Religious London project launch (webinar)
2020-06-24 19:30 - 20:30 (Europe/London)
Theos think tank Invites you to a Religious London webinar on 24 June at 7.30pm to hear about:

What role can religious communities play in the city’s recovery?
How can we help London’s religious communities cope and thrive in a new normal?
What are the likely future trends in London’s religious demography?

Register here

Return to work after COVID webinar
2020-06-26 14:00 - 16:00
How can you re-open safely? New ways of working. Putting staff wellbeing first
Chaired by Jake Ferguson, CEO at Hackney CVS
Health & Safety Rob Bartlett, Senior Environmental Health Officer at Hackney Council will present on what organisations should be doing to prepare to re-open safely, looking at legislation, the risk assessment process, training & supervision for volunteers and staff, information to service users, and more specific guidance around hand washing, social distancing, occupational health and PPE.
Case studies There will be an opportunity to hear from a few organisations who can share their experience.
Q&A
Please let us know what you would like to know – email vicky@hcvs.org.uk before the meeting. We will try to answer your questions in the webinar, and there will also be a chance during the session for you to ask questions.
Wellbeing & the wider implications of returning – Vicky Scott, Operations & HR Manager at Hackney CVS will talk about wellbeing and the opportunities for doing things differently after COVID.
Mohammed Mansour, VCS Development Manager at Hackney CVS will talk about wider issues around leadership, funding, safeguarding and Trustee training.
This webinar will be held by Zoom:
Zoom link
Meeting ID: 816 7213 9748
Password: [REDACTED]
Book your place here:

Covid-19: how can we use this opportunity to value carers?
2020-07-06 10:00 - 11:00
The advocacy Project invites you to online lecture with Sonia Benitez.
Over 7 million people in the UK care for a loved one who has an illness or disability. Research suggests this number is increasing dramatically during the Covid-19 pandemic. Caring is rarely something that is planned for and carers often put their own life and wellbeing on hold to support their loved one.
It’s essential that as a society, we make caring visible and we give the right support.
Sonia will share her experiences of the impacts carers are facing because of the coronavirus pandemic. Some of the issues lockdown has highlighted include isolation, importance of access to technology, impact on mental health and lack of respite.
Register here

VCS Safety Planning Tools and Tips Exchange session
2020-07-08 11:30 - 13:00
Many organisations have requested guidelines so that they can safely deliver services to children and young people in parks, open spaces, youth and community setting.
There is a need for clarity about how to keep service users and the workforce safe.
Organisations need to assess risk and make reasonable adjustments to adapt and adjust the service opening times. Young people may take it in turn to access. The VCS require resources for PPE and information about quotas permitted. Several VCS organisations have already created safety plans in response to Covid-19 and are willing to share the tools.
The VCS children’s workforce are invited to an online peer to peer session to share safety plans, tips and tools to resume activities in parks, youth and community settings.
The VCS Safety Planning Tools and Tips Exchange sessions work best when two people take the lead.
If you would like to share your safety plan and lead a short session do contact Kristine to discuss your contribution by 1 July: Kristine@hcvs.org.uk.

Register here

Hackney Wick Forum
2020-07-23 09:30 - 11:00, 2020-09-04 09:30 - 11:00
The Hackney Business Network runs forums throughout the year aimed at business owners, employees and entrepreneurs in all areas of Hackney.
The forums are an opportunity to network with other local businesses, hear about business focused opportunities, events and news from Hackney Council.
Eventbrite links will appear on this page two weeks before each forum, to be notified of when a forum goes live please subscribe using the form at the end of this page.

Hackney Central Forum
2020-07-27 09:30 - 11:00

Dalston Forum
2020-07-30 09:30 - 11:00

Stop the over-policing of black communities
2020-08-08 13:00 - 14:00
Stop the over-policing of black communities. Stop the use of excessive force. Stop the use of tasers. Saturday 8 August, 1:00pm, Tottenham Police Station.

COVID-19: Finding solutions for Older People (Day 1)
2020-08-18 13:30 - 16:00
We would like to invite you to a series of workshops to discuss the needs of older people in the recovery phase of Covid-19.
As we emerge from crisis phase of COVID-19, we now need to plan and prepare our recovery from COVID-19, building our local resilience to protect against the potential impact of a second wave. This event is being held to find the solutions to the challenges that older people, and the organisations that provide relevant services, are likely to face as we transition into a ‘new normal’.
Your input will inform the COVID-19 VCS Recovery & Resilience strategy, as well as informing updates to the Ageing Well strategy being revisited by Hackney Council in light of COVID-19.
Guest Attendees / Speakers:
Cllr Chris Kennedy – Cabinet member for Health, Adult Social Care and Leisure
Cllr Yvonne Maxwell – Mayoral Advisor for Older People
Cynthia White – Chair, Older People’s Reference Group
Tony Wong – Programme Director, Connect Hackney
Workshops events will be held on 18th and 21st.
Register here

COVID-19: Finding solutions for Older People (Day 2)
2020-08-21 10:00 - 12:30
We would like to invite you to a series of workshops to discuss the needs of older people in the recovery phase of Covid-19.
As we emerge from crisis phase of COVID-19, we now need to plan and prepare our recovery from COVID-19, building our local resilience to protect against the potential impact of a second wave. This event is being held to find the solutions to the challenges that older people, and the organisations that provide relevant services, are likely to face as we transition into a ‘new normal’.
Your input will inform the COVID-19 VCS Recovery & Resilience strategy, as well as informing updates to the Ageing Well strategy being revisited by Hackney Council in light of COVID-19.
Guest Attendees / Speakers:
Cllr Chris Kennedy – Cabinet member for Health, Adult Social Care and Leisure
Cllr Yvonne Maxwell – Mayoral Advisor for Older People
Cynthia White – Chair, Older People’s Reference Group
Tony Wong – Programme Director, Connect Hackney
Register here

Public Health Community Champions Training
2020-09-16 09:00 - 12:30, 2020-09-30 09:00 - 12:30
Volunteer Centre Hackney has launched the new Public Health Community Champion volunteer role and Community Champion training programme to support the reduction in the transmission of COVID-19, by communicating important public health messages to vulnerable residents, through trained volunteers and frontline staff.
They are inviting City and Hackney VCS organisations to put forward volunteers and/or frontline staff members who would benefit from being equipped with this knowledge, in order for this to then be shared with service users. Dates: 16 and 30 September. Read more

Community Forum: Equality in recruitment, HR & organisational culture
2020-09-16 14:30 - 16:30
The recent ACEVO report, ‘Home Truths’, found that only 9% of employees in the charity sector identify as Black, Asian or ethnic minority, compared to 11% in the private sector.
This session is a space for you to discuss the challenges and barriers third sector organisations face in embedding equality and diversity in HR & recruitment practices, as well as in creating and maintaining an inclusive work environment. Date: 16 September. Register here

Wellness - Next Generation Young People and Adults workshop
2020-09-23 14:30 - 16:00
We will share a proposed plan for an integrated approach to engagement with Children, Young People, Maternity and Families including the introduction of a ‘CYPMF system influencer role’ and invite input, feedback and participation from voluntary and community organisations to join us in this work.
The format for the session:
1. Introduction on the proposed engagement plan and pilot programme (and summary of the Hackney Young Futures Commission asks that this project seeks to answer)
2. Informal workshop style approach to:

Explore whether there are other groups of young people we can recruit from for this programme to represent our community as inclusively as possible and how we might engage them
Discuss the mentor role and whether any of the participants might be willing to volunteer for this opportunity to help a young person understand and influence the system
Invite participants to join a steering group to help shape the work moving forward
Explore potential onward opportunities for young people through the programme to access further onward work or training opportunities in the local area (including info on a new project CAMHS/CCG are introducing to support organisations to take on young apprentices)
Consider what a programme for parents might look like and whether any of the participants might be interested in helping us to shape that as part of this work.

Register here

Healthwatch Hackney Annual General Meeting
2020-09-23 16:30 - 18:30
The main event of the meeting will be a public debate on the impact of coronavirus in Hackney. There will be a presentation by Dr Sandra Husbands, Hackney’s Director for Public Health, focused on the Council’s response to the pandemic.
If you want to submit questions to the board and/or panel please call freephone 0808 164 7664 or email info@healthwatchhackney.co.uk. Date: 23 September. Read more

COVID-19 Information Grants workshop
2020-10-07 12:00 - 13:30, 2020-10-14 11:00 - 12:30, 2020-10-19 11:00 - 12:30
COVID-19 Information Grants
Grants for VCS organisations to give out accurate information to the local community about keeping safe during the pandemic. This includes informing people about how to get a test at home or at a testing centre, and what to do if you have a positive test.
Grants are prioritised for organisations working with communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19, or where there are barriers to understanding Public Health information.
Book on a workshop to support you to apply. Workshops are run jointly by Hackney CVS and City and Hackney Public Health Team.
Register here

Re-opening community centres after COVID webinar
2020-10-23 10:00 - 11:30
Claire Giraud, Senior Public Health Practitioner, Hackney Council, will introduce the new
COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Voluntary & Community Sector and community centre settings, issued by Public Health London Borough of Hackney and City of London Corporation. This will cover prevention responsibilities, test & trace and what to do in the event of an outbreak.
Rob Bartlett, Senior Environmental Health Officer, Hackney Council, will be giving an update on the rule of 6, face coverings and some of the other changes since the last webinar he hosted with Hackney CVS earlier in the year.
Your questions
It would help us to answer your questions if you could let us know in advance if there is anything specific you would like to ask – please email vicky@hcvs.org.uk before the meeting.
We will try to answer your queries in the webinar, and there will also be a chance during the session for you to ask questions directly to Claire and Rob.
Date: Friday 23 October
Time: 10.00am – 11.30am
Register here
Useful downloads

Standard Operating Procedure for the Voluntary & Community Sector (VCS) and community centre settings > Read more
Checklist to ensure safe reopening of VCS and Community Settings > Read more

Healthwatch Hackney: Maternity Care during Covid-19
2020-10-27 13:00 - 14:00
Healthwatch Hackney invite you to an information exchange meeting on maternity care during COVID-19. The meeting will provide the opportunity to ask Shirley Peterson, Deputy Chief Nurse / Head of Midwifery at Homerton Hospital, about current maternity services and plans for the future.
Download the leaflet
Register here

Neighbourhoods Conversation: Shoreditch Park and City
2020-11-04 13:00 - 14:30
Part 1 of the meeting will give a chance for all those living, working and providing services in the Neighbourhood to come together again in a large cross sector community meeting (groups, organisations, activists, health, council) to continue:
• Building connections, local relationships and finding out what’s going on locally
• Informing a ground level picture of needs and priorities
• Sharing key updates and covid-19 developments – from Public Health, the Council and others
• Highlighting opportunities, resources and opportunities for joint action
Part 2 of the meeting will focus on practical next steps for collaboration, tailored to each Neighbourhood.
Register here

Neighbourhoods Forum: Shoreditch Park and City of London
2020-11-04 14:00 - 15:00
Neighbourhoods Forum: Shoreditch Park and City of London
Join us for the next Forum for Shoreditch Park and City of London.
A new Neighbourhood Forum is being set up for the communities of the City, De Beauvoir, Hoxton and Shoreditch Park. This oddly shaped area stretches from Tower Gateway in the East to Chancery Lane in the West and from the River Thames in the South to Balls Pond Road in the North.
The Neighbourhood Forum has the aim of improving the lives of everyone who lives in the area with accountability of local services to local people.
This event is a follow up from the last Forum in January ’22 and will be a shorter 1-hour session that will focus on finalising ongoing Forum arrangements in Shoreditch Park and City Neighbourhood. This session will recap on recommendations made throughout the Forum Co-Design that has taken place over the last year.
8 March. Register here

Neighbourhoods Conversation: Hackney Downs
2020-11-10 13:00 - 14:30

Stop & Research: Police and the Community in Hackney
2020-11-11 19:00 - 20:00
Join ACCOUNT and Hackney Archives to explore the past, present and future of policing in Hackney through creative responses, discussion and material from the archives about community campaigns.
Register here

Neighbourhoods Conversation: Springfield Park
2020-11-12 11:00 - 12:30

Neighbourhoods Conversation: Clissold Park
2020-11-17 11:00 - 12:30

Neighbourhoods Conversation: Hackney Marshes
2020-11-19 11:00 - 12:30

Neighbourhoods Conversation: Woodberry Wetlands
2020-11-24 13:00 - 14:30

Neighbourhoods Conversation: London Fields
2020-11-26 11:00 - 12:30
Part 1 of the meeting will give a chance for all those living, working and providing services in the London Fields Neighbourhood to come together again in a large cross sector community meeting (groups, organisations, activists, health, council) to continue:
• Building connections, local relationships and finding out what’s going on locally
• Informing a ground level picture of needs and priorities
• Sharing key updates and covid-19 developments – from Public Health, the Council and others
• Highlighting opportunities, resources and opportunities for joint action
Part 2 of the meeting will focus on practical next steps for collaboration, tailored to each Neighbourhood.
Register here
