User Groups

A voluntary organisation founded in Germany in 1958 by Christians seeking to confront the era of National Socialism in German history

A London wide based organization established in 1998 in response to
children's and adults' art workshops and individual consultation with
Somali mothers on the needs of Somali youth and women in London. Back
to Basics aims to provide for the Somali women, mothers and youth who
are at a disadvantage, with a planned programme of Arts and Crafts that
will allow them to tackle issues of social exclusion and educational

Form Design Europe Architects have been located at 15 Old Ford Road since before St Margarets House purchased the building in 1999. Although they are not a charity they have offered assistance to the House and other organizations on site. Most recently, they supervised the building of the Café conservatory extension which was officially opened in May 2003 and are developing plans for expansion at the rear of St Margarets House.

Tel: 020 8983 1400
Email: studio@fdearchitects.co.uk
Website: www.fdearchitects.co.uk

Situated in the basement of St Margarets House and offering a welcoming aspect to our users and a worthwhile service to the local community. It offers a wide range of vegan and vegetarian food and a varied selection of teas, coffees and soft drinks. It has become a favourite meeting place for those working in St Margarets House as well as local people. The Café is open daily.

Tel: 020 8980 2092

Email: profyaffle_15@hotmail.com

Website:
http://thegallerycafe.blogspot.com/

This group is a Resource Centre where Bengali women can meet on an informal basis, enjoying educational, recreational and leisure activities such as learning English and Mother Tongue Bengali, cultural orientation courses and social gatherings.

Tel: 020 8983 3527
Email: aysha.gdms@yahoo.co.uk

We are an umbrella organisation for Tower Hamlet's voluntary, faith and community sector Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) organisations and is funded by Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust (NHS). The Consortium arises from a commitment to dismantle the barriers to effective engagement between the BME and statutory sectors.

Tel: 020 8880 7111
Email: involveconsort@btconnect.com

A group of Lithuanian children learning to read and write English as well as socialize in a happy atmosphere play group alongside fun activities.

We get together every Wednesday evening at St Margarets House to discuss our daily issues and pass on helpful solutions to encourage each other and feel bette.

Contact: Elizabeth on 020 7729 5371

Positive Steps developed from two previous House initiatives (Homelink and Providence Row Project) supporting previously homeless and recently housed local people. The Project is a self-help group that aims to create an awareness of resettled people on low income and work together in seeking goals for a better future. Meeting people with common interests and developing them together; sharing ideas with each other; assisting one another with day to day living; becoming involved in: arts and crafts, leisure and social activities; gaining help with literacy and numeracy skills.

Quaker Social Action was founded in 1867 as a philanthropic response to the appalling poverty in east London at the time. Now, 141 years later, our 5 innovative and clearly focused projects work to enable local people to tackle deep-rooted social, economic and environmental injustice.

Website: www.quakersocialaction.com
Email: info@qsa.org.uk
Tel: 020 8983 5030

A professional photographer.

Tel: 020 3222-6002
Email: mischa@mischaphoto.com

The objective of this Trust is the relief of need, hardship and distress amongst the inhabitants of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets with special consideration being given to the needs of the inhabitants of Bethnal Green and the provision in the interests of social welfare of facilities for the education and recreation of such inhabitants. This Trust has been in existence since 1984 and has close links to the Repton Boys Club in Bethnal Green.

SSAFA-FH provides welfare assistance for servicemen, ex-servicemen and their families. The Tower Hamlets branch of SSAFA-FH has been based at St Margarets House for many years.
Tel: 020 7247 4184

Email: ssafa@towerhamlets21.fsnet.co.uk
Website: www.ssafa.org.uk

ESSA is the representative body for secondary school students in England. It is run by students for students, on democratic lines, with an elected council of school students making all the strategic decisions for the organisations. ESSA undertakes a variety of activites, including political lobbying, training delivery and extensive consultation work. ESSA is the Student Voice.

Tel: 0208 981 5104
Email: support@studentvoice.co.uk
Website: www.studentvoice.co.uk

Telling Stories in 20 Languages

An advice, information and support centre for people living with Sickle-cell and Thalassaemia conditions and their carers. Its objective is to raise the level of awareness of Sickle-cell and Thalassaemia in the community and amongst professionals, while simultaneously promoting self-help amongst sufferers and their carers. In 2001, the AWWA took over the premises at 23 Old Ford Road and now have a "Charity Shop" which caters to those who are in need and training opportunities for individuals looking for work experience.
Tel: Theresa 07908495279

The largest organisation of its type in the world. As the UK's gateway to information about stammering and the help available for it, BSA responds to more than 3000 enquiries from the public each year. It provides specialist resources for parents, health professionals, teachers, employers and people who stammer. There is a specialist directory of speech and language therapy services, contacts for self-help groups and posters and other romotional materials available. These are complemented by an extensive mail order service of books, tapes and videos.

Established in 1984 as a registered charity providing a range of services to children and young adults with disabilities within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The Tower Project is wholly led and governed by its membership and a management committee that is drawn from the local community. The values and ethos of the organisation are based on supporting the membership to:

The U-Turn is a new initiative, which works on the streets with women of all ages in Tower Hamlets and Newham. The project works with women who are homeless, drug users and who work as sex workers to fund both their drug addiction and that of their partners. A large percentage of the women have extreme health problems. Many of the women are victims of domestic violence or have grown up in a family where they have witnessed domestic violence and become traumatised by what they have seen. They have very low self worth and feel trapped and unable to make choices.

Tel: 020 8983 1553

Since 1947 this voluntary organisation has been caring and supporting those older people who need help and support. They have a dedicated group of staff and a growing number of volunteers. Their aim is to befriend and help older people, very often frail and housebound, by regularly visiting them at home and carrying out the sorts of things a ‘good neighbour' would do - helping with filling up forms, doing simple odd jobs which need doing and going with the person to their GP or to a hospital appointment.

Our objectives are; to promote the interests of Somali Community in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets enabling mutual support, advocacy at policy level and organisational capacity building. To encourage and develop Somali enterprises in East London. To encourage Somalis to actively participate in the Somali and wider community.

Email: thson@btconnect.com
Tel: 0208 983-5439

We are a local cycling campaign group in the East End of London and our main objectives are:

* to encourage more people to cycle
* improve conditions for cyclists
* to raise the profile of cycling in the East End

This involves bringing the issues to the attention of the local council and other authorities. We also run cycling community projects and organise social rides and events to bring cyclists in the area together.

THWA is a registered charity and as been established in this Borough since 1975. The community project offers a range of practical and emotional support to women who are or have been victims of domestic violence. THWA offers safe temporary accommodation to women and their children who are escaping violence and securing permanent accommodation. It is important that due to the nature of the work that THWA's location is kept confidential and we ask all other user groups at St Margarets House to be discreet when discussing or informing women of their service.

U3A is a self help organisation for people with time on their hands providing educational, creative and leisure opportunities in the friendly environment of Saint Margarets House. Tower Hamlets U3A began in 2008 and is a learning co-operative which draws on the knowledge and experience of it's members to organise and provide interest groups in accordance with the wishes of the membership. The teachers learn and the learners teach Groups currently running are Jazz and classical music appreciation, book clubs, philosophy, creative writing, tai chi, gardening and art classes.

Urban Youth is a youth community project working with young people aged 9 to 19 who live in Tower Hamlets and the surrounding areas. Urban Youth provides positive activities both in 1-2-1 and group work settings.

Young people are provided a safe and welcoming environment that provides a social space, access to information, advice and support and an overall environment in which young people feel valued and appreciated.

Our objectives are; to promote the interests of Somali Community in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets enabling mutual support, advocacy at policy level and organisational capacity building. To encourage and develop Somali enterprises in East London. To encourage Somalis to actively participate in the Somali and wider community.

Email: wsiatraining@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: 020 8983-9770