Customer Services
In your community
The Community Development team is well resourced with a dedicated staff team of 20. Each team member brings with them a breadth and depth of skills, knowledge and experience from which the local community and our partner organisations draw on.
Old Ford's Community Development Team deliver seven key services. Please click on the links below for further information:
- Community Facilities - Old Ford have eight Community Facility Centres from which we run a variety of programmes, activities and events organised by Old Ford and other community organisations including local volunteer groups. A number of our centres are also available for hire for meetings, conferences or training, and for family events such as birthday parties or wedding receptions. Our community centres have fantastic facilities and can accomodate from six to 106 people.
- Information Advice and Guidance - our matrix accredited service provides information, advice and guidance on accessing education, training and employment, delivered by qualified advisors. The centre provides job search facilities, internet access, telephone/fax facilities and assistance with CV’s and application forms. We also run occasional short courses throughout the year.
- IT skills for Life - our matrix accredited IT training service offers local people a free and flexible way to gain IT skills and skills for life. Once registered students can learn through self learning or group learning options with tutor support. The team also provides outreach sessions in various other locations.
- Construction Training Initiative - Old Ford runs a number of Construction Training programmes for school pupils from our two dedicated construction training centres based in Bow, East London. The programme assists individuals to gain training and work experience in various aspects of the construction industry including bricklaying, plumbing, carpentry and painting and decorating.
- Orchard Village Community Development Programme - The Orchard Village Community Development Partnership Manager works in partnership with various key agencies from across Havering to develop and deliver a range of services and activities that meets the needs of the local community.
- Growing Concerns - a social enterprise; Growing Concerns is a community based gardening and landscaping team dedicated to improving the environment for those living and working in London’s East End.
- Youth and Childrens' services - Old Ford are contracted by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to run the youth service in Bow (Lap 5 area). We provide our Youth and Children's services from Old Ford's Eastside Youth and Community Centre and through a Detached Service that provides information, support and activities to young people locally on the street. Old Ford are also the first Housing Association in the country to have developed an adventure playground, which was developed in Partnership with Tower Hamlets Play Pathfinder.
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Photo gallery (click below to pop open the gallery)
IT Training
IT training is available at the Francis Lee Centre in Clare House
Growing concerns
Growing Concerns is a social enterprise supported by Old Ford
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Contact us
Please click each of the links above for contact details for staff in each of the seven service areas.
For all queries regarding community development at Old Ford please contact Christine Hevey, Assistant Director of Community Development, on 020 7204 1502 | email Christine.Hevey@Circle.org.uk
