http://www.community-links.org/media Master Feed of content published on the Community Links Website en no-reply@community-links.org Copyright 2012 2012-02-03T10:52:27+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/news/pr/michael-smyth-cbe-announced-as-new-chairman-of-community-links/ http://www.community-links.org/news/pr/michael-smyth-cbe-announced-as-new-chairman-of-community-links/#When:10:52:27Z East London charity Community Links is delighted to announce the appointment of Michael Smyth CBE as new Chairman of Trustees. Michael was for more than twenty years a partner in Clifford Chance, the leading city law firm that has supported Community Links for many years. He led the public policy and government affairs practice, and had overall responsibility for its pro bono activities. He was awarded a CBE in 2009. Amongst his other roles Michael chairs Law for Life: the Foundation for Public Legal Education. He takes over as chair from Gavin Rennie, a former partner at Accenture, who held the post for five years. Michael Smyth said: “I am thrilled if not a little daunted to become Chairman of Community Links, the local charity with a big national footprint. I have long admired its work and in particular its determination to empower and strengthen deprived communities in east London. The challenge in the period ahead will be with less money to help more people. The task is not a small one." Geraldine Blake, Chief Executive of Community Links, said: “We are delighted to welcome Michael to Community Links - the years ahead are both exciting and challenging, and he brings a wealth of experience and passion for our work, which I know will be extremely valuable. We look forward to working closely with Michael and the Trustees to set a course for the future which enables us to make the biggest possible difference for people in east London. “We’d also like to extend our warmest thanks to Gavin for his five years as Chair, during which time he has guided the organisation through major changes and gone far beyond our expectations by twice running the London Marathon to fundraise for us.” Press Releases 2012-02-03T10:52:27+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/news/pr/new-fuel-advice-project-launched-by-mp-lyn-brown/ http://www.community-links.org/news/pr/new-fuel-advice-project-launched-by-mp-lyn-brown/#When:16:32:36Z West Ham MP Lyn Brown today launched a new project to provide advice and support for people struggling with fuel bills. At Community Links two specialist fuel debt advisors are working full time, helping Newham residents to cut their bills through simple actions and education, as well as helping people whose debts have risen out of control to negotiate with the energy companies and even get grants to write off some of the money owed. The Fuel Debt Advice project, which is funded by the British Gas Energy Trust, was launched in partnership with the Bromley-by-Bow centre who are also providing support to Tower Hamlets Residents, The  launch event  at Community Links' head office on Barking Road, heard from Lyn Brown MP about how local people are struggling to keep up payments to energy suppliers. The meeting heard first hand from someone who has been helped through the scheme. A seminar following the launch informed representatives from the Council, local housing associations and other charities how the project could benefit the people they work with in east London neighbourhoods. Community Links advisors Cheri and Nabila point out there is a lot families can do to reduce their bill themselves, from turning off heating and lights when they're not needed, to insulating doors and windows. Our free advice is available to all Newham residents and Nabila or Cheri can advise you over the phone or in person at Community Links' head office at 105 Barking Road. To get in touch with them, give them a ring on 0207 473 2270 or email them at fueldebt@community-links.org     News 2012-02-02T16:32:36+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/news/pr/guardian-christmas-appeal/ http://www.community-links.org/news/pr/guardian-christmas-appeal/#When:17:20:03Z Community Links is delighted to be named as one of the charities in this year's Guardian Christmas Appeal. If you've heard about us through the paper we thought you might like to know a bit more. Here's a short video explaining what we do through the experiences of those who know it best.  And here are some stories and some facts about our work in east London.  If you'd like to donate you can do so here. And if you'd like to keep up to date with our work and hear our latest thoughts you can take a look at our blog or sign up to receive a newsletter every now and then. Please enjoy looking around the rest of the site, and get in touch if you have any questions. News 2011-11-25T17:20:03+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/the-triple-dividend-thriving-lives.-costing-less.-contributing-more/ http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/the-triple-dividend-thriving-lives.-costing-less.-contributing-more/#When:09:00:18Z 'How do we build a society that prevents problems from occurring rather than one that, as now, copes with the consequences?’ This was the question that the Early Action Task Force set out to consider. Early action – building a fence at the top of the cliff rather than running an ambulance at the bottom – has been at the heart of Community Links strategy for 35 years. This approach is frequently voiced in politicians’ speeches but not embedded in public policy. Whilst government spending has been cut over the last year, the rhetoric of preventative approaches has grown. We’ve drawn together a Task Force of experts who share our concerns to consider that paradox and try to understand why common sense is not finding its way into common practice. Early action is sometimes used as shorthand for services for those under five years old. This report is not just about them. Their needs are very important but forestalling problems, not coping with the consequences, is socially and financially a smart thing to do from cradle to grave. The Task Force proposes that early action should be a fundamental principle shaping the way in which both government and civil society spend their resources and judge their success. Investing wisely and early in social wellbeing yields a triple dividend – thriving lives, costing less, contributing more. In this, their first report, the Task Force put forward a set of ideas and initiatives for developing a community that is ‘ready for everything’ – not one that picks up the pieces and counts the cost. 2011-11-23T09:00:18+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/news/pr/the-triple-dividend-launches-in-parliament/ http://www.community-links.org/news/pr/the-triple-dividend-launches-in-parliament/#When:08:11:48Z Today the first report of the Early Action Taskforce launches in the House of Lords. 'How do we build a society that prevents problems from occurring rather than one that, as now, copes with the consequences?’ This was the question that the Early Action Task Force set out to consider. To download the report and read more about the launch visit our dedicated Early Action pages at http://www.community-links.org/earlyaction News 2011-11-23T08:11:48+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/news/pr/annual-toy-appeal-launches/ http://www.community-links.org/news/pr/annual-toy-appeal-launches/#When:12:52:47Z The annual Newham Recorder and Community Links Toy Appeal was launched this week by Eastenders actor Ricky Grover, who popped into our head office at 105 Barking Road to give his support. We have been running the Toy Appeal together with the Newham Recorder for 35 years, collecting more donated toys each year. Last year we broke our record again with 14,500 toys given by generous local residents, businesses and groups.  For lots more information about the appeal, including where to drop off your donations, visit the Newham Recorder website. And if you'd like to get involved in Community Links' other Christmas fundraising activities, visit our dedicated page.  News 2011-11-10T12:52:47+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/news/pr/welcoming-5-new-community-organisers/ http://www.community-links.org/news/pr/welcoming-5-new-community-organisers/#When:10:01:13Z Community Links is the lucky host of 5 community organisers, who started their new roles last month. The five are actually employed by national organisation Locality as part of the government-funded Community Organisers programme, and Community Links is acting as their host in east London. They will be based around the borough, mostly in our hubs, listening to local residents’ ideas and concerns, and helping change things locally. Here's a brief introduction to each.  John – will be based in East Ham and Beckton “I am deeply passionate about empowering marginalised communities to tackle problems that directly affect them.” John is very well-qualified – he has a masters in social policy from Oxford – and is an award winning film maker. Perry – will be based in Canning Town South and Custom House “My main aim is transferring power to the community.” Perry is already a tv personality – he appeared on BBC newsnight in his first week as a Community Organiser, before the government Minister in charge, Nick Hurd, was questioned about the project. Wai-Fong – will be based at Rokeby and Play, Sow and Grow in Stratford “I am looking forward to working at a grass roots level again and finding out what members of the community feel about where they live.” Wai Fong used to the Financial Inclusion Champion for East London. Nana will be based at Arc in the Park in Canning Town “My work will be all about listening to people, then bringing them together so that they can start to bring about the changes they want to see happen.” Nana used to volunteer for another local charity Conflict and Change. Toni – will be based at Chandos East in Stratford “My first two weeks in the role has mainly consisted of getting to know the area, meeting the Centre Manager and Youth Group. The plan for the next two weeks is listening.” Toni has been heavily involved on the user group committee of our Rokeby centre. News 2011-11-03T10:01:13+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/about-us/event/parachute-against-poverty2/ http://www.community-links.org/about-us/event/parachute-against-poverty2/#When:14:06:34Z No experience is required as all training is given and if you raise the minimum sponsorship you can receive your skydive for free! Find out more or contact Laura on thomas.crews@community-links.org or 020 7473 9672 for more information. 2011-09-17T14:06:34+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/the-teenage-pregnancy-journey/ http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/the-teenage-pregnancy-journey/#When:12:04:24Z NHS Newham’s Health Improvement and Prevention Programme (HIPP) commissioned Community Links to research to into Newham’s teenage parents and young parents’ social and emotional well-being needs and the related cultural issues amongst different demographic groups. The project used a participatory action research methodology. A small group of teenage and young parents were recruited and trained as peer researchers to shape the research design, conduct 15 interviews and support the analysis and recommendation development. Teen parents undertake a journey from discovering they are pregnant, the pregnancy itself, after the birth, returning to education and employment. This report examines the process and suggests some recommendations which were developed with the teen parent researchers, the teen parents we interviewed and local professionals. 2011-09-14T12:04:24+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/breast-cancer-screening-take-up-project-year-one-report/ http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/breast-cancer-screening-take-up-project-year-one-report/#When:12:07:14Z Community Links was commissioned by NHS Newham to increase the take up of breast screening by women, residing in the London borough of Newham. This report describes the first year of activity of Community Links’ Breast Screening Uptake project, conducted between January 2010 and January 2011. Community Links recruited a team of six local women, who spoke a combination of languages from the local community. The callers had knowledge of the area, as well as a good understanding of the socio-cultural nuances of local communities. The Team worked with local GP practices and spoke individually to local women to encourage them to attend. As a result the percentage of women invited for screening who actually got tested in the areas covered increased from 50% to 66%. Project report published by Community Links in partnership with NHS Newham 2011-09-07T12:07:14+00:00