Diane meets inspirational Hackney youngsters set for success
Diane Abbott MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington was among 100 guests who attended the opening of brand new premises for youth charity Fairbridge in Bayford Street, Hackney on Friday.
The charity, which provides young people aged 13 – 25 who are out of education or employment with support to lead a successful life, had its new premises officially opened by Mayor of Hackney Jules Pipe.
Chris Murray, manager of the new centre said although the charity had been up and running in Hackney since 2005, the new facility meant they would be able to help twice the amount of young people than ever before and take on 3 more staff. “We’ll be able to provide better facilities, increased activities, have more members of staff and therefore more support,” he said.
The centre will also be able to offer young people the chance to learn lifelong skills, including how to cook thanks to a state of the art kitchen.
Diane met some inspirational Hackney youngsters, including Elizabeth Frimpong, 23, who helped design the new Fairbridge centre and Steph Thomas, 24, who has used support from the charity to set up her own business. The girls who met in a hostel in Hackney turned to Fairbridge for help a year and a half ago.
“Fairbridge has helped me massively by helping me get into a position to start my own business. I’ve met the head of HSBC, climbed a mountain and done things I hoped I could do but never thought I actually would be able to,” said Steph, who also read an emotional poem about Hackney called ‘Beautiful Junkyard’.
She also met 20 year-old Sarah Smyth who performed a salsa demonstration.
Diane said:
“I’ve met some truly inspirational youngsters at Fairbridge that have used the facilities this charity offers to turn their lives around. Stephanie’s poem was a highlight of the event and just shows that young people like her can excel when provided with the right support. I am sure we will hear many more tales of success from this facility in the future, especially now it has a permanent home in Hackney."
Pictures show Diane with Steph Thomas, 24 and Elizabeth Frimpong, 23.
Group picture shows Chris Murray, centre manager, Elizabeth, Diane, Chief Executive of Fairbridge, Andrew Purvis, Steph and Mayor of Hackney, Jules Pipe.
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