Shirt AND voucher for Bellydance Class
B£20 A Bellydance hipscarf AND Bellydance Class.
info@empressbellydance.com

House of Bottles, Coldharbour Lane
B£ offer = Spend over £10 receive 10%
off. Spend over £100 and received a free bottle of bubbly! Sale and return service for your Christmas party!

Sesami, 307 Railton Road

B£ offer = Make up a Christmas hamper
worth £10 or more and get 10% off

Bambinos, Brixton Station Road

B£ offer = 10% off childrens seasonal party
wear in the lead up to Chistmas

Stuart the Watchman, Popes Road

B£ offer – spend over
£10 and receive 5% off

Pound and Plus, Popes Road

B£ offer = 5% off all
Christmas decorations; trees, lights,
tinsel etc.

Brixton Café/ Phones4Free, Brixton Station Road
B£ offer = buy a 10 hour internet voucher for B£8
plus receive discounted tea and cake

ANS Furnishings, Electric Avenue

B£ offer =  5% discount on all carpets, curtains, bed
linen, cushions and soft
furnishings.

Brixton Market Row (by Steve Cadman)

We are delighted to announce that the B£, together with Transition Town Brixton, the Brixton Market Traders Federation and Friends of Brixton Market, has been given a free space in the heart of Brixton! As part of the Space Makers initiative, what was an empty market unit will be transformed (initially for three months) into a buzzing community space for people to come together, mingle, discuss and contribute to create and enact a vision for Brixton as a thriving, inclusive and sustainable economy.

The unit will provide a fantastic opportunity to showcase the wonderful initiatives happening in our community, and a real chance for everyone to come say hi and get involved. Keep an eye on Unit 6, Granville Arcade for further developments.

Our new home: Unit 6 at the Granville Arcade, Brixton Market

And if we ever need a cup of sugar, no doubt our next door neighbour Remade in Brixton at 5 Granville Arcade, will be happy to oblige, as well as lending some great creative skills.

Amsterdam is, apparently, looking to develop its own local currency and there are already many timebanks across the Netherlands as well as one of the world’s most innovative complementary currency NGOs, the Social Trade Organisation (STROHalm) which works in developing countries.

It is set for Thursday 10th December. You’re invited from 6.30pm for a 7pm start, commencing at Dogstar on Coldharbour Lane, Brixton. If you don’t already have some, there will be B£s available on the night for you to exchange. These will be the key for tapping into boozy promotions in our local haunts.

Sources reveal it’s going to pretty much be the best thing ever*. A Brixton resident was recently heard to exclaim “it sounds like a STERLING night” if you’ll excuse the COINING of a phrase. Enough!

Hope you are able to join us in POUNDING the streets to sample some Brixton night life. Please feel free to pass on to other Brixtonians/interested parties. Keep an eye out here or sign up on our facebook group. For more information contact clarelakerallsop@hotmail.com.

*unsubstantiated