30 years of ELBA: looking back and looking forward
It’s ELBA’s 30th anniversary this year – as many people may already know. In that time we have worked with over 250 major businesses to support the communities, residents, students and community organisations of east London and beyond. Over 200,000 business people have given their expertise and their time, touching the lives of around 2 million students, residents, job seekers and workers.
October is the month when our anniversary celebrations reach their peak. On every business day this month ELBA will have activities showcasing the collaboration between business and community organisations and schools.
Starting with young men from our Parity project going for apprenticeship assessments, to schools visits to major banks; communication skills workshops; the start of the annual mentoring programme in Islington; and confidence building sessions for migrant women – and that is just the first week.
During October we will be working with business in schools, colleges and universities, in the open spaces of east London, helping maintain the social infrastructure of the area, and working to help people get into work, stay in work and get on.
London Challenge Poverty week falls in the middle of the month – from the 14th onwards, and we will have activities that week to highlight what business and community organisations are doing together to help people and families deal with low earnings and childhood poverty.
That week is also when our special partnership with The Big Issue will be published focusing on how we help young people get into good jobs and careers – and what the community organisations are doing to tackle serious youth violence and knife crime.
It all comes to a peak on 30th October. We will be attempting the world record for the world’s largest employability workshop during the day, followed by a celebration dinner for all our business partners down the years, volunteers, mentors, community partners and civic leaders.
It’s going to be a hectic month – I hope I will see you at one of the activities or at our celebration dinner.
