A fine time was had by all who came along to our Great Get Together

A fine time was had by all who came along to our Great Get Together event at the Concorde Youth Hub last Friday. It was well attended and everyone was happy with the sounds, refreshments, performances and activities. Well done to all who helped to make this happen. Also Member of Parliament Meg Hiller (Hackney South and Shoreditch) came along to have fun before delivering a short speech about her former colleague MP Jo Cox who was brutally murdered two years ago this week. Meg highlighted what these get together events are for; a celebration of diversity and having a good time with new and old friends.

A special mention must go to sound engineer, all round good guy and team player, Devon (pictured on the left with Keir) who volunteered his time to make sure the set was sounding sweet - Thanks Devon! Also credit must go to Gary Burgess of Hackney Marsh Partnership, the Concorde Youth Hub manager (Joyclen) for taking care or everything including plenty of excellent hot Caribbean.

Jay & Joyclen

Member of Parliament Meg Hillier (Hackney South & Shoreditch) welcomed & surrounded!

In house dancers E-Kids in action 


 

Concorde social up-date, big things a gwaan!

Well we are under two weeks to go until our date and our 2018 installment of the The Great Get Together, honoring Jo Cox at the Concorde Youth Hub. It's on Friday 22nd June 4-9pm
This is a nation wide series of events with many shows taking place up an down the land, also there are happenings in Ireland, Luxembourg and Netherlands.

Locally our preparations are going well, we have a full complement of ICiC & CCH staff lined up to be on duty during the session along side Concord's regular youth worker team. 
A MiHS sound test will be carried out as part of the Concord's youth group's session on Thursday evening 21st June. And we hope to be able to promote well on the day by setting the rig up outside to go on show (sounding out neatly) for a few hours before the event starts inside at 4pm.   
Caribbean food is on the way, Concord's artists are getting their acts together and the World Cup will be on the in-house big TV screen. The match happens to be the Group D game Nigeria  V  Iceland 16:00 at the Volgograd Arena on BBC TV 

              Hope you can make it, it's going to be a good one, sounds will travel!

The Great Get Together

On Friday 22nd June 2018 Interlinkx CiC are working with Hackney Marsh Partnership and the Concorde Youth Hub to deliver a social event at the Concorde Centre to honor the memory of Jo Cox. 

https://www.greatgettogether.org/

Look out for news and posters for our other two Great Get Together events to be held at Fawcett Estate Thursday 28th June and Elsdale Hall Saturday 23rd June (London Youth Games after party)

Hackney's had a share of the trouble going on out in the streets lately, the generally divisive atmosphere some try to push and that 'hostile environment' government policy. By coming together (young & old) at The Concorde Youth Hub, we will demonstrate that we much prefer to protect and look after each other. Getting on and having a good time while celebrating our history, culture and diversity it what we are really about in Hackney and on Kingsmead Estate.

Keir Apperley

Safety - community leader consultation meeting

Last Thursday evening an urgent, community leader consultation meeting was held. It was called for by Hackney Council in response to the tragic loss of life of a young resident that occurred recently in central Hackney, an incident that has had an impact on all of us. I was in attendance to represent CC Hackney & Interlinkx CiC along with so many youth club leaders, councilors, parents, religious leaders, educationalists and council officers. Also there were the Mayors of Hackney and London; Philip Glanville and Sadiq Khan. At the start a minutes silence took place to remember young Israel Ogunsola, the latest victim to pass away on a road in London.
We were told that this is part of an on going programme and conversation to bring on change to make Hackney safer for everyone. The arrangements were for those present to sit at round tables in assorted groupings to discuss the effect, causes and possible solutions to the resulting climate of fear after rising violent incidents in the borough. By the end, each table would present their main outcomes for the facilitators to record. For my part I contributed by stating that reports of gun and knife crime has caused lower attendance at our youth sessions and that parents are expressing anxiety over their children when they are out of sight. As for the causes I offered my belief that there has been too much of a disconnect between adults and young people in general for too long and that social divisions in Hackney make for a loss of community feeling, guidance and protection for our most vulnerable people. This has exasperated the sense in some youngsters, that there is little hope for them to find a prosperous and successful future. None of this is helped by the austerity policies that are being implemented by central government. Such as the 20% cut in police funding and successive enforced local government spending cuts that have inevitably impaired services, including youth work provisions and structured, inclusive sporting practices.
During the final presentations a young man stood up and quoted the old African saying 'it takes a village to raise a child' and followed up to say that his table had agreed that committed community leaders and role models should be viewed in high regard and especially those who are from, live in and serve the area. Hackney Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement Caroline Selman was supportive and pleased to know that ICiC and CC Hackney's young adult outreach staff fitted this description. That's Henry Boateng, Kevin Cabey, Michael Anuyagu, Sulaymaan Altamash, Ceasar Bryan and returning original Fawcett leading boy, Sean St Louis. Before leaving I spoke with Mayor Philip Glanville saying that as if it's not hard enough a problem we have already thanks to the spending cuts from powers in Westminster. He said (words to the effect) that Hackney will act smart despite this, and do everything possible to make society changes for the better.

Keir Apperley - let's stay safe and look after people.
Dir. Interlinx CiC & CC Hackney's lead coach/manager.

New youth session starting at Elsdale Hall

Interlinkx CiC, CC Hackney & local youth club Hackney Quest are coming together to deliver a new youth training session, starting at Elsdale Hall on Tuesday 24th April. 

Hackney Housing are funding this provision. This project is aimed at those new to cycling and group riding, also young people who'd otherwise not get to ride good cycles with qualified coaches.

Young volunteers wash Concord's youth & community bikes

Volunteer help for others makes the world go around! 

Last Wednesday CC Hackney & ICiC's estate based bike club aspect (at Kingsmead Concorde Centre E9) had plenty of help and good will from youngsters, some of whom don't even go out on the winter rides. It was the time to get down and wash the bikes regularly used on loan to members who do not have their own cycles.

Three down - twenty two to go.

Sessions canceled - Fawcett Youth & Community Bike Club

Weather warning

Fawcett bike club attendees - due to the extreme weather conditions this week, the session at Fawcett Youth & Community Bike Club tonight has been canceled. We're expecting to be back on next Thursday 8th March.

 

  No slip ups OK & stay safe out there!