What would your dream street look like?
By Ian MacIntyre, chair of Hanover Action Fancy taking part in an artistic, physically distanced but socially connected and radically important project? Want to make a difference to your street, help save the planet and be part of the first Brighton Liveable Neighbourhood? Imagine your perfect street. What would you like to see in it? … Continue reading What would your dream street look like?
Oh no, not martial arts!
Funnily enough, when my wife, Dee, suggested I go to a karate class with her in 1973 at NELP in Stratford E15, that’s exactly what I thought! By Paul Bonett I’d seen the Bruce Lee films which were all the rage at that time, but I never thought I’d be one of those folk in … Continue reading Oh no, not martial arts!
A new start for Gladstone Court
Gladstone Court is a residential housing development on Hartington Road adjacent to St Martins School. The block itself is not new, having formed variously student accommodation and social housing over the years, but it is about to embark upon a new chapter. In January of this year, Housing Committee approved a proposal to buy the … Continue reading A new start for Gladstone Court
Mini oasis pops up in Lewes Street
By Jane Thorp, Hanover Residents Association On Saturday, 19 September, we had a Pop-up Parklet Day in Lewes Street, in the car park next to the Greys pub. For those unfamiliar with the word ‘parklet’, I will just explain. A parklet is a mini green space with planting, benches, bike parks, etc, which encourages wildlife … Continue reading Mini oasis pops up in Lewes Street
A council for our community?
Since its foundation as an unincorporated voluntary association in 2019, the Hanover & Elm Grove Communities Forum has been considering the longer term structure and future of the group, and how the community voice and needs of the area may be best represented, amplified and actioned to deliver improved locally responsive services and opportunities for … Continue reading A council for our community?
Lockdown was hard but it brought out the best in our community
While the vast majority of people saw the need for extreme measures to kerb the spread of Covid-19, lockdown still came as a bit of a shock. Few of us had ever experienced anything like it before and it had a profound effect on us all. Our day-to-day lives changed drastically as we were forced … Continue reading Lockdown was hard but it brought out the best in our community
Help us shape Hanover Liveable Neighbourhood
As mentioned in a previous post, we have been given the go-ahead for the first pilot low-traffic neighbourhood in Brighton and Hove, which could transform part of our ward into what we’re calling Hanover Liveable Neighbourhood. This is a wonderful opportunity to optimise our outdoor space for everyone living here, and create greener, safer streets … Continue reading Help us shape Hanover Liveable Neighbourhood
A Low Traffic Neighborhood for Hanover and Elm Grove?
One unexpected outcome of the Covid-19 Pandemic is a change in the way our streets are used, with the combination of low traffic levels, good weather and a more home centered existence for most of us, our streets have become real community spaces, where neighbours can meet – often for the first time – and … Continue reading A Low Traffic Neighborhood for Hanover and Elm Grove?
Fund total doubles to over £4k thanks to the generosity of running challenge sponsors
A big thanks to all who sponsored our running challenges and helped fellow councillor David Gibson and I raise over £2,300 for the Hanover and Elm Grove Communities Forum Covid-19 Hardship Fund. David Gibson ran twice as far as me in total – 10km for 10 days. But I managed to complete 7 runs of … Continue reading Fund total doubles to over £4k thanks to the generosity of running challenge sponsors
2m Conversations – Lockdown Film Project with Phoenix ArtSpace
Artist, Katy Beinart and filmmakers John Edwards and Lily Murray, are making a film about people’s experiences of living through the lockdown. The aim is to preserve these stories for the future, so in future times we can look back on what we have been through, like a memory box. The idea is to collect … Continue reading 2m Conversations – Lockdown Film Project with Phoenix ArtSpace
Lockdown running challenge update
What a lovely day it is! I ran 7km for the fifth day of my 7k for 7 days challenge earlier this morning. I’m doing this, along with Cllr David Gibson, to raise money for our local food hubs and to set up a social supermarket, a non-profit, that will offer good quality, cheap food … Continue reading Lockdown running challenge update
The Hanover and Elm Grove lockdown running challenge
We hope these difficult times find you all safe and well. As your ward councillors, we have been doing all we can to support those in our community most affected by the Covid-19 crisis. We’ve been working with the Hanover and Elm Grove Communities Forum to support those in our ward who need help most during … Continue reading The Hanover and Elm Grove lockdown running challenge
Open Strings Music for all
Music promotes well-being and touches us in ways that words cannot describe. In recent months we have seen videos from Italy and Germany of people singing together from their balconies and families making music at home. In these strange times where we are cocooning and feeling disconnected there is a way to make and share … Continue reading Open Strings Music for all
News from Phoenix Art Space
Since our building closed at the end of March, we’ve been devising new and exciting ways of bringing what we do to our local community at home. Our Family Fun team, who usually run free monthly creative workshops for families with children aged 5-14, have put together a series of activities that people can access … Continue reading News from Phoenix Art Space
The Carers Hub is here to help
If you or someone you know are taking care of someone then you are not alone, The Carers Hub (01273-977000) is available with access to support and information.
Hanover and Elm Grove Community Zoom
Moving from our weekly meetings, we are now running to a fortnightly schedule, with the next community zoom video conference taking place this Thursday from 6.30pm. For the minutes of the last meeting look HERE AGENDA Welcome and introductions Actions and updates from last meeting Police update Food Hub update Community Food Co-Op Crowdfund update Website development … Continue reading Hanover and Elm Grove Community Zoom
Covid-19 Mutual Aid Baking Challenges
The other day, on the Elm Grove & Hanover Covid-19 Mutual Aid Facebook Group, someone asked if people were also running out of pasta in Italy. I told her that it didn’t seem to be that big of an issue there, as my friends were posting photos of their home made pasta! It got me … Continue reading Covid-19 Mutual Aid Baking Challenges
Hanover Terrace celebrates as longest-standing resident turns 90
On Easter Sunday, the Hanover Terrace Community Support Group gathered (at a suitable distance from each other!) outside the house of Connie, a very special isolating resident. We were there to sing Happy Birthday and help celebrate a 90th birthday. Connie has lived in her current house for an incredible 80 years and was born … Continue reading Hanover Terrace celebrates as longest-standing resident turns 90
The 8 o’clock Thursday ‘thank you’ clap
What can we call it, this clapping? Applause does not adequately describe it, the joyful nature of it, the surge of feeling that drives it. It starts just before the hour, as though some cannot wait for 8 o’clock, with a scatter of hand claps, tuning up for the main event. That rhythmic compression of … Continue reading The 8 o’clock Thursday ‘thank you’ clap
Thursday Zoom Time!
Continuing with our now regular weekly check-in we will be holding a Communities Forum Zoom on Thursday from 6.30 – 8pm. This week we will be happy to welcome PCSO Marlena Duleba from our local policing team with their latest updates. Another topic for discussion will be the garden growing. There is huge local interest … Continue reading Thursday Zoom Time!
An Easter message
Easter weekend marks the arrival of spring and is usually a time to come together with family and friends. The Christians amongst us celebrate the end of Lent and the resurrection of Jesus. This year, unfortunately, the way we are celebrating is different, as we must continue to do all we can to stop Covid-19 … Continue reading An Easter message
Thursday meetup #4
We will be holding our fourth weekly Zoom meeting in what has now become our regular slot of 6.30pm on Thursdays. It has been a hugely busy week, with the production and distribution of our first newsletter as well as the launch of our crowdfunding campaign, raising funds to support our food hubs and give … Continue reading Thursday meetup #4
Community Newsletter – Issue 1
Working with our ward Councillors, the council Community Engagement Team and the Trust for Developing Communities, we have compiled a community newsletter for residents which includes local links and phone numbers – particularly for those without internet access. The priority for delivery will be to get a copy to each household in council or social … Continue reading Community Newsletter – Issue 1

Joining forces with Mutual Aid
Stuck at Home? You’re not alone. Welcome to our shiny new Hanover and Elm Grove ‘Fighting Covid-19 together’ website designed for you to Get Help, Give Help and Get Advice for yourself and your neighbours so we, as a community, can get through this crisis together. This is our ward’s response to a situation none … Continue reading Joining forces with Mutual Aid
Thursday Meetup
The Communities Forum will be holding its third weekly Zoom meeting this Thursday April 2nd at 6.30pm. For notes from the last meeting, click HERE AGENDA Introductions Food update Mutual Aid update Actions from last meeting Fundraising for foodbank and other activities TDC Newsletter Website Risk of increased violence Any Other Business/Date of Next Meeting … Continue reading Thursday Meetup