Past Engagements September 2008
Launch of AJRAF Resource Centre
On 6 September the Speaker attended the official launch of the Albert Joyle Relief Agency Foundation Resource Centre at Fellows Court, Weymouth Terrace. AJRAF is a voluntary and community organisation that has worked since November 2007 with deprived and disadvantaged residents, providing advice and employment skills training to help them back to work; thereby enabling social inclusion and positive social change.
Children’s 6th Graduation Ceremony
The Speaker was invited to present certificates at the Hackney Care for Kids’ 6th graduation ceremony on 7 September. Hackney Care for Kids is a community day nursery catering for 38 African-Caribbean Children.
The Speaker’s Reception to celebrate the Green Pennant Winners
A celebratory reception was held in the Speaker’s Parlour on Thursday, 11 September to recognise the Green Pennant Award for the Hackney Community Tree Nursery & Edible Forest Garden.
The Green Pennant Award is a national award that recognises high quality green spaces in England and Wales that are managed by voluntary and community groups. The Green Pennant Award is run by the Civic Trust and is part of the Green Flag award scheme.
The reception allowed some of those people involved in the project to come together and celebrate their achievement.
Hackney Peace Walk
On 14 September the Speaker had the pleasure of taking part with the Mayor and other community and faith leaders, including the Anglican Bishop of Stepney, and around 2000 local people in the Hackney Peace Walk from Stoke Newington Common to the Town Hall Square. Once at the square there was entertainment by pupils from Clapton Girls Technology centre, and other schools.
Raising Green Flag
On 15 September the Speaker joined the Mayor, Cllr Nargis Khan and around 50 members of the Parks staff in a special ceremony in London Fields to celebrate the park receiving a Green Flag marking its high standard of excellence – making 7 green flags in all for the borough. This is a notable record of improvement in our parks and green spaces and a tribute to the hard work of parks staff, user groups and others.
Street Pastors Patrol
The Speaker accompanied a patrol with the Street Pastors on Friday, 19 September as an observer. Street Pastors is a Christian initiative that sends trained volunteers to patrol the streets of Hackney to care, help and listen to those in need.
The Speaker’s Civic Service
Hackney's Civic service on Sunday, 21 September had a flavour of Fairtrade as people prayed about justice in trade for the poorer countries of the world. Hackney became a Fairtrade borough in June this year.
Cllr Ian Rathbone, the Speaker of Hackney, said: “If there is to be peace in the world then there needs to be justice in trade!
“One of the highlights of the Fairtrade Fortnight in Hackney earlier in the year was the signing of a joint faith statement. For us in Hackney, it is a sign that we can reach out beyond the barriers of faith and join together on the issue of justice for the poor of the world.”
During the service Dr Maurice Glassman read out a psalm he had translated himself from the Hebrew, and Foezul Ali, of the Nida Trust, read out some passages from the Koran. They were interviewed by Capt Jacqui Hanover of Mare Street Salvation Army Citadel, about the steady progress of their work of inter-communal dialogue between Christians, Muslims and Jews in Hackney in the last two years. They encouraged more people to join with them in the process of dialogue.
Cllr Rathbone thanked the Hackney Borough Deans, local people of various faiths, everyone at St John-at-Hackney Church and the Robinsing Community Gospel Choir for their assistance in supporting the Civic Service.
Visiting Mayors at the Civic Service
Page updated: 8 Oct 2008