Update: Sophia Hub Redbridge

Ros Southern writes:

Coming up this week (Saturday 11th - Friday 17th March)

• Saturday - Ilford Green Pop Up Market. Try out our funky and friendly monthly market and community cafe. 10-2 Info here
• Tuesday 14th March, 1-3pm Entrepreneurs club on outsourcing for a succesful start-up or project with Suzanne Ekpenyong of Bilingual Solutions. This event is open to non members. Celestine will be on hand to tell you about the new membership scheme. Info here

The following week/s (Sat 18-Friday 31 March)

• 20th, 21st or 28th - Councils street commission. See our blog - 'What resources don't cost money?' 
• Friday 24th March 1-3pm Entrepreneurs' club at Redbridge Institute. Book the date- speaker to be confirmed
• Tuesday 28th March 7.30 Chamber breakfast -news to follow
• Tuesday 28th March - New idea! Timebank skills swap double with Give and Take event. Our first sponsored event thanks to Amey in partnership with Redbridge Institute. info here
• Tuesday 28th March - New event! Entrepreneurs' Club Special for members. Speaker Cllr Paul Canal. Book the date. 

Other news on our blog

• Our membership recruitment is underway. We've raised £600 this week. We need you to join and you need us! Info here
• We need a Treasurer!! Important role for great organisation with an inspiring Board Info here. Applications by Mon 20th please. info here
• Looking forward to the Mayors community awards evening on 23 March! Sophia Hubs has two nominations! info here

Other interesting articles we've found for you

• Step Outside Guides cost £5 and mean your kids can take you on a tour round London. A Goodmayes business doing well! 
• Thurs 23 March - Freelancers - how to set up Cooperatives. Free. Bethnal Green
• Female entrepreneurs contribute £3.15 billion to UK economy. Study by Royal Bank of Scotland
• 6 tips to using emojis in your marketing campaigns

Thanks so much to Kathleen Hodis of Fabulistic for being our entrepreneurs' club speaker this week

With best wishes,

Ros Southern
Coordinator, Sophia Hubs Redbridge

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Jesus And Mary Chain - Come On.

St Stephen Walbrook - family-friendly visits

At St Stephen Walbrook today we held the first of an occasional series of family-friendly visits to the church designed to enable church members with young families to have an opportunity to come to the church together, which, as our ministry is primarily weekday, is generally impossible for them to do.

We began with a Treasure Hunt ... various clues led each family to different parts of the church ...

... before the treasure was found.

The treasure included the wonderful Step Outside Guide - London's Splendid Square Mile.

Then we made sheep at the craft table just using cups, cotton wool and pipe cleaners. This was followed with a game herding sheep balloons into the sheep pen.

We enjoyed a welcome break for snacks ...

... and then finished the session with the story of the Lost Sheep, the Butterfly song ...

... and prayers thanking God for his love.

A good time was had by all and our next such visit will be organised prior to Christmas.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Butterfly Song.

London's Splendid Square Mile

Let Cam & Bert, London's friendliest, cheese-loving mice, introduce you to the ancient City of London in London's Splendid Square Mile.

This special square mile, right in the middle of the London we know today, is packed with stories, surprises and delights and you are guaranteed a fantastic day out.

Highlights include the chance to -

-sit in an ejector seat from a jet plane
-try to lift a bar of pure gold,
-visit the amphitheatre where Roman gladiators fought

As with all Step Outside Guides, the route begins and ends at tube stations, and nothing on the day costs a penny!

Step Outside Guides are designed and written to offer cost-free, child-friendly days in London. Each book is packed with clear directions, information and lots more besides to make your day out a real delight.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spock's Beard - I Will Go.

Seven Kings Winter Fayre

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday.

Enterprise Club

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Neal Morse - Momentum.

If Statues Could Talk ... a London Adventure

Dr Samuel Johnson's cat Hodge is your guide in the new Step Outside Guide to be published on May 13th and entitled 'If Statues Could Talk... a London Adventure'.

Hodge will escort you on a trail around some of Westminster Abbey's most interesting and important statues, before leading you out and about as you help him complete his A-Z catalogue of London Statues. 

This, the fifth Step Outside Guide is particularly exciting because families using it are able to enter Westminster Abbey absolutely free of charge! The ticket is valid for 1 or 2 adults, plus accompanying child/ren. It is not valid for adults unaccompanied by children, or for tour groups. Normal entry fee is £18 per adult.

The Guide includes all of Step Outside's usual features; illustrated once again by Sam Fenn, there are bus rides, Rest-your-Legs pages, detailed maps and directions. And of course everything is absolutely free-to-see!

All orders received on line before the publication date of May 13th will be signed copies. To order your copy visit stepoutsideguides.com. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street.

Christmas in London

I've just got a copy of the latest Step Outside Guide which is the seasonal Christmas in London - a family adventure day. The Step Outside Guides are little books that give you a BIG day out! With clear maps and instructions which let your kids lead the day out, they are guides to fantastic free-to see days exploring London which begin and end at tube stations!

In Christmas in London Jennie and Christopher Wren escort you on a detective trail, discovering elements from the story of the First Christmas, which you can stick on the stable scene. Which London Square is home to a shepherd and his sheep? Where can you find real gold, frankincense and myrrh? Let Jennie and Christopher show you!

As you travel, little wrens point out some of the beautiful golden ornaments on London’s buildings. They have stickers too, to decorate a Christmas tree in the book.

Then as darkness falls, you arrive at Trafalgar Square and enjoy the tree, the crib scene and a very special painting, before taking a sparkly bus ride along some of London’s most beautiful Christmas streets.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Pogues - Lullaby Of London.

Step Outside Guides to London

Tembo the baby elephant will lead you on a day out to remember on a route from Holborn to Kensington in the Step Outside Guide, The London Treasure Trail.

Along the way you'll uncover all sorts of hidden treasures, from streets filled with jewels to a hidden city jungle. There are two bus rides, a house filled with special treasures, and at the end of the day, a garden in the sky. Best of all, you will find the real Baby Tembo and his special friend who lives just a few metres away.

Alternatively, wander through 2,000 years of London's history in the company of Octavius the Octopus, who lives by the river. Walk a spiral slope, diagonal steps and stunning bridges. See Octavius's Top Treasures all along the route, and find out where he lives.

As you make your way from from Tower Hill to Hungerford Bridge you will see all sorts of of beautiful and interesting buildings, learn fascinating facts and uncover hidden surprises. There are eye-spy photos on every page, and fun things to do on the Rest-your-legs pages. The virtually traffic-free route means that the Down by the Thames is particularly suitable for families with younger children.

These excellent family adventure guides have been produced by Seven Kings locals Francesca and Sam Fenn together with Margie Skinner.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ralph McTell - Streets of London.