Save Ravens Ait Eco conference Centre

Ravens Dreamtime

Ravens Tree Grove

SAVE RAVEN’S AIT ISLAND FOR US ALL

We want Raven’s Ait to be a community centre for you! But we need your support to make it happen. There are lots of ways in which you can get involved or show your support and the first, really easy way is to email, phone or write to Kingston council.

They need to know that the local community and beyond are right behind this project and are ready to demonstrate their solidarity with those eager to keep this island as a productive eco community centre for all.

Just one phone call from you might swing this debate and ensure that this wonderful space is rescued from being sold off to property developers and lost forever.

ACT NOW TO SAVE OUR COMMON LAND!

If you support the vision for Raven’s Ait as an eco community space where we as a collective can put into practice the concepts of sustainable living, permaculture, skills sharing, workshops and providing a community space for groups to meet and network, then PLEASE take five minutes to let the council know how you feel. They don’t know if you don’t tell them.

CALL: Bruce McDonald, Chief Executive Kingston Council 0208 547 5151

Gerry Sevenoaks, Head of Strategic Services 0208 547 5175

EMAIL: bruce.mcdonald@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

mayorsoffice@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

WRITE: The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, Guildhall, High Street, Kingston

upon Thames KT1 1EU

DEFEND YOUR COMMUNITY SPACE!

We welcome visits between 12 – 7pm every day. For a guided tour, cuppa and a chat get in touch with Nick 079646729222, Rick 07791042078, Camilla 07900800055 or Phoenix 07769791387 or hail the ferryman from across the water. Check out our website www.ravensait.org.uk for latest updates, events and videos and to see our proposal to the council. You can also join our facebook group:ravensait

Life on Ravens ait

The Verdict

Spring Equinox @ Ravens Ait Eco Island

Spring Equinox @ Ravens Ait Eco Island on the Thames

From Today till early next week please come and enjoy yourselves on a wonderful Island in the Thames with friends and family.

Over the course of the next four or five days there will be workshops to participate in, films to watch, discussions to be had and music to listen to.

During the day and evening the Island will be an open gathering to discuss the future of this space of common land.

On the Island there are gardens, meeting areas, healing spaces, workshop rooms, kitchens, dinning rooms, central fire.

Historically Ravens Ait has featured heavily in the foundation of the demoracracy that decides what this country does in the future. (ref Treaty of Lambeth 1217.)

From the 12th Century this has been a Island used by Kings, Queens and Commoners alike for gatherings, weddings and used by local villagers and people traveling along the Thames to and from London.

Only minutes from Surbition station and a nice walk along the river from Kingston Upon Thames, part of Ravens Ait is being used as a Eco-Conferance which supports many diverse areas within the Green Movement.

If your interested in coming please come to the address below:

Ravens Ait Island
The River Thames
Portsmouth Road (opposite Catherine’s Road)
Surbition
KT6 4HN

From Surbition Station please walk straight ahead across the roundabout passing by Waitrose. When reaching the traffic lights cross over the road and take the next right.

Portsmouth Road is at the bottom and the river is beyond the fence.

Call either Rick 07791042078, Phoenix 07769791387, Nick 07964672922 or Camila 07900800055 for more infomation and a lift to the Island.

Keep Networking For A Sustainable Future and have a Happy Spring Equinox

RAVENS AIT ECO FUTURES PROPOSAL

RAVEN’S AIT ECO FUTURES PROPOSAL

1) INTRODUCTION & OFFER SUMMARY
We are establishing a shared Eco Community Conference
Centre run by volunteers and run on a donations basis to
promote inclusivity.

We are collectively developing a facility that can actually
meet the urgent need for environmental awareness on
sustainability. Responding to Agenda 21 from the Rio Earth
Summit and following right through to the forthcoming
Copenhagen Summit.

We seek to make Ravens Ait a world class environmental
facility for all to utilise and enjoy.

2) BACKGROUND: WHO WE ARE

Collectively we are a group who have been making successful
professional and grassroots positive projects for community
building, social regenerations, and environmental awareness
activities. We have established eco/community centres for
over 17 years and have multiple projects experience.
We began our mission after the Rio Earth Summit 1992

3) AIMS & OBJECTIVES

A primary aim is to bring together a wide network of
groups, both local and from the wider established ecological
movement, and to run this world class environment facility
into the 21st century. In this we meet with the valuable
vision and creativity of established local groups.
To be host to cutting edge environmental pioneers who
inspire actions and solutions to our critical environmental
situation.
To raise awareness of Agenda 21 from the Rio Earth Summit
which is as poignant now as ever, it was the precursor to
the Kyoto Summit, focussing our minds towards the important
decisions to be made in Copenhagen Summit, this
December ‘09
Set up ongoing multimedia debate: How do we implement the
solutions to our urgent critical environmental situation?
We have already been covered by BBC TV, Radio, Podcast,
local and national papers (Guardian) and Internet.
Through Talks, eco cinema, discussion, debate,
demonstration, practical examples, research, and
collaborative projects which will stimulate local self
employed business, green jobs, tourism and arts and crafts.

4) LOCAL CONNECTIONS

Just to be clear, 3 out of the 4 first founders of this
project where born and bred in Kingston, and now of a total
core group of 12, 5 are long term Kingston residents and 1
other has worked in Kingston for a time.
Nathan from Maple Village Community Association and Gravy
media has been fully supporting this ecological action and
has been contacting many people in the council in the arts
and local leaders of business,such as Richard Gordon
Bennet.
Anya –Eco Arts and community _kingston
Colin Head of Community Arts
Christina Gardner-local community officer
Head Director of the YMCA

Russell-Staff connection to Kingston University
Hannah- students, people and planet at Kingston
University letter of support attacherd
We have links to the many groups that have put on Kingston
Green fair for years.
Des Kay- Save the world club

Sea scouts are using the facility again on Wednesday and
Friday evenings and Saturday and Sunday mornings. They have
donated us the use of a blue sea lion cabin cruiser and we
will be working cooperatively to repair boats and provide
education in boat skills and maintenance.

5) WHAT

We are proposing an Eco-conference centre for
environmental, community, social and green business.

Eco cinema raising awareness of a wide range of
environmental and social issues.
Networking solutions for a sustainable future.
Education, skills and knowledge sharing, like a green
university.

Localised debate via world wide multimedia about what the
solutions can be for our futures and exploration of the
solutions we hold already in our hands and how to put these
into action.
We have’ vision on TV’ (funded by the Liberal
Democrats.) setting up a live edit TV studio, here.See
letter attached.

6) HOW

By taking Action, Inspiring Cooperation, networking,
linking up social activism.
By linking community and council and engaging volunteers in
social activism we can provide and opportunity to rebuild
from this recession into a better fairer more stable
society.
Link quote from council on social action.Quote Gordon Brown
Social Action will lead to Economic regeneration.

7) WHY

Out of an urgent need for action on our critical
environmental situation
Ref BBC article http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7940532.stm
Latest science says worst case climate scenarios envisaged
by the UN 2 years ago are already being realised.Say 2,500
scientists at an International meeting in Copenhagen Thurs
12th march 2009.
Because many solutions already exist, what is needed is the
better networking of these. Part of our mission is to
compile solutions, create practical working examples and
network them.

8 ) BENEFITS
We can provide a bridge between the public and the council.
For example one of our linked projects ‘The Earth
Ambulance’ has done surveys and public engagement on
behalf of Enfield council and helped to support the setting
up of Enfield Environment Centre.
Our network was inspired by early visits to and
support from the Beacon Centre in Kingston in the 1990’s.

9) COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Ideas for outreach which will appeal to local groups-
Maple Village Community Association
Kingston University
Students, People and Planet
Poetry Night
Arts and Craft workshops
Sea Scouts
Solar powered music studio to teach music production skills
to young people and all ages
Video Editing suite
Vision on TV- Community television production training and
involvement in putting their own view out through media

10) EDUCATION SKILLSHARING
To create a kind of Green University of skillsharing and
Communituy building.
Timetable has begun to be compiled of talks and lectures,
presentations and skillshares.
With response to Agenda 21; enacting the blue print for a
sustainable 21st century.
Teaching sustainability Skills
Links to Forest School and Local Schools.

11) BUILDING NETWORKS

We have been involved with supporting and setting up many
years of projects and networks locally in London, as well as
nationally and internationally. Dating back to the 1992 Rio
Earth Summit- this was the first cohesive international
green plan and 179 countries agreed to a complete blueprint
for a sustainable 21st century.
We have been involved in the green movement since the first
Big Green Gathering and Rio 1992.
We have for many years assisted the Kingston Green Fair and
many other Green Fairs and events across the UK,
particularly ones promoting sustainable development.

12) SUPPORTERS – CONNECTIONS & GROUPS ONBOARD

Des Kay- Save The World Club
Water Keeper Alliance-JFK Foundation, Marine Tides
Monitoring Station.
Water Quality, Health and eco system sustainability.
Wild life Refuges

Vision On TV- Live Edit TV studio.
Greenpeace have requested an office here as they don’t
have one in Kingston.
Coltek Renewable Energies
I am joy arts festival – funded by Chichester Council
would like to help with workshops and put on an event.
Terraphonics Solar powered recording studio. Wish to train
people in music production skills.
Anita Maynard Asst head teacher of Tolworth Infants and
Juniors (Kingston University Alumni and National Young
Teacher of the year,) would like to link local primary and
junior schools- for various group/educational purposes.
We also aim to link to Beedlesford school special needs
groups.
Thames Environment Consultant- Gary is a expert in all the
projects along the Thames and will book in for a lecture.

Eco Shelter Charity

Ark project

Floating Island Communities
The Lifeline Project, (Phil Stebbing also the director of
deadline 2050), a new project partnered with
www.999itstime.com this project aims to send people to film
sustainable projects and communities across the globe to
weave a lifeline beyond the deadline. He aired his film and
made a lecture in the eco cinema 2 weeks ago.
Avalon Rising have proposed 3 conferences. Ancient history
of London, including how Kingston fits in to the overall
picture. With authors Chris Street (Earthstars), Hugh
Newman, Rob Stevenson and Toni Perrot.

Thamesbank Project, Dido Barclay has expressed an interest
to connect up with us, she knows the head of the
Environment Agency
Mungo music Workshop

Maple Garden – Community Association
491 Gallery -Leytonstone

Renewable Energy Conference
Conscious Living Foundation

Kingston University
Open Sailing Net- Are keen to build a prototype for part of
a floating sustainable village they have
already
Ollie Industrial design Consultant
Creative Approach –Jeff Luther personally supports our
project and has been working on projects which help in
clearing up the Thames, and The Otter Project. He does
fundraising for the Waterways Trust and the environment
agency, he said they are looking for projects to fund and
have £5000 grants still available.
Richmond Environment Network, Colin Cooper has expressed
support, he said Jason Debney from Thames landscape strategy
would like to link with us. (David Attenborough is their
patron)
Idyllic productions have offered workshops in theatre and
Circus for Kids and to help with fundraising events.

13) GROUPS WHOM WE SEEK TO PARTNER WITH
Transition Towns Kingston- we have made contact and are
endeavouring to work closer with them.

Environment Agency
Waterways Trust
Centre for Sustainability
Waterwise Education Centres
Kingston Volunteer association K.V.A. and also SCOPE.

Thames bank Project
Sheltered housing groups for O.A.P.s
Waterways Trust
“Future of the Thames” conference

Renewable Energy Conference
Stewart to book talk on London’s Lost Rivers
Local Friends of the Earth

14) HEALTH AND SAFETY

Fire risk assessment is being provided to the fire
department by our health and safety team, we are advised by
another borough council health and safety expert.
The fire detection system is operational. Sensors are
now in working order .We are fixing 2 of the call points.
We have tested the Emergency Lighting.
We have found the old Fire Log and will update this.
We hold health and safety management certificates.
We will be running first aid training courses soon.
We will be conducting a fire drill.
We are also compiling a full risk management policy to the
latest guidelines on standards.
We will be training our caretakers and stewards in Health
and Safety.

We have a £500 deposit for the electricity bill.
We have been given a £1,000 grant to seed this project.

15) FINANCIAL – ways we propose to make this centre
financially stable

Green business
Ecologically centred jobs
Hire of space
Sponsors and benefactors
Fundraising and grants
Events and workshops
Shop sales of environmentally products
Cafe refreshments
Appeals through the media for financial support.
Spreadsheet being compiled

FINANCIAL APPENDIX
Is currently being collated…..available as soon as
possible…

SECURITY COST
We provide free / low cost caretaking, security and
maintenance.
We are saving the council up to £5000 per week in security
costs.
That would be a total of £250,000 per year if this
facility was left un used for a year.

REPAIRS
Fixed leaking roof, cleared guttering, checking safety on
electrics, tidying and cleaning, boat and outboard servicing
and repair, in process of salvaging the Pontoon.
Maintaining the gardens and introducing the beginnings of
permaculture.
Ravens Ait has been left dilapidated and was being stolen
from, the roof was leaking and so the building damp, and
then our team came along and fixed it. The most valuable
portable items had been taken and a mess was left behind, we
have and are tidying up.

INVENTORY

We have begun an inventory for the site including the Sea
Scouts boats and equipment, kitchen and office and audio
visual, etc
We have an eco architect who has offered to help create a
site plan integrating as many green design features as we
can.
Jack and Mike from Kingston University Architectural
course have spoken with their tutors and have requested
usage of the island facility space for exhibitions, and have
offered help where required in respect to design or
architectural plans. As well as sustainable eco
technology research and application.

Project DIAGRAMS: are being prepared by our industrial and
eco designers and architects team.

PHOTOS to be suppilied.

Deal Offer summary
We have contact with a wide array of groups and
organisations in both environmentalism, television
media, radio broadcasting, community workings and outreach,
charity groups.
We seek a space for an agreed amount of time from which to
network our ever growing portfolio of projects.
We welcome council allegiance and aim to build and alliance
/network of concerned groups to run this facility. As a
circle of 20-30 concerned active community
groups. Providing the council with a flagship sustainability
project.

Solutions we would like to focus on with your input and
support.
We continue caretaking for an agreed period then pass
on/share responsibility to a wider co-ordination /management
group.

Public debate

The Citizens forum and public debate on this historic and
important public piece of community land has begun in many
media and we hope we can all agree a mutually beneficial
arrangement. As well as agreeing a joint media policy. So as
to show us all in a good light.
The next Citizens Forum /Public debate will be at the
Clattern Lecture Theatre at Kingston University Penrrhyn rd
Campus 7pm.
Appendix
1)Letters of Support
1) ARK Social Enterprise/Environmental Parliament
2) Hannah Kingston University Students
3) Vision ON TV
4) Mungo Music Workshop
5) Terraphonics Solar recording studio, and music
production training facility.
6) Open Sailing.Net
7) Ollie.palmer Industrial design consultant
Lifeline sustainability film project
2) Notes
To help local government to activate and utilise the wealth
of people and resources that can help with sustainability
projects.
We need space to do it rent free/ peppercorn lease as
stated by central governments recent comments.’ social
activism will help to resolve this recession.’
There is a constant stream of information in the wider
media and scientific community that our collective
consumption is way beyond what is possible for our community
/planet to continually support.

The rainforest has little time before it collapses from
deforestation, our seas and rivers are changing
rapidly, the ice caps are melting, and human solutions do
exist but have not been given enough energy.
We all need to work together right now.

Historically this island has been a place of peace
treaties, discussion and unification. This island is a very
important part of the history of the Royal Borough. Local
people have said it is just as important as the Kings stone
because it was part of the foundation of the British
parliamentary democracy and due to the treaty of Lambeth
made here in 1217 ,it allowed the confirmation of the Magna
Carta. Look in the British Library- Humanities section,
History Department.
This is just a small quick proposal put together over the
weekend.based on the last 3 weeks of intense activity. If we
focus on this together the council will save a lot of money
and we could create a flagship sustainability project for
Kingston.
We wish to make a fuller proposal and put forward something
that can work for all parties and related groups, with some
more time we can submit a further developed plan.

Forecast and peppercorn rent.
Having consulted with many local Kingston Groups we would
like to tender for a lease of 6 months or 1 year to begin.
This arrangement can be fully drawn up between us and the
council in consultation with both our legal Teams. We have
been offered the Connection to a top Barrister Alan
Masters.
This Interim period will help many projects while the
council is seeking other options. which may take time
to manifest.
What are the other proposals and options for this
island, these should be made available to Public
Knowledge and discussed in the Citizens Forum and the Media.
So that an option that benefits the council and all the
people can be found.
And may give us time ton put in a full business plan and
proposal and find funding for a longer lease or a deposit on
the free hold.
REFERENCES – LETTERS OF SUPPORT to be supplied

Ben Rich Jewish Community Centre for London
Siji Badejo –Circle Anglia Housing Association.

QUOTES
Prince Charles 11th March ‘we have only 100 months left
to save the planet from irreversible damage’
Central government ‘social activism which help to resolve
recession’
Link to www.999itstime.com
RESEARCH
We see this as an evolving research facility focused on
sustainability and solutions. We have been contacting school
and university geology, geography and environment
departments, experts in hydrology and biodiversity and many
other subjects to come and use this facility.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Raven’s Ait
Portsmouth Road
Kingston upon Thames
KT6 4HN

Pete Phoenix: 07769 791 387
Camilla Williams: 07900800055
Nick Revolving: 07964672922

Welcome to Ravens Ait

Due to the need for urgent environmental action. We have occupied an island in The Thames.

In these times of rising tides and melting ice shelves, we thought we should get a bit closer to studying the watery world and its rise.

Ravens Ait Island is a unique wedding and conference centre with halls, many rooms, workshop spaces, kitchens and gardens. On an enchanting island in The Thames near Kingston, (opposite Hampton Court). Which we are transforming into an Eco Conference Centre. Come visit, help, book in to run a skill sharing workshop and put it on the timetable. Network it. There will be an ongoing discussion here “how do we find SOLUTIONS to the environmentally critical situation we face?”