Extensive consultation undertaken by the Council in 2015 identified that Hackney residents want to get to know each other, contribute to their community and take greater responsibility for looking after their environment.

There is already lots of grassroots activity that is helping to make a big difference to the wider community in Hackney. Volunteering For Hackney aims to work with some of the people and grassroots organisations delivering change in the borough, to offer support and to learn from them.

Hackney Council, Volunteer Centre Hackney and Hackney CVS want to ensure that small community organisations and groups that operate at a very local level, are being fully enabled by the Council and other public services to help them thrive and grow. The Council will be inviting a number of groups to participate in Volunteering For Hackney pilot and in return they will receive structured strategic support.

Support will be wide ranging, from the small things like setting up a Facebook page or a website, to filling in grant applications or the big things like learning how to get the best out of volunteers through the right training and setting up as a registered charity.