Community organisers take up position

The first 47 people trained as Community Organisers have been recruited from 11 communities. The plan is for the Organisers to be trained from now until 2015 and they will be based in local groups, bringing people together around various local issues. It is hoped that the Organisers will be involved in assisting communities to take advantage of the Community First Fund. Locality has launched a website where you can find our nearest community organiser and your nearest host.

‘People power' removed from the Localism Bill

The House of Lords has removed the flagship 'local referendum' provision, which provided the community empowerment element from the Localism Bill, and have allowed voters to launch a local referendum on any local issue. "We have listened to the concerns over expense and have decided, with regard to towns, that the local referendums do not need to have a place within this Bill," said Baroness Hanham, Parliamentary-Under-Secretary of State. However, Hanham added that referendums have not been totally abandoned and still exist for council tax, right-to-build and neighbourhood planning, a cornerstone of the Bill. Full list of amendments here

A Plain English guide to the Localism Bill

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/pdf/1923416.pdf

Do you need volunteers for your organisation?

As part of the Young Hackney Volunteer Programme, CSV (Community Service Volunteers) are looking for one-off volunteer opportunities in Hackney for groups of 16 year olds for this coming Saturday October 1st and Saturday October 2nd.

The volunteers will be supervised, refreshments provided by us and we’ll ensure their safety on the day what CSV are looking for are organizations/ groups that could benefit from their volunteers help.

They also have funding for materials such as buying bulbs or paint.Example one day projects could be painting a youth centre, clearing an outside space in a park/ community garden, planting a winter crop of blubs in a care home, striping paint in a church etc.

If you could benefit, or if you have any questions please get in touch mruskin@springboardlc.org.uk or 02085104906

Home Sweet Home

refugees, migrants and legal aid

Exhibition of photographs

Free entry

Wed 6 July – Fri 15 July 2011

Hackney Central Library

(next to Hackney Town Hall)

Mare Street,London E8 1GQ

Buses: 30, 48, 55, 106, 253, 254,

236, 276, 277, D6

Overground: Hackney Central; London Fields

Exhibition launch with speakers and discussion

Wed 6 July, 6.00pm

Hackney Refugee and Migrant Support Group

Women Asylum Seekers Together (London)

Home Sweet Home

A photographic exhibition presented by Hackney Refugee and Migrant Support Group and Women Asylum Seekers Together (London). The photographs highlight the conditions migrants and refugees experience today and raise questions about the detrimental impact on them if the proposed cuts in legal aid are implemented.  

Cuts in legal aid

Legal aid is provided by the Government to fund legal advice and representation at court for people who cannot afford it. Over half a million people will lose out, according to the Government's own figures, if the legal aid budget is to be cut by £350 million. Legal aid for advice and representation on immigration, housing and benefits will become severely restricted.

Exhibition supported by Hackney Law Centre, Tower Hamlets Law Centre, Women for Refugee Women, Hackney Borough of Sanctuary group, Hackney Unites

Hackney Refugee and Migrant Support Group: 

http://hrmsg-online.ning.com

Women Asylum Seekers Together (London): www.wast.org.uk wastlondon@yahoo.co.uk

For more details about the exhibition and the proposed changes to legal aid, email

hrmsgroup@googlemail.com / or call 07791 991416

CELEBRATING WHAT YOU DO - CYP SURVEY

We know, yet another survey - the information from this will be used to create a directory with details of children and young people’s voluntary and community groups in Hackney. 

• We are working with The Learning Trust and Team Hackney to develop a school grants programme for voluntary and community sector (VCS) groups working with children and young people in Hackney. This will help The Learning Trust identify projects which should be funded
• The children and young people’s agenda is always changing and this directory will help us advocate with policymakers and commissioners for more resources for your vital work. It will also help the Children & Young People’s Forum, who advocate for the needs of local groups, to gain a better understanding of what is out there
• You can find out about other groups in Hackney, who you could partner up with and refer your users to 
• You get to publicise your organisation or project for FREE!

What is this survey about?

It may look long, but it’s lots of tick boxes and should take no longer than 20 minutes to complete. There are 15 questions which cover:

• your organisation’s contact details 
• the services you provide
• the children and young people who take part in your activities
• your relationship with local schools, the public sector and other VCS groups.
   
  Please complete the survey at  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/cypsurvey

TALKING MATTERS - 10th AMG!

Join Talking Matters at there 10th AMG
Wednesday 22nd June
12.30pm for light lunch, 1.15 for speaker

Mr Ian Beever, specialist in central and local government health policies
speaking on
"The NHS" Who is safe to deliver it for us?

Visnitz Hall, Lampard Grove N16 6XB (off Stamford HIll, near Morrisons) with wheelchair access

For more info please contact Jose Martin 020 8802 9222