Rokeby autumn 2009

Many of you will remember our day of community engagement this time last year, when over 80 volunteers from the private equity community kindly gave their time and energy, donning boots and work clothes, to put the finishing touches to the Rokeby Community Links Centre, funded by PEF, in the borough of Newham.

We thought the anniversary of its completion would be a fitting time to take a look at how the centre is now being put to great use in one of the most deprived areas of London, where child poverty rates are at 55 per cent and unemployment is double the national average.

The centre has proved popular from the word go, with over 160 children using it during the first three months alone. A recent survey of 50 residents found that 80 per cent felt that the area had changed since the opening. Here are just a few of their comments:

“Everyone is using the centre, there’s somewhere to go and meet friends and things to do now.”

“More kids are getting involved and less kids are on the streets.”

“Neighbours are coming together, there’s a better atmosphere.”

“I got to know new people since I have come [to the centre], it has changed people’s perceptions and people feel more safe.”

“There are still some criminals around but it is changing slowly, there’s less trouble.”Nearly 90 per cent of those questioned were familiar with the facility and its services and over 75 per cent said they, or a member of their family, uses it, whether for the football, play ground, stay and play, after school, holiday or youth clubs, aerobics, bingo or coffee mornings.

If you would like to become involved in, or are interested in finding out more about, our next day of engagement, please contact Kate Kelly at kate@privateequityfoundation.org