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Hackney young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) will have access to better support in their journey to adulthood. The recently published Hackney Preparing for Adulthood Strategy 2024-2027 commits to supporting children and young people with SEND so they live happy, healthy, independent, safe and fulfilling lives. The strategy builds on the council’s efforts to support some of the most vulnerable residents in the borough. Hackney, like many other areas, has seen a significant increase in the number of children and young people with special educational needs. In recent years, the number of people in Hackney with an Education, Health and Care plan has increased by an average of 300 new plans each year. At the start of 2024, 4.3% of Hackney residents had an Education, Health and Care plan, and 15% received SEND support. The council worked with children and young people with SEND to develop the strategy. Parents, carers, schools and community organisations also took part in shaping it. The council approved the strategy on 16 December.The strategy commits to supporting children and young people with SEND from the earliest opportunity by providing the best possible support, in the right place and at the right time, so they feel prepared for their journey. This includes:Creating clear paths for young people with SEND to transition into adulthood. Planning for the future will start at the latest when children are age 13/14, reducing service gaps and inequality, and leading to smoother transitions and better outcomes for young people.Providing clear and accessible information for children, young people, and their families, to better understand and navigate the journey into adulthood, reducing stress and confusion.Talking and listening to young people and their families to understand how to make the move to adulthood easier for them. This will ensure services are inclusive and fit for purpose, so that each child and young person is supported in a way that works best for them. Finding ways to make children’s and adult services work better together and with other partners, through joint commissioning arrangements, in which children, young people and their families are actively involved.Earlier this year, the council hosted its first annual ‘Future Ready!’ - Preparing for Adulthood Event for children and young people with SEND. Children, young people and families were welcomed to the Hackney Town Hall to learn more about the support available to them, meet with other families and professionals, and share their experiences. This event also marked the launch of the new Hackney Preparing for Adulthood Guide, which provides information and resources for young people with SEND and their families.

The Portico has been voted Hackney’s favourite building in the Hackney Design Awards 2024. The once-at-risk heritage building, which was redeveloped into a new primary care NHS surgery, received the most public votes in the People’s Choice Award category. Launched in 2004, the biennial Hackney Design Awards were created to recognise and celebrate the best of the borough’s architecture and design - from innovative new buildings to extensions, restorations and public spaces.  The other winning schemes were selected by a panel of expert judges from a shortlist of publicly nominated projects. The winners in the main awards category were Aden Grove, Chowdhury Walk, House made by many hands, St John Church at Hackney and Tower Court, with commendations going to Abney Park Restoration and Elemental House.In the Climate Change and Sustainability category, The Black and White Building, central London’s tallest all-timber office building, was named as the winner. The judges praised the project for showcasing the potential of timber in large-scale construction in sustainable architecture. St John Church at Hackney was the winner of the Heritage & Restoration Award, with praise for the significant conservation work to repair the Grade II* listed church with the addition of new architectural features to create a multi-functional community space and arts venue. People’s Choice Award favourite, the Portico, received 44% of the public vote. Formerly the chapel to the London Orphan Asylum, it was re-developed into a GP practice in a first-of-its-kind partnership between Hackney Council and NHS North East London to deliver a new home for the Lower Clapton Group Practice and its 15,000 patients. The new surgery has 18 consulting rooms – double the number at the practice's previous premises – six treatment rooms, one minor procedures room and new administrative, staff and patient accommodation and reception areas.A member of the public, who voted for the Portico in the People’s Choice Award category, said,“The building fills me with pride. From the beautiful attention grabbing entrance, the manicured gardens, the clean modern sliding glass doors, everything about this building makes me feel happier about going to the doctors.“Hackney Design Awards winners and commendations: Main award winners: Aden Grove, Emil Eve Architects - Transformation of a typical terraced house with the addition of matching rear and roof extensions clad in rich terracotta quarry tiles to create a reconfigured home for a young family.Chowdhury Walk, Al-Jawad Pike Architects - Council led regeneration of a former garage site to deliver 11 affordable and social rent homes. The modular system of terraced houses are constructed in cross laminated timber with red brickwork and mono-pitched roofs. House made by many hands, Cairn Architects - Pioneering home demonstrating how a Victorian house can be transformed with substantially reduced environmental impact, achieving a lifetime carbon figure 40% lower than if it had been built conventionally. St John Church at Hackney, John Pawson and Thomas Ford & Partners - Refined and sensitive restoration of a Grade II* listed church with the addition of new, beautiful architectural features to create a multi-functional community space and arts venue. Tower Court, Adam Khan Architects - High-density family living accommodation on the site of a former 1950s estate. It provides accommodation for both returning residents and large families in a culturally diverse neighbourhood. Commendations: Abney Park Restoration, Kaner Olette Architects - A landmark project to restore and improve one of London’s ‘magnificent seven’ cemeteries, with a renovated chapel, new cafe at the park’s main entrance, alongside a community room, outdoor learning area, workshops and wood carving space.Elemental House, Archmongers - Remodelling of a 1970s split-level house located in Hackney, which has future-proofed it for modern living, enhancing the home’s energy efficiency, whilst bringing natural light deep into the plan.The People’s Choice Award:The Portico, ADP Architecture - Council led project set within an at risk heritage property. It maintains and improves the existing porticoed structure while blending in a sympathetically designed extension to deliver a much needed new Primary Care NHS surgery.Sustainability and Climate Change Award: The Black and White Building, Waugh Thistleton Architects  - Groundbreaking mass timber building and the tallest all timber office building in central London. It delivers nearly 5,000 square metres of new flexible office space with a sustainable ethos. Sustainability and Climate Change commendation: House made by many hands, Cairn Architects Heritage and Restoration Award: St John Church at Hackney, John Pawson and Thomas Ford & Partners Heritage and Restoration commendation: The Portico, ADP Architecture

Council estate residents in Hackney could soon see their bills slashed as a pioneering rooftop solar panel scheme offering energy discounts directly to tenants and leaseholders gets underway.In the first project of its kind in the UK, residents in blocks of flats will have the opportunity to buy discounted energy supplied directly by solar panels on their buildings. As well as cleaner, greener energy, it will aim to deliver electricity bill savings of around 15% compared with market rates.The scheme uses an innovative microgrid solution to supply rooftop-generated solar electricity directly to residents of flats, developed by Hackney-based energy specialist Emergent Energy in partnership with Hackney Council’s energy services arm, Hackney Light and Power. Historically, solar panels on blocks of flats could only be used to supply electricity to the grid or power communal areas.A programme to install new solar panels on 28 blocks across three Hackney Council estates will begin in January 2025, initially giving around 800 households the opportunity to sign up for discounted energy.  Around 4,000 solar panels will be installed, generating around one megawatt of electricity – approximately a fifth of the energy needs of the blocks.The initial roll out of solar panels is part of a pilot being delivered in partnership between Hackney Light and Power and Emergent Energy and developed with support from the Greater London Authority and Ofgem. It is being funded by £2 million of investment from Hackney Council, to be paid back through electricity sales. Emergent Energy will deliver installation of the solar panels and supply the generated solar electricity to residents.With 5.4 million flats in the UK, including 2 million in social housing, if scaled up the approach could deliver 6.75GW of solar energy, worth up to £13.5bn in clean energy investment.For more information about Hackney Light and Power visit https://hackney.gov.uk/hackney-light-and-powerFor more information about Emergent Energy visit: https://www.emergent.energy/

Hackney’s Adult Learning Service has been rated “Good” by Ofsted, with the service praised for providing “a friendly, relaxed and focused environment”, with courses that “meet the needs of the local job market”.Courses focused on green skills such as retrofitting were singled out for praise, with inspectors commenting that Hackney’s leaders had  “developed an ambitious curriculum to provide adult learning to those most in need”. The report said that staff were quick to identify the needs of learners with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) and provide appropriate support, allowing them to make progress at the same rate as their peers.Inspectors spoke to a range of tutors and learners in classes during the inspection. The Ofsted report said tutors were “highly knowledgeable and well qualified” and continued: “They use their expertise well to give clear presentations of new concepts and set useful activities, such as discussions that help learners to remember key concepts”.Hackney’s Adult Learning programme offers a wide range of free courses to choose from, including English, maths, digital skills, vocational training for employment and creative subjects such as painting, pottery and sewing.The service exceeded its recruitment target during the last academic year, engaging over 4,000 learners. Outcomes for learners are good with an overall achievement rate of 92% in 2023/24.Book onto an adult learning course today. Please call 020 8356 5055 or email iag@hackney.gov.uk to find out more. Visit our website for details