Timings (rough dates for setting up process: meeting and advertising)

Although some people had wanted to make good progress (considering previous delay), because some meetings would have to be held next year the question has been raised that we should also deliver the flyers at the start of the new year (or late december?) so that the meetings are not being advertised too early.

We could however keep the event for senior residents in December (which is an event run by Origin monthly for their tenants) and advertise it by posters (and possibly targeted flyers) to the wider residents, as suggested previously.  
(We could also consider another one for senior residents if people had ideas, although 3 meetings being advertised in one go might be enough > families, everyone, partnership).

We can decide whether to keep the event as planned for youth at the community centre suggested before Christmas too, if it is Christmas themed for example (and also possibly arrange another one next year too, which we can consult the young people (especially those who do not go to the community centre of other youth club) about eg how to make it something that might appeal to them (eg show a film afterwards?).

(Long post to start off >)

Timing:
Although the initial idea was to have run all the meetings before the Christmas holidays, this was found not to be possible because of time and some of us thought that it could be better to leave them all to next year (and because of the advertising and flyer to go to every household - quite a big job), it seems that the Rep and Origin workers (who had volunteered to help as well) are still organising some meetings (eg the meeting with families in mind, where they'll be a semi-crèche) for before Christmas and therefore getting the flyer printed soon as well.

Because of the apparent rush to get these things done, there seems to be little time to communicate so that we can know what is going on and therefore be involved. Hopefully, this forum will encourage that because people will be able to see what is going on, as they choose, and contribute. Sorry, there is not clearer information at the moment.

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Hall details (and for future consideration):
Currently, there are the 2 meetings mentioned in the last post and the one mentioned above. (I can put them on the diary that this forum has eg senior resident focused tea and cakes 4/12/14 at Jellicoe hall).

And a meeting for people interested in the "Partnership" (regular planning) with the venue currently chosen as Regent High (the school) in January. One good thing about this venue I think is it's quite central location in Somers Town, especially for the more quiet streets in the northern parts. It costs more than others and £120 p/h is apparently a reduced rate (whereas the new big hall in St Aloysius - you can see it through the windows in the basement as you pass on Phoenix road near euston station is about £60 - acoustics were not so good for talking in the large hall though we found at a/our meeting last year - and St Mary's church hall on Eversholt Street about £50. I can't remember the price of the tenant's halls, which for community groups is I'd say usually between 10-20).

The Partnership meeting was talked about being booked for quite a few hours (eg at least 4, apparently to be done properly, and some residents have had some ideas about this too) and so it is expensive and in that case I think it's another reason to make sure that people are aware of it.

The family friendly meeting (for introduction information and consultation) is now being considered for Basil Jellicoe hall (for free from Origin housing) after attempts made at booking the very nice Doreen Bazell hall on Chenies Place/Goldington St but I think it's booked up already. The Basil Jellicoe hall is quite nice.

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(If you can't find this forum, an easy way to remember is to go to: www.somerstownresidents.org (which is stuck and NOT up to date with meetings) and go to the very bottom of the page)

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Update:  (As I understand it following an email from Chris Church the Big Local rep to people who were interested in the setting up stage initially) It has been decided not to rush in to things but to get a large amount of people (residents) engaged and excited about the Big Local and to be clear about how it will work.

He has some ideas about how to proceed and thinks that a group to commit to helping to consult with the whole community is needed.  He has suggested a meeting in early January to see what people think about this, and whether they are interested.  Everyone on the residents email list will be emailedwith dates for this as soon as we have them, and news updates will be posted here too.

(We have found a resident who will look into developing an Internet Forum idea, like this free one, so that people can see what is going on and be involved in giving information and opinions themselves.)