This year I became the first Writer in Residence at Grow Hackney. It’s a vital hub of arts and culture but you might not realise how it contributes to Hackney Wick in other ways. You’ll find sustainability initiatives here, art made from waste and even a way into physical activity that promotes good mental health….
Category: Local Initiatives
Hackney Changemakers: Thea May
“I realised that I can not teach people to lie any more. My line in the sand is clear. I cannot and will not no longer coach people to give charismatic talks that they don’t care about. That is how we got into this problem in the first place! Disconnect from self and others. Business detached from its social and environmental impact.”
Hackney Changemakers: Doug Racionzer
Hackney Cooperative Developments have been here several decades, trying to keep commercial rents affordable so that existing business owners can stay where they have established themselves and, often, where they live. They are closely involved with the council on the Hackney Social Enterprise Borough initiative and this is how I met Sophie Higgins (see previous…
Hackney Changemakers: Luke Billingham
Hackney Quest do brilliant things in E9 for Hackney youth. Those who spend most time with our young people are the ones who’re most positive about them. There’s a real buzz about this community hub; more and more I realise what an incredible job youth workers do, with less and less resource from central government…
Hackney Changemakers: Esther Freeman
Esther gets things done. She approached me pre-Covid to collaborate on a Hackney women’s history walking project which now has turned into a podcast (listen here). As you’ll see, we both like uncovering hidden stories and we both think that by looking back, we can better understand where we are today. And who doesn’t like…
Hackney Changemakers: Toyin Agbetu
I met Toyin and heard about Ligali through the free festival of learning Antiuniversity. This 1968 Hackney phenomenon was recently revived – as education becomes more expensive and institutions become ever more business-like – and still has strong links to the borough. Toyin was researching local activism and is another character whose upbeat demeanour contrasts…
Hackney Changemakers: Amy Todd
Since 2012, I’ve been telling the remarkable story on walks of the Dissenters of Newington Green and a remarkable ‘church’ where anybody and everybody is welcome. You don’t even have to believe in God to attend the Sunday service (motto: “Believe in good”). Many of us will be familiar with the Enlightenment icon Mary Wollstonecraft…
Changemakers: Hackney 2020 Vision
Finding purpose, giving back, channeling community tourism for good…
Hackney Changemakers: LA Saunders
I met Leslie on a business course run by Allia in Hackney. Her unusual ‘Hairstorian’ mission intrigued me and her energy was infectious, so we became friends. We are from completely different backgrounds and she’s opened doors for me into other sections of the community in Hackney. I’ve been welcomed warmly by low-key community activists…
Hackney Changemakers: Sophie Higgins
I’m very excited to introduce this series of guest blogs by Hackney Changemakers who have inspired me on my own journey to achieve something different in Social Enterprise Borough Hackney. We stand on the shoulders of giants here, wading in a centuries-old river of reforming consciousness. And today’s trailblazers are all great fun to be…
Journey to Future Hackney
If the exciting radical past of radical Hackney was the pizza of conventional tourism where I started, then eventually I would always end up with a big long stringy piece of cheese stretched out between it and my face. This was the future
Revolutions You Can Dance to in Dalston
Want to meet some kickass changemakers? Want to really connect with your area and get to know the exciting things happening in its hidden corners? Like to support your local homeless shelter? Join us this Sat at 11am for a special edition of the walk celebrating Hackney champions and changemakers – and finishing off at…
Hackney Tours: East LDN Creative Exploration 