Haringey Community Action Network Report of first Coordination Meeting, 26th March 2023

Posted: April 19, 2023

In attendance Steve Jones (convenor), Anne O’Daly and Michael Calderbank (co moderators), Raj, Alison, Anne, Arif, Dave, Jane, Jon, Katie, Mike, Myria, Paul, Sarah, Zaher, Vivek, Florence

The above were representatives from the 16 following groups: Haringey Claimant Justice Campaign, Haringey Trades Union Council, Haringey Over 50s Forum, Haringey Right to Food, Day-Mer / North London Community House, Haringey Welcome, Unite Community (Haringey and Barnet), Haringey Friends of Parks Forum, Tottenham Refugee Alliance, Haringey Solidarity Group, Extinction Rebellion Haringey, Haringey Anti-Raids, Haringey Streets Kitchen, Tottenham Refugees, Haringey Don’t Pay, Stand Up To Racism, Enfield and Haringey and Enfield Climate Justice Coalition, Keep Our NHS Public.

Steve explained how HCAN was formed out of the 200-strong ‘Haringey Demands Better’ public meeting in September 2022, called by the Trades Council and supported by dozens of organisations across Haringey. It was agreed at that meeting to launch an on-going local solidarity and campaigning network, bringing together community organisations and trade unions. That meeting elected Steve to be the Convenor of HCAN.

Group round up of recent activity

Trades Council – Paul

Main work recently – organising support for industrial actions.

COP 26, Climate Justice Coalition – Raj

Build for the climate actions in April.

Over 50s/Keep Our NHS Public – Anne

Issues of concern: poor uptake of pension credit; high fuel bills; discontent with deficiencies of NHS and social care.

St Ann’s GP Practice (based at Laurels Centre): contract up for renewal in June.
The meeting of the Primary Care Contracting Committee of the NCL NHS 5 borough ICS board to which HKONP will send a deputation is on 11 April.

Haringey Right to Food – Alison

Issues with Community Cook UP – evicted from regular premises and having to operate outside.
Haringey RTF planning a community event in June.

Next meeting of the group: Monday 3 April, 7 pm, Antwerp Arms.

Day Mer – Arif

Supporting strike actions.

Campaigning against poverty – advising Turkish and Kurdish speakers across North London about the cost-of-living crisis.

Mobilised massive response to the earthquake, which was in a predominantly Kurdish area. Raised £100,00 to support relief efforts. Lack of support from the state.

Campaigning around general election in Turkey, supporting progressive and Kurdish candidates.

Haringey Welcome – Myria

Grassroots collective working on migrant justice and migrant solidarity.

Launched No Small Victories podcast to create a digital archive of migrant voices and solidarity actions.

Activism against hostile environment, including against the attempted forced removals from hotel in Muswell Hill. Hotels are now over capacity.

Part of the Haringey Migrant Justice Coalition.

Unite Community – Mike

Union for unwaged members – retired or not working.

Organises solidarity actions for industrial disputes. Organised protests against cuts to debt advice last month.

Support other groups including Right to Food and Claimants Justice Union with funds.

Haringey Solidarity Group – Jon

HSG formed from Haringey Anti Poll Tax campaign.

Local campaigns include housing, claimants issues, challenging gentrification. Supporting Don’t Pay campaign.

Latest meeting was about campaigning for housing rights – talking to other groups to organise a housing coalition.

Haringey Friends of Parks Forum – Dave

Forum brings together 60 friends of parks groups. Works with the council. Supports community empowerment of uses of parks.

Dave is also part of Haringey Community Centres Network (30 members), Haringey Federation of Residents’ Associations (approx. 100 – quiet at the moment), Our Tottenham Network (council planning), Sustainable Haringey.

XR – Jane

Arranged successful event to bring together groups and people with an interest in environment and climate justice.

Building for event 21 to 24 April – more than 50 other groups involved.

Stop Incinerator Campaign – anti incinerator march from Parliament Square on 24 March.

Actions defending street trees – insurance companies bullying councils to cut down trees. Council is taking legal action against the tree defenders.

Haringey Anti Raids – Katie

Resist Home Office immigration raids.

Stall on Saturday mornings on Green Lanes (venue might change soon).

Arrange workshop activities to empower people standing against raids.

Part of Haringey Migrant Justice Coalition.

Streets Kitchen – Sarah

Grassroots operation, gives out hot food and drinks, advice and solidarity, at Seven Sisters on Sunday evenings.

Tottenham Refugee Alliance – Michael

TRA has accreditation to help a refugee family that has been granted asylum. However, facing problems finding affordable property in private rented sector that can accommodate a family.

Campaigning against Illegal Migration Bill.

Also part of Haringey Migrant Justice Coalition.

Stand Up to Racism – Vivek

Actions against Asylum and Immigration Bill

Past campaigns have included Kids’ March Against Racism, campaign for renaming of Black Boy Lane, highlighting police harassment.

Don’t Pay Haringey – Zaher

Set up last year. Organised leafleting and speaking to people. Activity suspended at the moment – waiting for new leaflet.

Communications

Meeting with Jamila from Anything Everything Tottenham podcast.

Regular newsletter to keep people up to date.

On-line calendar with dates of future actions.

Questions

a discussion WhatsApp group?
Newsletter to go out to everyone who attended the original meeting in September.

Workshop

Proposal was suggested in December.

Plan is for a Saturday in late May/early June.

Open to everyone.

Structure: people can attend 2 workshop sessions; plenary at the end.

Workshops to be led by the relevant CAN group members.

Aim is to develop strategies and plans.

Suggested lineup:

Campaign Against Poverty
Trade Unions and Building Support for Strikes
Climate Action
Refugee and Migrant Support
Save the NHS

Questions and comments:

Agreement that the workshop is a good idea.

Format of the workshop – how to avoidactivists just speaking to each other.

Publicise like the original meeting to get as many people as possible.

TU workshop – separate or integrate with other groups? Trades Council prefers latter.

Save the NHS – expand to cover public services (though one person thought this was too broad) to health and social care.

Include a session on how to be an activist?

Have a session on Housing to replace TU session.

Include something to consider how the network can develop and grow.

Use the workshop to build for events and actions.

Have cross-cutting workshop sessions (eg Effecting change where we live).

Category: Uncategorized