This week there will be a special Mill Event – a plant sale – to celebrate Earth Day on Saturday 22 April – and below you can find out more about this, and … details of all other activities/events taking place at The Mill this week which are open to newcomers as well as regulars. Information given includes cost (if any), if booking is required or if you can just drop-in, and who to contact for more information.
But – remember – you don’t have to join an activity. Everyone is welcome at The Mill whenever we are open … you can borrow a book from the honesty library, bring your little ones to enjoy all the toys in the playroom, make a cuppa and have a chat – and browse leaflets, flyers and posters on display to find out what else is going on throughout Waltham Forest. There’s always someone on reception to welcome you and give more information.
All week (except Monday)
Memories of Shops and Shopping around St James Street – an exhibition which you can view in The Mill’s living room until the end of this week – 22 April 2017. Over the last year, LBWF, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, has been restoring historic buildings and improving shop fronts and the street environment in the St James Street Conservation Area. As part of this project, Waltham Forest Oral History Workshop (WFOH) members and volunteers have been interviewing shoppers, shop workers and stallholders and have created a collection of more than 30 recordings to bring the area’s history to life. Extracts from these recordings can be heard in the exhibition alongside other voices from the archive, some dating back to the First World War. There are vivid memories from many decades ago together with local people’s hopes and opinions about the future of this part of Walthamstow. WFOH has also explored archive sources in Vestry House Museum and selected images from its extensive collection of historic photographs, to demonstrate how local shops and the local population have changed over more than a hundred years. For more information contact WFOH by email or ring 020 3002 0111 (during office hours).
Monday 17 April
The Mill is closed for the bank holiday.
Tuesday 18 April
10am-1pm – Sociable Sewing – Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or an experienced sewer, all are welcome. You can bring your own sewing, patchwork, darning or mending. Learn a new skill, have fun with fabric or just sew in company. An experienced sewer, Hilary, will be on hand for help and advice, and we have sewing machines available if you need them. £1 donation + small costs for materials. For more information, please email
1pm-3pm – Carers FIRST – If you look after someone, who looks after you. If you support a relative or friend who due to a health condition, disability, frailty or addiction could not manage without your help then you are a carer and we can support you. Come along to our group and talk with a Carers FIRST support worker about your caring role and find out what we can do to help. Our group is open to carers aged 18+ who provide some support to a relative or friend. To find out more call Carers FIRST on 0300 303 1555 or visit the website .
1.30pm-3pm – Tiny Talk – These classes are a programme created especially for toddlers by the award-winning TinyTalk baby signing team. These fabulous, fun classes will help to give your child a strong foundation in communication and language. The classes are designed to develop your child’s confidence and other essential skills such as teamwork and listening, to get the best from school and life! Suits children who are starting to walk and talk (usually around 18months – 3yrs). Classes are £7 per class, booking in advance is essential – contact Rose: by phone 07770531075, by email or go to website
4pm-7pm – Community Acupuncture Clinic – For full details of this low-cost acupuncture clinic click here for contact details and how to book (booking essential)
Wednesday 19 April
10am-2pm – Community Voices – A programme of ESOL, aimed at migrant women of all backgrounds who want to integrate into their community, train as a volunteer, run local community events and gain an ESOL speaking qualification. The level is intermediate, Entry 3/Level 1. For more details please contact Hilary by email or ring 0207 2756750
12pm-2pm – Laughter Club – Meets weekly and is for people to socialise and make new friends and enjoy pleasant company. Set up originally for people who are on employment support allowance on the work programme with SEETEC, but others are welcome. For more information email.
1.30pm-2.30pm – Learn Urdu – Asima Baig is a qualified experienced Pakistani Urdu teacher. £1 donation to The Mill. For more information email Asima or ring 07450 282735
6.30pm-8pm – Knitting Drop-In – Suitable for experienced knitters or the complete beginner. Support and teaching where required. Everyone welcome for £1 donation. For more information email – or just come along.
Thursday 20 April
12pm-1.30pm – Words, Conversation and Scrabble group – Come along to gain confidence in spoken English, or simply if you enjoy a good game of Scrabble to help improve your vocabulary. All nationalities welcome. For more information email Adele Tinman.
12pm-2pm Asian Women’s Support Group – A group for Asian women to socialise and learn skills. For more information email Amarjit
4pm-5.30pm – Junior Arts Club – For children of 6+. Each week of five sessions there will be a new approach. It’s best if you can make all sessions but we try to accommodate drop-ins and a few younger children. Children under 8 must be accompanied. Remember – being creative can sometimes be messy! Donation (to The Mill) of £2 per child. Spaces are limited so please book – in person by visiting The Mill, or ring 020 521 3211
Friday 21 April
10.00am-1pm – Knitting Group – Knitting Drop-In – Suitable for experienced knitters or the complete beginner. Support and teaching where required. Everyone welcome for £1 donation. For more information email – or just come along.
10am-2pm – Community Voices – see Weds 19 April for details
2pm-4.15pm – Bongalong – Fun music sessions for under 5s and their carers together: Singing, dancing, make believe and amazing percussion instruments. Bongalong provides opportunity for fun and interactive learning aimed at supporting social, physical, creative and intellectual development. Booking essential to build familiarity and confidence. Cost – classes work out at £5.25 a week. Come for a trial session £5.50, then book for the remaining weeks. To book contact Fiona by email or 07811 460114
Saturday 22 April
10am-10.50am and 11am-11.50am – Grow your Own Theatre –In these drama and making classes children aged 3-5 and 6-8 can make something with Sarah and use it to inspire adventures. As sessions are child-led and focused, no two sessions will ever be quite the same. For full details, click here.
10am – 11am – Spanish for you … Español para usted. Classes run by a native Spanish speaker for beginners and improvers (of any age) The cost is £6 per session (6 week term payable in advance). You are welcome to come along to a class and try it out. For more information or to enrol please email Roxana or ring 07709937543.
11am-2pm – Earth Day Plant Sale – Earth Day is celebrated on 22 April each year – and The Mill is holding a Family Friendly event for all in the local community to join in this celebration. Come along to find … Locally nurtured plants and seeds for sale to take home for growing and blooming in the Summer … or bring your own for a bring and buy swap … For children there will be a quiz – badges to be won – and activity packs … Refreshments – sweet and savoury bakes provided for sale by Mill Bakers, and real coffee too … Hand-made knits for sale … the Mill Knitters stall will be the place to find beautiful baby clothes and soft toys
Sunday 23 April
10am-1pm – Mill Radio – Mill Radio is a small group that meets at the Mill to make recorded programmes for podcast (distribution on the Internet) and distribution by means of free CDs at the Mill reception desk. Our aim is to explore issues that matter to local people, give a platform to local creative talent and engage in informal chat about all our lives, interests and opinions. Please check out our past programmes here – and join us on the third Sunday of each month between 10am and 1pm to make new ones.
Follow