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Linking Up March 2010
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Dear Trishna ,
Welcome to our spring edition of Linking Up, bringing you up to date with Community Links’ news. Over recent months, there have been a variety of exciting developments across our projects. We hope you enjoy hearing about them under our new Strategic Aims, which are outlined below. Of course if you have any comments, questions or want to know more, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch!
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| Extending Opportunities in Education and Employment |
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Minister Officially Launches Our New School
 Education Links, our ground-breaking secondary school for students excluded from mainstream education, has been officially launched following its accreditation by OFSTED. For over 17 years, we have been providing these young people with a second chance to achieve and gain qualifications in a supportive environment. Following our recent registration as an independent school, a formal opening ceremony was held last week at the East Ham Nature Reserve and was attended by Stephen Timms MP, Financial Secretary to Treasury. School principal Neil Berry remarked, “Our success is built on the vital relationship we forge between students and our dedicated staff. Recognition by OFSTED of the work that we do with our young people starts a new chapter in our development. It is a very exciting time for us all and we can’t wait to create further improvements in what we have to offer."
Raising Aspirations
Young Journalists Speak Up
 Our youth work projects have developed a youth journalism course. Giving young people across our projects the opportunity to work with national journalists to develop their communication and reporting skills and learn about work throughout the media. Working with professional film makers our young people produced a film about child poverty in London as part of the Save the Children Wee Shots project. Over the coming months our young journalists will be learning to use blogging, video and photography to tell their own stories.
Tackling Poverty
Community Links Joins the Hidden Economy Advisory Group
 Community Links has been announced as the only civil society representative on HM Revenue and Customs Hidden Economy Advisory Group. Our ten years experience researching and campaigning on the issue provides crucial insights into how to reduce the number of people working informally, Aaron Barbour, our National Policy Manager explains;
"People accessing our services often work cash in hand because they have little choice – they do so out of need, not greed. And while it can help put food on the table, it stops them moving into better paid and more secure jobs. Supporting people to move out of the hidden economy will help people work their way out of poverty, as well as increasing tax revenue. We’re looking forward to working closely with the Group to ensure that the voices of those who know best – people experiencing the issue - are heard and that the recommendations reflect the lives of those working cash in hand."
Read more about our Need NOT Greed Campaign here.
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| Working for Wider Change |
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Council on Social Action Celebrates Two Successful Years
 Community Links leverages our experience in east London to change national policy. After two highly successful years the Council on Social Action, which was set up by the Prime Minister and led from Community Links, has convened its final meeting. Out of their 44 recommendations on promoting the importance of one-to-one relationships in society, 31 are now completed or underway. Learn more about all the Council's topics and achievements in Twelve Snapshots.
Sharing Lessons Through Training and Consultancy
 Community Links runs a training and consultancy service to share the lessons learnt from our grassroots work with others all over the country. To find out about everything from motivational leadership talks to research on social issues, why not take a look at our website. If you'd like to book a training session or feel that your organisation could benefit from our consultancy services, please contact Aaron Barbour at aaron.barbour@community-links.org.
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| East London Bond Now Open for Business |
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 The East London Bond is a new and innovative way to support Community Links and will provide one-off additional investment in our services for a lasting impact. Support for the Bond will increase the teaching capacity of Education Links, extend the reach of our Into Employment programmes and help launch new Community Links' developments. By investing in the Bond, you can help to transform some of the most deprived communities in the UK – and receive all your money back in five years’ time. Why not find out more about the East London Bond and how it works? We would be delighted if you are able to support the East London Bond initiative.
As always, none of the work you have read about in this edition of Linking Up would be possible without your support. We look forward to updating you on the latest developments in editions ahead. In the meantime do contact us at info@community-links.org if you would like to hear more and our warmest thanks for your support.
Geraldine Blake
Chief Executive
Geraldine.blake@community-links.org
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Community Links, 105 Barking Road, Canning Town London E16 4HQ
Charity number 1018517 l t: 020 7473 2270 | e: info@community-links.org
http://www.community-links.org
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Our new Play, Sow and Grow project has now opened its doors to local families and the wider community. The centre offers a creative new environmental play and learning experience for children with activities including nature walks and trails, planting out of seedlings and jam and pickle making. In a deprived urban area this project will enable local children to connect better with the natural environment in safe and supervised sessions. The Centre recently hosted a Christmas Party for local youngsters supported by 
Blow those winter blues away by signing up to one of our great 