Community Links

A Safe Haven

The Ark in the Park is a play centre managed by Community Links, and the children playing here are from a similar cultural and economic background as those on the Rokeby Estate, Newham, where PEF is funding a new children's community centre. "While each location is different and our projects are also richly varied, there is a common thread of raising aspirations and building confidence – the key to enabling individuals to realise their potential," says Max Weaver,CEO of Community Links. Out on the playground, it's like a mini West Ham supporters' convention, the claret-and-blue juniors wearing the club colours with pride.

Children are not restricted in their movements, other than where related to safety matters and are not prevented from coming and going as and when they wish. Children have the freedom of choice as to what range of play activity they wish to undertake and with whom they play." What this translates to in reality is a field full of kids having a laugh, and learning how to interact and communicate in an area where there's nothing else to do and drugs and violence offer an escape route from boredom. "If it wasn't for this place, and the one we hope to build with PEF money, these kids would be roaming the streets. And it's not the nicest area," says Mike Crim, before going on to relate how he once had to intervene to save the life of a nine-year old crack addict.

Terry Downing, a worker at the Ark, stands six-foot-two and weighs 17-stone."Even I'm intimidated round here. When I walk the streets I have eyes in the back of my head. Everyone's a target. It's nervous here. 17 teenagers have been stabbed here in the last six months. That's why places like this are so important for young people. It shows them another way, keeps them off the streets." But walking round the streets here doesn't feel that dangerous. Just dull. But boredom kills. It's the sense of a safe and neutral space, of a positive environment where children can simply be children – watched over by positive role models – that creates the right conditions for change, that plants ideas and aspirations that will grow. "I like coming here, mucking about. I hate sitting at home doing nothing. You know what? I want to be an animator. Do you know any animators?" asks Ellie-May Doakes, eyes widening. "That's what I'm gonna be. Yeah, believe that.”

It's a statement,not a question.

Charities

Our current charities include:

PEF Contribution

PEF and PEF I, Inc. are building a new neighbourhood centre on the Rokeby Estate in East London to work with disadvantaged children, young people and families.
Community Links has already sourced funding for the on-going costs of the centre from local government, ensuring its sustainability.

Introducing the Charity

Community Links is an innovative inner city charity running community-based projects in east London. Founded in 1977, it now helps over 50,000 vulnerable children, young people and adults every year, with most of their work delivered in Newham, one of the poorest boroughs in Europe.

With PEF funding, Community Links is building a new children’s play centre on the Rokeby Estate, Newham. Unemployment is very high on the estate. There are no amenities, and only one shop. There's nothing in the area for young people to do, and the centre will be their space, filled with activities and ideas and positive influences.

There are 500 children in the catchment area for the new project centre, a one-storey building on a site leased on a peppercorn rent from the local council. Many thousands more local people will benefit from the centre, as parents, grandparents and carers come into contact with the staff and activities offered there.