News in brief

The K&C Link are conducting a survey into access to and satisfaction with GP services.

The Local Involvement Network, which aims to improve health services, is asking people to fill out a short questionnaire either in person or over the phone, and they will pay £5 for every completed survey.

Anyone interested in taking part should call the Link office on 020 8968 6771 or email rbkclink@hestia.org.

Youngsters from the Royal Borough with learning difficulties and disabilities visited Shakespeare's Globe Theatre last week.

The trip was organised by Kensington and Chelsea Council's Connexions Service, as often those in specialist education do not have the chance to learn about the Bard, unlike children in mainstream schools.

Working in conjunction with the theatre, the two-day project included a tour of the Globe as well as drama activities linked to Shakespeare.

It was designed to improve the youngsters' self-esteem and communication skills, and gave them the opportunity to work towards an AQA accredited qualification.

Londoners are being invited to kick start their week with an adrenaline-filled charity abseil from the top of The Roof Gardens in Kensington.

The 100ft challenge will take place on Monday September 20, from 9am to 5pm, and will raise funds for Elizabeth Finn Care - a national charity supporting those living in poverty.

Participants are asked to pay £25 registration and raise a minimum £100 sponsorship.

For more information, visit www.elizabethfinncare.org.uk/abseil.

Registration forms are being delivered this week to residents in Kensington and Chelsea as part of the annual canvass of eligible voters.

Each household should receive a form, which they should return to Town Hall in Hornton Street, Kensington.

The council is using the forms to update its Register of Electors, which will be published in December.

For more information, visit www.rbkc.gov.uk

A new nine-strong advisory board has been appointed to take London Notting Hill Carnival Ltd forward to 2012.

This board will support the carnival organisers and help to implement the recommendations of a review, commissioned by London Councils, which is due in the autumn.

They will look at the potential success of this year's carnival, taking place over the Bank Holiday weekend, and hoping to build on it as they help organise future carnivals.

By-elections are to be held on Thursday September 16 for a councillor in the Cremorne and Earls Court wards.

The elections were called after former councillors Barry Phelps and Mark Daley following their involvement in the sending of inappropriate emails.

Applications for postal votes must reach Kensington Town Hall by Wednesday September 1, and applications for new proxy votes must be received by Wednesday September 8.

For more information, visit www.rbkc.gov.uk.

A display of drawings by North London artist Stephen Walter has been put on for visitors to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

'The Island - London Series' is a collection of intricate drawings that map the cities 33 individual boroughs, but joins them together as one large island.

The images are in the Rhys Williams Gallery on the first floor, and 25% of sale proceeds will go to funding future arts projects at the hospital.

The display will be on until September 24.

This year's Notting Hill Carnival on August 29-30 is starting earlier than usual, at 9am, to make sure that it can all be drawn to a close before nightfall.

A residents' information bulletin has been distributed to homes in the areas most affected by the carnival.

The information can also be downloaded from www.rbkc.gov.uk/carnival or picked up from libraries across the borough or Town Hall in Hornton Street.

Kensington and Chelsea Social Council will be celebrating its 50th anniversary with a tea party at the House of Lords.

Former leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, Baroness Joan Hanham, will be hosting the event on Wednesday September 22.

It will give members and volunteers the chance to celebrate their achievements over the past half century.

The social council has a few spare places at the tea, and is inviting those who have worked in the voluntary sector in the Royal Borough to get in touch through www.kcsc.org.uk.

A 'no more clots' campaign has been launched by Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, aiming to reduce preventable blood clots by 20% over the coming year.

Clots, including deep vein thrombosis, are thought to cause more than 25,000 hospital deaths in England each year, although figures for Chelsea and Westminster are unavailable.

All adult patients admitted to the hospital will now have an electronic risk assessment on admission, which will then be repeated after 24 hours, to try and prevent and treat clots.