A great job – but a tough one! More than 1,200 parents have taken part in parenting programmes designed to meet individual and family needs. Programmes can be a one-off workshop or a longer course of eight or 13 weeks. call 7364 6398 Learning new skills There are 22 young people on the waste management trainee scheme, with plans for up to 100 by the end of March. story below News Parents hone their skills MORE than 60 people graduated from parenting courses at a ceremony held at Oxford House, Bethnal Green last month. The council speaker, Cllr Lesley Pavitt, presented them with certificates in recognition of their achievements, on December 17. They had all completed programmes aimed at helping them improve their parenting skills and better engage with their children. The courses, run by the council, enable parents to share their experiences, learn skills to deal with challenging behaviour and manage conflict positively. Mayor Lutfur Rahman said: “Being a parent is the greatest job in the world but also arguably one of the hardest, so it is wonderful to see these parents seeking professional expertise to hone their parenting skills.” For more information call 7364 6398 or email parenting @towerhamlets.gov.uk Zimbabwe history funds THE Zimbabwe Association, based at Oxford House in Bethnal Green, has received £35,200 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for a project charting the journey of asylum seekers from the African nation. The scheme includes training volunteers in oral history, interviewing and archive management; organising the group’s archive for deposit at the Black Cultural Archives; creation of touring exhibitions; and the development of teachers’ packs. “ZA is delighted to have this opportunity to create a lasting record of our members’ experiences,” said association trustee Dr Joann McGregor. If you need support from the group, call the helpline on Tuesday and Thursday between 10am-4pm on 7739 8226. Supporting victims of crime AN ambulance loaded with life-saving medical equipment stopped off at a Whitechapel school before making its journey to war-torn Syria. Ayasofia School is located opposite the Royal London Hospital where ambulances come in and out constantly. As part of a winter campaign to help victims in Syria, children, staff and parents successfully raised £5,800 towards the cost of an ambulance. They held fundraising activities including cake sales, a reading challenge, car wash, book sale and collections from mosques and community centres. Many pupils donated their pocket money to reach their individual targets. A spokesman for Alfatiha global team, which is co-ordinating the delivery of aid to victims of the Syrian conflict, said: “We would like to specially thank Ayasofia Primary School for their inspirational efforts in fundraising for an ambulance in less then week.” ‘It’s hard work, but very worthwhile’ BY SARAH MCLAUGHLIN YOUNG people have joined a trainee scheme to equip them with knowledge of waste management and provide valuable work experience. The council and its waste contractor, Veolia Environmental Services, are offering the opportunity to train in waste management while also gaining essential on-the-job experience. The trainee scheme sees participants work with Veolia staff for 24 hours a week and attend training for six hours each week, gaining credits towards an NVQ in waste management. Duties include waste disposal, street cleaning and reporting fly tipping, graffiti and fly posting. There are currently 22 young people on the scheme, with plans for up to 100 trainees by the end of March. The scheme is initially for three months, with the potential to apply for any permanent or temporary vacancies with Veolia, in any of its London contracts, at the end of that period. Mayor Lutfur Rahman said: “I’m committed to getting our young people into work. The waste management training scheme is designed to give an insight into the essential work involved in street cleaning, along with achieving nationally recognised training credits.” Cllr Shafique Haque, cabinet member for jobs and skills, said: “The scheme with Veolia will equip the trainees with the skills necessary for entering the workplace. I encourage anyone looking for a career in waste management to explore this training opportunity.” Charles Mahoney, one of the trainees, said: “The training is hard work, but very worthwhile. It’s great working outdoors in a job that makes a difference to people’s lives. “The scheme is giving me the chance to learn new skills which are going to help me in the future.” For more information, visit www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/ skillsmatch or call 7364 3727. AN independent charity, which gives free and confidential help to victims of crime, has welcomed a new code that explains victims’ rights. Victim Support believes the changes will help make the police, courts and other agencies more responsive to the needs of victims of crime. One of the key changes is the right for a victim to describe the way the crime has affected them. Visit www.victimsupport.org.uk 6 – 12 JANUARY 2014 N E W S F R O M TOWER HAMLETS COUNCIL AND YOUR COMMUNITY 11
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