We recently took business supporters of Hackney Giving to see three community groups operating in the borough.

Guests from HW Facilities, Kingdom, Impower and Homerton’s Chesham Arms came along for the tour, which began with a tasty lunch at Hackney Cypriot Association. The organisation’s lunch club operates from premises on Ball’s Pond Road and offers a hot lunch on Tuesdays to Fridays. Community members were also there, enjoying a meal or playing games and catching up with one another.

We went on to visit African Community School and heard all about the services they run, including their Saturday School at The Bridge Academy, Laburnum Street. We heard about how African Community School supports parents as well as children, which increases the positive impact on the young people.

The third group we visited was Yad Voezer, in Stamford Hill. Here, a group of learning disabled women were making bread using a mixer that had been provided by a donor company to Hackney Giving. The joy in the room was clear to see, and we were also treated to an impromptu singing solo by one participant.

It was a wonderful afternoon as it was great to see things first-hand. One of our guests described the tour as “truly eye-opening”.

We’d like to thank each of the community groups for taking the time out of their busy schedules to host us, and we’d like to thank all of our guests for coming.