Lewisham Council have produced a guide to using empty shop premises. The guide covers:

• sources of business advice
• business rates
• planning
• licensing
• health and safety
• leases
• insurance

Details and contact information is also available on the Lewisham Council website.

More information on using empty shop premises can be found on the Empty Shops N3twork website.

To mark the half way point of the Change Up programme, the East London CVS Network have released a report entitled Five Years of ChangeUp.

The report looks at examples of what has been achieved so far within the area covered by the East London Network. This includes 7 boroughs north of the river and three, including Lewisham, to the south.

In particular the report looks at three areas:

Partnership and collaboration

Examples of good practice and actively engaged partnership work.

Finance and funding

Additional funding that has been successfully awarded for projects or activities in the local borough.

New projects

Especially those that have strengthened local infrastructure and support for front line groups.

Download the Five Years of ChangeUp Report (pdf)

Community Matters have produced a report entitled 'Premises Fact Finder' to tackle some of the issues that arise when voluntary or community groups take on premises.

The report is broken into six sections and looks at:

1. Before you start
2. Finding and taking on premises
3. Managing premises
4. Building or improving premises
5. Maintaining premises
6. Professional advice

Each section provides relevant advice and provides links to additional resources.

The Deptford Challenge Trust has re-launched its Strategic Grants Programme. The programme is aimed at improving the quality of life of people living in Deptford. There is a map defining the area on the website of the Capital Community Foundation, who manage the fund. Deadline for applications is December 18th 2009.

Purpose

To improve the quality of life for people who live and work in Deptford. Proposed activities must benefit residents within the DCT area (please see map). Grants between £5,000 and £30,000 per year are available and the trustees will now consider funding over more than one year. Please be aware the Trust will only be able to make one or two multiple year grants. In particular the trustees encourage applications for projects that respond to a local need and promote networking and local partnerships.

Closing dates

18th December 2009

Notes

Area defined in Deptford (please see map on CCF website www.capitalcf.org.uk)