SocietyLinks marks 10th birthday

Bringing the community together in Whitechapel.

Published: 19/08/2020

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The sun was certainly shining as staff from Peabody were invited to the 10th birthday party for SocietyLinks, one of our long-term partners working on the Whitechapel Estate in Tower Hamlets. The celebrations also marked 10 years of supporting Peabody residents by delivering projects and activities to help bring the wider community together.

Based at the John Fisher Street Centre, over the years the partnership has grown from strength to strength as they have become a well-known name to residents. Highlights have included numerous community cohesion projects including the Fisher Food project and Job Club which is an ongoing employment programme that is funded by Peabody. One of the community projects created a mosaic which was unveiled last year and has become a permanent reminder of the work that takes place on the estate.

Sharon Barbour Community Development Manager at Peabody has worked with SocietyLinks since its inception and said: "From the offset this has been a strong relationship. We have spent a lot of time working together to develop activities, projects and programmes on the estate and the wider community. This is certainly a good example of when a partnership works well! As a member of their Management Committee too, I am able to ensure Peabody residents get the best out of this partnership too and hope to enjoy another ten years working together."

SocietyLinks also has an extensive youth programme that runs across the Whitechapel and Shadwell estates and aims to raise aspirations and confidence in local young people. The past ten years have been full of activity for Society Links and they have not stopped delivery projects even throughout the pandemic.

Joyce Archbold Project Manager at SocietyLinks said of the celebrations: "SocietyLinks has been working closely with Peabody for the past 10 years and appreciate all the support they have given to our organisation and local residents during this time. We have been able to reach out to thousands of residents of all ages to offer community initiatives that have played a part in improving their everyday lives and prospects."

Peabody resident Mrs Begum, who also joined the celebrations at the outdoor party that was held following strict social distancing rules, commented: "My children have been attending projects and activities at SocietyLinks for the last few years and it has given them the opportunity to make new friends and grow in confidence. The staff are friendly and fair and my children attend homework clubs, youth services and holiday programmes as well as events. We are lucky to have a service like this on our Peabody estate."

Joyce Archbold went on to add: "We look forward to continuing our work and partnership providing positive services for our local community on the Whitechapel Estate and further afield for many more years to come. Thank you for celebrating our birthday, even in a pandemic!"