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Hackney Youth Parliament is asking residents to support its ‘Pack to School Appeal’, an initiative looking to provide brand new school equipment to Hackney children starting secondary school in September. Those that can and wish to contribute are asked to purchase new items for school packs and deliver them to Forest Road Youth Hub, 29 Forest Road, E8 3BY, by Friday 2 August. Each school pack will contain a brand new rucksack, a pencil case with a set of pens and a scientific calculator. Those that can afford and wish to contribute to the appeal can visit the Young Hackney page for more information about the campaign, what type of items are required, as well as suggestions on where to buy them from. People can choose which equipment they wish to donate, depending on what they can afford. Those that choose to respond to the appeal will be invited to a Big Thank You Event in August.The ‘Pack to School’ campaign was first organised by Hackney Youth Parliament last year to help gather school supplies for their peers. In 2023, 165 packs were gathered as a result of the appeal, and offered to young people in need.Hackney families with children transitioning to secondary school that need support can also apply to receive a £100 grant towards the cost of a school uniform. Those eligible who apply before the end of June can expect to receive their grant before the start of the new school year.Note to editors:Hackney Youth Parliament is a group of young people aged 14-19 who are elected every two years to represent the views of young people in the borough. They advocate on behalf of all their peers, work on campaigns to improve the lives of young people, organise events and activities to promote opportunities and support youth projects. There are six elected leaders and three deputies for 2023-2025.

We are pleased to announce the launch of the second phase of Hackney Thinking Spaces (HTS), following the initial success of the project by Hackney Council and I Found Me Therapeutic Counselling. Hackney Thinking Spaces is a 12 month joint community based initiative, which aims to create safe spaces for discussing and dealing with the emotional impact of racism on residents’ mental health. One of the aims of the Thinking Spaces groups is to develop a set of community-based solutions to the issues discussed to influence tangible system-change. These will then be moved forward by a newly established Community Advisory Board (CAB), made up of Hackney residents. The project first launched in March 2024 as a direct response to events of systemic racism, which have profoundly impacted Black and Global Majority children, young people and families in Hackney. Residents from a range of ethnicities, cultures and religions have been involved in the Thinking Spaces programme so far. The curated safe spaces have helped people talk about how discrimination in the past and racism today have created an urgent need for action.A participant attending a session for Black and Global Majority men, said: “This is a space that has been long overdue! Talking to the other men in the group helped me to realise I wasn’t alone in my feelings.”Another attendee from a women's group said: “We should have more groups like this all the time. It’s been inspirational learning about successful Black and Global Majority Women.”Each session is led by I Found Me’s qualified therapists and volunteers, and each workshop combines interactive learning with practical exercises to empower young women.The new phase will begin on July 1 and there are currently sessions available for anyone from a Black or Global Majority background who is aged 14+. To find out more and register, please visit: https://hackney.gov.uk/hackney-thinking-spaces

Children of all ages can take on a series of exciting challenges this summer as part of the Great Hackney Libraries Quest.The carnival-themed challenge, in celebration of the return of Hackney Carnival this September, runs from 20 July to 15 September, and will award participants with stamps for:Taking part in fun activities at Hackney Libraries, Hackney Museum and Hackney ArchivesReading booksUsing a computer for researchDesigning a book coverWriting a book reviewReading to library staffPlayers will receive bronze, silver or gold certificates and badges depending on the number of stamps collected, and be entered into a prize draw to win book tokens.Entrants can collect their free stamper booklet, illustrated by local illustrator Sion Ap Tomos, and sign up to the quest at any Hackney Library: Clapton Library, Dalston CLR James Library, Hackney Central Library, Homerton Library, Shoreditch Library, Stamford Hill Library, Woodberry Down Library.Find out more about the Great Hackney Libraries Quest at lovehackney.uk/great-hackney-libraries-quest See Hackney Libraries carnival-themed book lists at lovehackney.uk/reading-lists

Small grants of up to £4000 are open to local community groups and organisations to fund cultural events and activities that reflect and celebrate the borough's rich diversity and heritage through its communities.This is the second round of applications for the brand new Cultural Hackney grant fund which aims to support art forms and activities across the borough, such as community events, film screenings, talks, walks, exhibitions, club nights or podcasts.The first round was launched in February 2024, attracting over 100 applications. A total of 12 grants were awarded to a diverse range of organisations, most of whom have not previously received funding from the council, including:Sounds Like HomeEvery Wednesday until 26 June, 10.30am-12.30pmHoxton Hall, 130 Hoxton Street, London, N1 6SHA weekly choir project inviting international women from a wide range of backgrounds to celebrate their diverse heritage through music by Counterpoints Arts.The London School of Architecture's Hackney PavilionMonday 3 - Monday 24 June, 12pm-6pm.The London School of Architecture, 4 Beechwood Road, London, E8 3DYThe construction of a timber pavilion to host exhibitions, workshops, talks and film screenings to engage with young people.Saigon Superfly! Sunday 23 June, 4pm-10pmCentre 151, 151 Whiston Road, London, E2 8GUA line-up of Vietnamese musicians and live DJs performing free improvisation, jazz, contemporary new music and more in the spirit of Vietnam in the 1960-70s.Haile Selassie Jah Rastafari - by Gillett Square Action GroupTuesday 23 July, 2pm-9pmGillett Square, Dalston, N16 8AZA free family-friendly event celebrating the birthday of Emperor Haile Selassie, with live Nyabinghi drumming and chanting, steel pan, Jah Prophecies Sound, Gillett Square Domino Club and a PopUp Playground.The offer is open to any community group or organisation including those based on race, religion, age, gender or sexuality, or around a particular interest or pastime, such as gardening, sport, tours, literature, film, music, fashion, photography or art. Find out more on Love Hackney.The deadline for applications is 5pm on Wednesday 7 August  for events and activities to be held between October 2024 and March 2025. Apply here.