43%

of children in Tower Hamlets are living in poverty

58%

of all neighborhoods in the borough rank in the top 20 percent of income and employment deprivation

78%

of Bangladeshi and Pakistani women in the borough are economically inactive

Tower Hamlets is undoubtedly the borough that best represents the city of London, with its glass fronted skyscrapers and luxury flats standing over densely populated public housing. Such contrasts underpin the highest level of income inequality in the UK, as well as the highest level of child and pensioner poverty, and a female unemployment rate which is more than twice the national average. Deprivation is widespread in Tower Hamlets: more than half (58%) of neighborhoods are in the most deprived 20% and one quarter (24%) in the most deprived 10% (IMD). In a 2015 DCLG report Tower Hamlets ranked as the 6th most deprived local authority of 326 in England. While Muslims account for approximately 40% of the borough’s population, unemployment rates among Muslims are more than twice that of the population, and according to a 2017 House of Common report, “suffer the greatest economic disadvantages of any group in society.”

Our Work

To begin to address some of the multiple disadvantages people in the local area face, we fundraise to provide access to free classes, 1:1 advice and support, social meeting opportunities, and collaborative creative projects. Using creative projects as a starting point, we support culturally diverse groups, some facing disadvantage and marginalization, including elders, migrant women, children living in poverty, and our wider community, to meet, access help, and work together. We deal with a range of complex issues, such as domestic and financial abuse, homelessness, long-term unemployment and isolation.

Last year:

In the past year, through our Sewing Support Network, we have provided roughly 20 hours per week, 660 hours in total, of English language instruction, industry level sewing classes, and social activities. Since the expansion of this programme, enrolment on our coures has risen by 400% with 284 women now enrolled on a SIT class.