OSCA hosts conference at Oxford House Ocean Somali Community Association aims to help the Somali community become more self-confident, healthier and economically stronger by tackling inequality and promoting unity. www.oceansomali.org.uk Share favourite pics Show us what you love about Tower Hamlets via the FiFiLi app. Simply take a photo and send it to us. see page 16 News News in brief Can you help? TRANSPORT police have r e l e a s e d a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to about an assault on a Tube train early in New Year’s Day. A 41-year-old man was assaulted on a District Line train between Mile End and Barking at about 1.30am on January 1. He was talking to another man when the conversation became heated and the second man stood up and punched him twice in the eye. The blows caused a fractured optic nerve and cuts needing 22 stitches. Detective Constable Paul Miller from British Transport Police (BTP) said: “This was a nasty assault that left the victim with damage to his eyesight.” If you can help call BTP on 0800 40 50 40, or text 61016, quoting reference TSUB/B7 of 27/01/15. Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. Make a nest box FREE workshops where youngsters can make nest boxes for birds are being held during halfterm week. The break, from February 16, coincides with National Nest Box week, and the council is organising the workshops at Southern Grove Community Centre, Yatton House, Southern Grove, Mile End on Thursday, February 19 at 11.30am and 12.30pm. Booking is essential – email cgv@towerhamlets.gov.uk or call 7364 3757. Children aged seven and over are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult and are restricted to two children per adult. 172 MILE END ROAD, LONDON E1 4LJ www.alcottsolicitors.com At Alcott Solicitors we provide a wide range of legal services to individuals, businesses and other commercial organisations. We Specialise in: Family Law Landlord & Tenant/Housing Immigration Law Debt Welfare Benefits Litigation We offer extremely competitive fee structures and payment options and can offer fixed fees depending on the service you require. United campaign for zero tolerance on FGM so-called ‘honour-based’ violence and faith-based abuse. Mayor Lutfur Rahman said: “This conference shows just how committed we all are to helping eradicate this practice and work together to end gender-based violence.” Cllr Ohid Ahmed, cabinet member for community safety, added: “The council continues to work with partners from across the community to ensure we help prevent FGM and all other forms of violence against women and girls.” To apply for a conference ticket visit http://bit.ly/1tpbnTX Please contact us on 0203 026 1990 Email: enquiries@alcottsolicitors.com BY STEFAN SWIFT COMMUNITY groups in east London are taking a stance against female genital mutilation (FGM). Ocean Somali Community Association (OSCA), based in Mile End, has joined with the council to host a conference marking the international Zero Tolerance on Female Genital Mutilation Day this Friday, February 6. The conference, at Oxford House in Bethnal Green from 6-8.30pm, will explore ways in which the practice can be eradicated and how the community and council are supporting women affected by it. The UK is taking key steps to prevent FGM from happening and also ensure that those who practise it are prosecuted. OSCA is at the forefront of the campaign to eradicate FGM in Tower Hamlets and residents are invited to the event to find out what leading campaigners and activists are doing to empower the community to stamp out FGM. Speakers include Hodo Ali, who will share her experience of living with the effects of FGM and why she has chosen to campaign against the practice. A representative from Women’s Health and Family Services will talk about how it has recruited advocates to empower other women who have undergone FGM and help break the cycle of it taking place. Fiona Dwyer, manager of the council’s Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, will discuss how the authority is working on a pilot scheme alongside the mayor of London’s Office for Policing and Crime, to help prevent harmful practices including FGM, forced marriage, Catering trainee Jai Fox making a delivery on the bakery’s bike HOMELESS people who are already running their own bakery have now expanded their business to deliver their tasty wares by bike. Providence Row Bakery’s bike can be seen making deliveries in the Brick Lane area where it supplies local cafés. Among its customers is Kash Bygott, owner of Love In A Cup café, who said: “The friands and banana bread are baked to perfection.” The bakery was set up as a social enterprise by charity Providence Row to provide training and work experience for homeless and vulnerably housed people. Laura Hopper, social enterprise development manager at the charity, said: “Our programmes fill a much-needed gap in the provision of training and work experience for rough sleepers, ex-offenders and those with mental health and substance misuse issues.” More than 30 homeless and formerly homeless people have been involved in developing the business, baking and delivering cakes – with four people already moving into part-time work elsewhere. One of the bakers, who is now living in a hostel, said: “It has helped me to socialise and work in a team. I would like to have my own café.” 2 – 8 FEBRUARY 2015 N E W S F R O M TOWER HAMLETS COUNCIL AND YOUR COMMUNITY 7
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