Action
Tackling Serious Youth Violence
On Easter Monday Tanesha Melbourne-Blake (17-years old) tragically died from shots fired from a vehicle as it drove past a group of young people in Tottenham. She was a victim of gang violence. Tanesha was an inspiring young leader on one of Community Links’ early action programmes. Above all else, our thoughts continue to be for Tanesha Melbourne-Blake and her family. Sadly we have seen an increase in the number of incidents of serious violence in Newham and in January a stabbing took place just outside Community Links’ Asta hub in Silvertown, where staff bravely took the young person in, provided immediate medical care, and called for the ambulance.
Community Links met with the Home Secretary and Mayor of London in April over the launch of the Government’s new Serious Violence Strategy. The Home Secretary followed up with an urgent visit to Community Links, where she heard from our frontline workers and management as to what some of the key drivers are to the recent violence and some of the best ways to respond. We also attended the GLA Community meeting on Serious Youth Violence in April and we continue to be proactive in generating conversation and action on this important issue.
Advocacy
LSE Public Lecture: David Robinson
How relationships change the world, and where to go with what we know
David Robinson, Co-founder and Senior Advisor, gave this recent public lecture at LSE with Hilary Cottam and Jon Cruddas MP leading the response. It is another example of Community Links pushing the boundaries for positive social change using its long frontline experience. Watch the presentation here
Early Action Task Force
In April Community Links was awarded a major grant by the Big lottery Fund to expand the ground breaking work of its Early Action Task Force over the next three years. This is a significant and exciting sector development and a boost for early action work.
David Robinson, Chair of the Early Action Task Force and Senior Advisor at Community Links, said: “The Early Action Task Force has created a groundswell of support and the evidence base for early action. Now, thanks to this National Lottery grant, we can take early action from common sense to common practice.”
News
London’s Open House Saturday 22nd September
Our Centre at Canning Town Public Hall has a rich heritage of working for social change, dating back to rallies and lectures here by the Pankhursts, Bertrand Russell, Kier Hardie and others. We will be hosting tours and exhibiting our history during London’s Open House. Do take this opportunity to visit us with family or friends.