Podcast
Our Future Hood
Hosted by Portobello Radio · EN
Our Future Hood is a series of shows produced by Portobello Radio to look at the ways community, council and social enterprises are working together in North Kensington to create a greener future for residents and at the same time saving some money and our bit of the planet. The shows look at issues like the zero waste kitchen, mindful gardening, better recycling and active travel with conversation, facts and tips. It is born out of the Notting Dale Future Neighbourhoods 2030 Project, supported by Mayor of London, which aims to develop a blueprint that can be replicated across London and the rest of the country.
9episodes
Episodes
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Schools Lead The Way
Jan 1500:35:19Tap to summarizeNotting Dale in RBKC is one of two wards chosen to develop solutions to create a greener future, as part of the Mayor of London’s Future Neighbourhoods 2030 programme. Schools are at the forefront of the project. How are they doing that? We asked pupils at Thomas Jones Primary School how local schools are leading the way on climate action — cutting emissions, improving air quality, and inspiring young people to care for the planet. Through the Future Neighbourhoods 2030 programme, schools are tackling climate change head-on — from solar energy and flood prevention to greening and clean air project. We brought together Headmasters David Sellens (Thomas Jones) and Ben McMullen (Avondale Park), Cllr Catherine Faulks, Lead Member for Family & Children's Services at RBKC, and Anca Giurgiu, senior manager Notting Dale Future Neighbourhoods Team to discuss how climate action can be practical, local, and deeply educational. By working together — schools, the Council, and the community — we’re creating greener, healthier learning environments for future generations. It’s inspiring to see how schools, the Council, and local partners are working together to make a real difference — not just in buildings and infrastructure, but in how young people think about the planet and their role in protecting it.
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Retrofit Warmer Homes
Jan 1500:39:58Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we examine how homes in Notting Dale are being retrofitted to be warmer and more energy efficient, helping ourselves as well as our bit of the planet. We brought together Cllr Johnny Thalassites, Lead Member for Environment and Planning at RBKC, James Caspell of Lancaster West Neighbourhood Team, Jill Brown who has recently stepped down as head of the Resident Association at Henry Dickens, and Mushtaq Lasharie CBE, chair of LWRA. In October 2019 the Royal Borough declared a “Climate emergency” and set a target for the Council’s own operations and buildings to achieve net zero emissions by 2030. This target includes emissions from Council owned social housing estates, schools and operational buildings, fleet activities, street lighting, waste collection and parks maintenance service. Housing accounted for 73% of the Council’s total emissions in 2022, and Notting Dale has 20% of the borough’s social housing. All three large estates in Notting Dale are over 50 years old: Henry Dickens was built in the early 50s; Lancaster West and Silchester were both constructed at the same time as the Westway, in the early 70s. They all have issues with inadequate insulation and the cost of energy supply. But residents have fought hard to preserve these homes and their communities, so knocking them down and rebuilding is not an option. We hear how community energy, local jobs, and innovation can shape the next phase of the drive to achieve net zero by 2030. It can be a disruptive process, but local homes are being made warmer and greener through retrofitting
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Flooding
Jan 1500:39:35Tap to summarizeIn this episode we are looking at flooding and in particular at the flash floods of July 2021 which had devastating effects on homes, businesses and schools. Portobello Road became a river in minutes and it became national news. We brought together Fiona Fleming-Brown from Portobello Flood Action Group and James Latham from RBKC to discuss the challenges and solutions, plus we talk to headmasters David Sellens (Thomas Jones) and Ben McMullen (Avondale Park) whose schools were flooded; to James Burton, the Council's tree expert, and to Sarah Cross of Lancaster West's Neighbourhood Team, who oversaw the creation of a rain garden in Verity Close. Climate change means London can expect more intense, heavy downpours, even if summers become drier overall. Kensington and Chelsea has the highest number of properties at risk of surface water and sewer flooding in the whole of London, especially basements. Notting Dale is particularly at risk. Water from other parts of London gravitates here and we have a high proportion of hard surfaces which feed the water into the Victorian drainage systems.
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Air Quality
Jan 1500:40:24Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we look at the thorny issue of Air Quality and what happens when that turns in to air pollution. How can we find out when conditions are dangerous, and what can we do, individually and collectively, to improve the quality of the air we breathe. We bring together Becky Brown at RBKC and James Bellinger at Arup about how levels are monitored; Jack Alexander at Global Action Plan, who goes into the borough's primary schools to talk to the children; and Debra Eden, a mother, grandmother and youth worker. We learn how pollution works, where it is bad and how to take action to avoid the worst effects. Plus Lilian Gowan at Lancaster West Neighbourhood Team explains how domestic air quality monitors work and where to get one free of charge
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Circular Economy
Nov 12, 202400:31:19Tap to summarizeThe Circular Economy is all about reducing the waste that gets sent to landfill, by reusing, recycling, repairing and sharing. The process helps to conserve energy and resources while preventing emissions. In this episode, we answer listeners’ questions about recycling, follow the journey of a plastic bottle through the system, find out about repair cafes, community fridges, and the Library of Things, meet the upcyclers bringing women together and realise how important it is to recycle our electrical waste. This show contains a wealth of insights and tips as we meet a whole bunch of people making a difference.
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Community Energy
Oct 24, 202400:30:42Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Our Future Hood takes a look at Climate Action and the opportunities offered by Community Energy. We know that climate change is caused by human activities and threatens life on earth. At the root of this is burning fossil fuels, coal, gas, petrol. We all know we need to take action but what can we do? The good news is that there are people locally who are doing something about it We talk to Nasri of North Kensington Community Energy and Neil and Jules from Repowering London, and to the young trainees Alam and Agnes.
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Active Travel
Oct 17, 202400:37:30Tap to summarizeActive Travel means using your own energy to power your travel, like walking, bicycling or scootering. It cuts pollution, improves physical and mental health and saves money. In cities like Amsterdam, Copenhagen and even Paris, it is now the preferred way go getting from A to B. So how can we get more people out of their cars and onto a bike? This episode takes a look at Active Travel, with Zoe, Erma and Valerie from Bikeworks and driver Nicholas Burton. Will we be able to convert him? Tune in and find out.
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Zero Waste Kitchen
Oct 3, 202400:36:19Tap to summarizeThe average UK household throws away £83 worth of food a month (nearly £1000 per year). That has huge implications for the environment and for our pocket but we can make a huge difference with a few small changes . We talk to Oli, chef at Nourish Hub, and some of the volunteers, to find ways to help ourselves as well as our bit of the planet.
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Mindful Gardening
Sep 24, 202400:33:40Tap to summarizeMindful Gardening features ‘Herb’ Robert Pereno (Lancaster West Tea Gardener) and RBKC Community Gardener, Lisa Wilkinson, in conversation about the benefits of getting your hands dirty, how to grow your own food and the mental health benefits of volunteering in one of the growing number of gardens and projects around.
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