Hackney Community Networks

Community networks bring together organisations who all work on a similar issue or for a particular community.

The CEN aims to be a network of networks, and is in touch with more than 30 forums or networks of voluntary and community sector organisations. Many CEN reps are recruited through these networks and give network members a voice at the Team Hackney meetings they attend.

Within the CEN, there are five networks which relate directly to Team Hackney Partnership Boards and sub groups. As well as more than 20 community networks who work on a range of areas and communities, including refugee communities, arts and women’s issues.

We call these networks ‘cross cutting’ in that they do not fit neatly within one of the six priority work areas and Boards of Team Hackney: Children and Young People, Better Homes, Thriving Healthy communities, A Safer, Cleaner place to live and Economic Development

Click here to view our CEN calendar for a list of network meetings.

List of CEN Community Networks

• African Women's Network

  This new network has been running the ‘BE BRAVE Project’ targeted mainly at African women in order to raise awareness on Domestic Violence - a taboo topic in many African communities.

• Black & Ethnic Minority Arts

  BEMA is an organisation that believes artists working in partnership can change the world for the better. It is an informal alliance of arts organisations, individual artists, promoters, producers etc.

• Black & Ethnic Minority Working Group

  BEMWG's purpose is to improve the quality of health and social services for black and ethnic minority communities in City and Hackney.

• Children and Young People's Providers Forum

  The Children & Young People’s Providers Forum is open to organisations providing services to children and young people in Hackney in the voluntary and community sector (VCS). Associate membership is open to colleagues in the public sector.

• City & Hackney Health Social Care Forum

  City & Hackney Health Social Care Forum is a network of over 250 not for profit organisations working to improve wellbeing & prevention, health & social care services in Hackney & City.

• HSCF: Disability Special Interest Group

  The Disability Special Interest Group represents a range of organisations working with people with disabilities in the City and Hackney. It is part of City & Hackney Health and Social Care Forum or HSCF.

• HSCF: Drug and Alcohol Services Network

  The Drug and Alcohol Network was established in early 2009. The network has representation on the Drug & Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) Board. It is part of City & Hackney Health and Social Care Forum or HSCF.

• HSCF Learning Difficulties Special Interest Group

  Part of the City & Hackney Health & Social Care Forum, this Special Interest Group aims to involve as many Learning Difficulties groups and organisations as possible so that their voices are heard in service planning and development.

• HSCF: Mental Health special interest group

  The Mental Health Special Interest Group exists to provide a forum in Hackney, and City of London, for anyone who has an interest in the provision of mental health services. It is part of City & Hackney Health and Social Care Forum or HSCF.

• HSCF: Older People's Special Interest Group

  The Older People's Special Interest Group is aimed at organisations and individuals interested in the provision of services for older people. It is part of City & Hackney Health and Social Care Forum or HSCF.

• Economic Development Network

  This forum aims to enable VCS organisations to input on training, enterprise, volunteering and employment issues to Team Hackney, where local decisions and policy is made.

• Educators Forum ESOL Network

  ESOL network included liaison and working together with all local Turkish & Kurdish community groups and Hackney Refugee Forum. Educator Forum’s ESOL work also stretches to ESOL providers in the Learning Trust and Hackney Community College.

• Hackney Advice Forum

  The Hackney Advice Forum holds regular meetings to help independent information and advice (I/A) agencies in the borough improve the quality and level of their service to clients by providing support and information on relevant advice issues.

• Hackney African Forum

  HaAFO is the umbrella body for community organisations working with the African Communities in Hackney particularly outreaching and influencing Health and Social Care policy on issues like HIV/Aids, TB and Drug and Alcohol use.

• Hackney Council for Older People

  To map older people’s organisations in the borough and develop a website that provides a one stop site that older people living in Hackney can use to find information.

• Sustainable Hackney

  A new network which combines Hackney Environment Network, Hackney Environment Forum and ecoActive a local e-mail listing.

• Hackney Francophone Organisations Network

  Hackney Francophone Organisations Network aims are to provide a forum of Francophone led, voluntary and community organisations, in partnership with public and private sector organisations

• Hackney LINk

  Hackney LINk is the “Local Involvement Network” for Hackney. Every local authority in England has a LINK: they have been set up by the government to enable local people to monitor, influence or change the way their local NHS and social care services.

• Hackney Refugee Forum

  Hackney Refugee Forum is an umbrella organisation which was founded in April 2000 as a need of the refugee organisation in the London Borough of Hackney.

• Hackney Women's Forum

  Hackney Women's Forum is a network of women's groups established to promote women's equality and well being.

• Hackney Unites

  Hackney Unites is a diverse coalition of Hackney based groups and individuals that have come together to challenge social exclusion and promote social justice. Members include trade unionists, peace activists, faith, BME, community and migrant groups

• Hackney Vietnamese Refugees Network

  Hackney Vietnamese Refugees Network is a new network which links organisations and outreach workers serving the Vietnamese community.

• Interlink Bridging & Bonding Network

  Interlink is set up to provide infrastructure services for voluntary and community groups in the Charedi community. Interlink facilitate 3 small networks Maternity Services, Adult Social Care services and Children with Disabilities services.

• OPEN Dalston

  OPEN Dalston campaigns for excellence in the quality of the built environment and public realm, the provision of transportation and amenities, and to ensure that changes to these have proper regard to the needs of residents and businesses.

• Safer Young Hackney

  The Safer Young Hackney (SYH) network brings together people from the voluntary and community sector (VCS) who deliver services to young people with a youth crime focus.

• Young Hackney

  Young Hackney brings together the four neighbourhood based Youth Provider Networks in Hackney.

• Hackney's User Forums

  A listing of community forums which are largely user-led or made up of individuals rather than people from voluntary and community provider organisations.

• Hackney Play Providers Forum

  This forum brings play organisations together to share best practice.