Hackney Town Hall

Welcome to HACKNEY.GOV.UK

How can we help you today?

Popular tasks

Council services
Council services

Featured

Get involved

Subscribe to our newsletters

Sign up now for our email newsletter so you can read the latest updates and news from Hackney services
Subscribe now

View calendar of meetings

Hackney residents are welcome to attend most council meetings to have their say
View meetings

Find your councillor

Check which councillor covers your area and view their surgery times
Search now

Council news

Young people’s achievements recognised at special awards ceremony

27th March 2025
Young people’s achievements were marked at an annual award ceremony yesterday evening at Hackney Town Hall.The Hackney Youth Awards celebrates young people from 6 to 19 (or up to 25 SEND), who have been nominated by youth workers, partner organisations and commissioned providers in the borough.Nominations were received across eight categories, which were reviewed and shortlisted by an independent panel of young people who supported organising the event, along with Young Hackney staff and Young Hackney Event Ambassadors. More than 250 guests attended the event, including event nominees and their families, which is now in its 9th year. Deputy Mayor Cllr Bramble, and Cllr Shelia Suso-Runge, the Speaker of the Council, attended the evening, along with other senior members of the council.The event was hosted by Martha Newman, one of the Young Speakers of Hackney & Romeo Bremmer, a Hackney Youth Parliament Member, who was also the senior winner of the Inspirational Young Person Award. When asked about the awards, Romeo said:  ”Living and growing up in Hackney, I see so many amazing things that young people are doing and recognising [that] is so important.”Noah Schwartz, winner of the Young Explorer Award, spoke about about it felt like to win an award:  ” It's such an incredible opportunity to be able to go on that stage and see something that I did be celebrated (...). I think knowing that our achievements have been seen (...) really makes us feel like we can do more in the future.”Audience members were treated to a thrilling group dance performance by E-Kidz, who hail from Concorde Youth Hub and a solo singing performance from Makaiya during the night too. The full list of winners from the 9th Hackney Youth Award.Positive Choice & Achievement Award: Junior winner: Rushane RaymondSenior winner: Sheniyah RileyYoung Explorer Award:Junior winner: Yasser Ilyas SaidaniSenior winner: Noah SchwartzCreativity, Innovation & Ambition Award: Young Hackney Ending Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG): Young Leaders projectTamba Ngegba Young Leader Award: Chelsey MurphyProject of the Year Award: Leaside Year of Partnerships 2024Outstanding Volunteer Award:Junior winner: Aima MohamoudSenior winner: Serena KamaraOvercoming Adversity Award:Junior winner: Dean PluckSenior winner: Oscar WarrInspirational Young Person Award:Junior winner: Malu Wilson-PereiraSenior winner: Romeo Bremmer

Mayor of Hackney responds to the Spring Statement

26th March 2025
Today’s Spring Statement shows the severe financial constraints the government is working under – a challenge I know well, having to balance the Council’s budget in a time of rising demand and competing pressures.What is clear is that it will take time for the government to reverse more than a decade of underinvestment in public services. But despite the challenging decisions being made, we can see a strong direction of travel in terms of housing ambition and also welcome the continuation of essential crisis support that will help us to meet some of the urgent needs faced in Hackney. Just this week, the Chancellor announced a £2 billion injection of new grant funding to deliver up to 18,000 new social and affordable homes. New homes are desperately needed in Hackney and I’ll be working with the GLA to secure as many as possible for our borough. Earlier this month the Department for Work and Pensions confirmed how much Hackney will receive in Household Support Fund (HSF) grant funding for the coming financial year. HSF enables the Council to help those experiencing financial hardship in the borough through holiday food support for families eligible for free school meals, crisis payments to children and their families known to our Children’s Social Care services, refugees with the right to remain in the UK, and residents living in temporary and supported accommodation.Crisis funding has been vital for supporting Hackney’s residents, but we know that sustainable, long-term funding for local government is essential. In the recent funding settlement, the Government provided Hackney with an extra £25 million to support our communities over the coming year. Whilst it does not reverse the harm inflicted on public services by the previous government, it has enabled the Council’s finances to remain on stable footing and maintain initiatives such as the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, which cuts council tax bills for over 17,000 low income households.In Hackney, we will always do all that we can to help residents who need additional support. For me that has meant upholding our commitment to early help and intervention for children with special educational needs and disabilities and recognising how important it is to continue this support in preparing for adulthood. We are also well placed to build on the Government drive to support people into work. We have a strong track record in supported internships, supported employment and apprenticeships. This month has already seen the launch of the Green Skills Hub, an exciting partnership with the London Legacy Development Corporation and Build East Skills Centre, which will support local people from diverse backgrounds to develop skills in retrofitting and sustainable construction, helping them secure long-term sustainable jobs. Hackney Council and my administration remain ambitious for our borough, tackling the housing crisis, poverty and climate change.This spring we will bring our local Economic Development Plan and Circular Economy Strategy to Cabinet for approval, demonstrating how we will shape inclusive growth locally, working together for a greener, healthier and fairer Hackney for all.Caroline WoodleyMayor of Hackney

“Inclusive, exciting and ambitious” – Hackney Council praised in peer report

An action plan to ensure Hackney Council builds on its success over the last two decades has been agreed by the Council’s Cabinet after a report praised Hackney as “an inclusive, exciting and ambitious council, committed to delivering for its residents.”The Local Government Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge report has recognised Hackney Council as a strong, high-performing Council, highlighting its understanding of communities in the borough, its ambitions for addressing inequality, and the positive outcomes delivered for residents. The report has been published after a team of senior officers and councillors from other UK councils carried out a four-day visit to Hackney, meeting over 100 councillors, staff, partners and residents.The report also provides valuable recommendations to help the Council build on its strengths, including suggestions on addressing the urgency of the Council’s financial challenges, working with external partners, supporting elected members, and transforming how the Council works to deliver the changes needed.Read moreLGA Corporate Peer Challenge ReportHackney’s Corporate Peer Challenge Action Plan ReportHackney’s Corporate Peer Challenge Action Plan Report (accessible version)
25th March 2025

Bringing local communities together for a Big Lunch

Residents across the borough are once again being given the chance to bring their neighbours together as part of the national Big Lunch initiative.The Housing Services’ Resident Participation Team are offering those living in Hackney Council homes the chance to apply for grants to celebrate the initiative aimed at bringing local communities together to share friendship, food and fun.This year the Big Lunch is being held over the weekend of Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June. In previous years groups have organised events including face painting and international dishes that residents have produced and provided on the day. People can apply for up to £750 to hold an inclusive and accessible event which benefits all local residents. Applications for funding need to be made by Wednesday 30 April. They must be made from a home managed by Hackney Council. Groups also need to have appropriate safeguarding procedures in place and carry out a risk assessment for the event or activity.Applications for street closures to support events should be made at least four weeks before the planned event.  There is usually no problem in obtaining  permission to close quiet residential streets, but the Council is likely to refuse permission to close major routes (classed A and B roads), bus routes, or one-way streets where it thinks doing so will cause too much disruption to  surrounding traffic or impede emergency vehicles.The Resident Participation Team can also provide support to anyone looking to host an event to mark VE Day on Thursday 8 May. While there are no grants specifically available for these events the team can advise people living in Hackney Council homes looking to host one.For more information and to apply for a street party and arrange a street closure see https://hackney.gov.uk/street-partyInformation on how to apply and the range of other funding available through the Council to help communities come together can be found at https://hackney.gov.uk/housing-funding-streamsThe Council’s Housing Services Resident Participation Team can support groups in the planning of activities and identifying suppliers for their Big Lunch events. They can be contacted on 020 8356 7845 or by emailing get.involved@hackney.gov.ukYou can request a Big Lunch pack from https://www.edenprojectcommunities.com/the-big-lunchArranging Street Parties and applying for road closuresThere are a few criteria that street parties need to follow including thatfewer than 200 guests invited;all guests must be associated with the immediate area;no alcohol will be on sale (it is okay to serve alcohol free of charge);no formal entertainment (entertainment such as music from a stereo is okay as long as you do not disturb others in the community);no tickets are sold for the event;no food or other merchandise will be on sale (but it is fine to bring food to share with your neighbours);no temporary structures (e.g. stages or marquees) are set up.
20th March 2025

Look Up Look Out campaign urges residents to beware of phone thieves on mopeds and bikes

Hackney Council and the police are warning residents to be on alert for phone thieves on mopeds and bicycles. Last week, community safety officers joined TfL, the Met Police, and British Transport Police outside Manor House station for the London-wide "Look Up, Look Out" campaign, engaging with the public on how to stay safe when using their phones in public spaces. Residents are warned to be particularly careful at bus stops, near train stations, outside pubs and clubs, and when wearing headphones.To help keep yourself safe from thieves on bikes and mopeds, the Metropolitan Police offers this advice:Always be aware of your surroundings.Go hands-free to make a call.Be discreet when using your phone out and about, or put it out of sight.Try not to text or use apps while walking along, you’ll be less aware of what’s going on around you.Be extra careful at bus stops, train stations and at curbsides.If you have to use your phone, stand away from the roadside, close to a building or wall.Try using your phone in the hand closest to the wall so it’s harder to take out of your hand. The Council’s 24-hour CCTV team works with the police to deter theft committed by people on bikes and mopeds, resulting in a number of arrests. Council wardens are also offering safety advice to people when out and about.Get more tips on keeping yourself protected from crime at hackney.gov.uk/crime-and-safety
20th March 2025

Families invited to help shape the future of education in Hackney

Hackney Council is looking for parents’ opinions on the future of education in the borough, as part of the work on a new strategy highlighting the borough’s top priorities for the next three years. Parents and carers from all of Hackney’s diverse communities are invited to express their interest and take part in one of the early engagement activities due to begin this term by filling out a short form by 30 March. The aim of the new strategy is to find ways to develop an education offer that is strong, fair, child-focused, anti-racist and inclusive. It will focus on working together with families, schools, settings and other partners to build long term plans, making the most of the available resources. Listening to residents is at the heart of the work to build the strategy, so that the Council can adapt quickly and respond to their changing needs and challenges.The strategy will be built around a series of priorities, including:Providing the right help at the right time for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Attention will be put in particular on early help and inclusion, offering increasing levels of support for children that do not receive suitable education in mainstream schools due to exclusion, illness or other reasons.Building a strong, sustainable and financially viable education offer. Schools, early years settings and other providers will be encouraged to work together and share lessons learned and resources where possible, in area-based partnerships adjusted to local needs.Helping all children achieve their dreams and passions. This includes listening to and working with families to help reduce the gaps for children from disadvantaged communities.The work on the education strategy is in response to the increasingly complex challenges that Hackney is facing, including:A drastic fall in the number of children, with some communities particularly affectedA significant increase increase in the number of pupils with complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) High number of exclusions in local secondary schoolsFinancial challenges Difficulty in finding qualified staff due to the rising cost of livingParents and carers interested to find out more and have their say are invited to fill in the form by 30 March. The Council is preparing a series of events to engage with all interested audiences, including schools and settings, partner organisations, families and children and young people. The feedback gathered will be taken into account when shaping the final draft version of the strategy.The Council will publish the draft strategy later this year.
18th March 2025