Blog

Guest blog: Emma Plouviez from City.COM who is supporting the community team 

The City of London has under 10,000 residents – which is about the same population as one ward in any other London local authority. The majority live in the Barbican area, in the two famous architectural landmarks of the Barbican Estate and Golden Lane Estate. The other population concentration  is in the east of the City, around Aldgate, at the Middlesex St and Mansell St estates.

People living in the City are generally happy to live there, happy with the services and resources that are available to them, and feel well-supported by the City of London Corporation – and this is perhaps also a reflection of the fact that they are generally  not economically deprived and can expect continuing good health . However, as in any urban community, there are homeless and  marginalised people; there are lonely, isolated and unwell people. And in the east of the City, there is a concentration of  poverty and ill-health in Portsoken Ward which places it in the top 25% most deprived areas (‘lower layer super-output area’ as defined by the Office for National Statistics).

The City of London also takes seriously its responsibility for those less-well off communities which surround it. The City Fringe Partnership (CFP) was established as an economic development and regeneration partnership in 1996. Set up by the City of London Corporation and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets,  it was soon joined by Hackney and Islington and Camden.  The CFP's principal objectives were to increase economic growth and social inclusion in the area to the north and east of the City of London, which includes some of the most deprived communities in the country.

2011 Lord Mayor Sir Michael Bear at the launch of the Portsoken Community Center in June 2011

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Guest blog from Katherine Sparkes

JCI Member Katherine Sparkes wants your old suits to help transform lives!!!

Katherine Sparkes with some very nice suits

These days, looking good is half the battle when going for a job interview and most of us will spend hours, if not days, before meeting a potential employer trying to decide on the perfect outfit. We want to look professional and stylish and it’s not unusual for job-seekers to buy a special suit just for the interview. But if you’re homeless or disadvantaged in some way and simply can’t afford a new outfit, how can you make sure you look the part?
Now in its second year, The Suit Amnesty, run by Katherine's CSR consultancy, Flamingo (www.flamingo-creative.co.uk), has been designed to directly tackle this issue. It calls on people right across the country to donate their unwanted workwear and last year's campaign received more than 2,000 suits in response. This incredible generosity even extended to designer items, and celebrities including Gary and Danielle Lineker got involved too.

Katherine and Louise busying sorting out the suits  (Left :Gemma, Right:Katherine)

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The best thing about JCI London is we also have international Jaycees joining. This blog is from Omotola Kukoyi JCI Festac Vice President about our attending our first joint business and community meeting

I've always wondered if the international opportunity of networking in JCI is all about. I had only experienced this at  area conferences and world congress, until my visit to London. Where I attended JCI London community/business meeting at the London Chamber of Commerce. My first contact was Soraya Bowen whom I saw her post online about the forthcoming JCI London business meeting. I emailed her stating that I'm a member of JCI Festac, Nigeria and would love to attend.

Intense discussions between community and business team 

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Last year JCI UK launched Active Citizen Experience(ACE) award programme. The awards recognise JCI members for volunteering their time, both inside and outside of local chamber and in their local community. Last year three JCI London members diligently logged their hours, between them clocking up clocking up over 60 hours of service in their local community. Need a little inspiration, well why not read last year’s ACE award winner stories, who are now leading this year’s Training and Personal Development team. This is no surprise as volunteering allows developing your skills and discover what you’re truly capable of achieving. 

                                   Mehnaz Siddique                                               Frene Angeli 

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There are five areas of opportunity in JCI, Business International, Social, Training and Community.

Community can mean a number of different things;

1. As a member of JCI you are part of local, national and global network of young active citizens
2. The local community where you live

However, in JCI community its about 'providing our members with opportunities to develop community responsibility'.

Junior Chamber International participation is the community is central to our mission and vision and that JCI members are active in the local communities.

Mission: 'To provide development opportunities that empower young people to create positive change'

Vision: 'To be the leading global network of young active citizens'                                                      

Through involvement in civic and community projects you will again a sense of the contribution and difference you can make at the local level. Develop a greater understanding of how communities work as well as developing valuable organisation skills. Armed with your new skills learnt you can utilise these skills in your own business or workplace increasing your employability skills. However, we must not forget that at the heart of everything for us  JCI London Community wants to ensure that  the needs of members

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Question: What is hot and pink?

Answer: JCI London Hot Pink Ladies

 Left-right:Mehnaz Siddque, Soraya Bowen, Alex Illsey and Sofie Sandell

The JCI London Pink Ladies are back again for our annual 5k run for Race life and picnic in the park if the weather permits.  We are looking for new recruits to join us in 2012.

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JCI London annual charity pub quiz night is back again this year with an Olympic theme, in support of UN Nothing But Nets campaign.

It’s going to be a night of champions’ before the event has even happened.Sarah Beckwith and her team will be in attendance to defending their title and our resident public speaking Champion, Alex Illsley on the mic as the quiz master.

Sarah Beckwith clutching the coveted JCI London 2011 pub quiz trophy

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OK, as some of you may know last year Soraya and I ran round Loch Ness for Nothing But Nets. So when I came back did I get some well deserved R and R? Hmm..I got an e mail. It was from Soraya, along the lines of 'Would you be interested in doing the Edinburgh Marathon in May? I fancy doing my first marathon.' Turns out JCI Sheffield were going to Edinburgh to run the Marathon for Nothing But Nets and some amongst us felt that there needed to be some JCI London representation in support. How could I refuse?

So, I find myself going for the marathon hat-trick and Soraya has taken the plunge and is going for the full 26 miles. May seemed quite a way off when I agreed to this but now it edges ever closer. It is just over nine weeks to go and am I marathon ready?

Well, I have been trying to do regular runs but they have been on the short and sweet side. I do need to up the distance over the next few weeks if I am to get round, never mind beat my time in Loch Ness. 

However, I am sure what will help Soraya and I up our training is the thought of many bednets being bought. The name of the campaign 'Nothing But Nets' really does say it all. It really is nothing but nets. A $10 bednet can save a life and we would really appreciate it if you could use the link below to find out more about this important campaign and buy a bednet. 

http://www.crowdrise.com/jcilondon

Many thanks, Alex

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The community team has landed! well the start of a team at least. The JCI London Community team had our first meeting on Wednesday 8 Febuary, the discussions centred on what is it we want to achieve and how are we going to achieve it.

There was a healthy dose of realism added in there, as we tried to get to grips with what we meant by community and then how on earth we communicate this to other JCI members to get them all excited and motivated to help us achieve this years vision. There was an excited flow of ideas after this Community Director, Soraya set out her aims and objectives and invited our input. There is clearly already a lot planned and in full motion so look out for some fun easy things that you can get involved in and make a difference in the world with hardly any effort.

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 The year begins for me  on 1st February and marks the start of the great work JCI London Community team needs to do to make an impact in our communities on a local, national and global level.
January has flown by with the planning and thinking behind how we (JCI members) tackle the problems we see in the world the today-a HUGE task!!! Which leads onto my anthem for this year for when I start feel my drive and passion being challenged and I will play this song, check out the lyrics and you will see why.

My anthem for 2012 is: Alicia Keys 'Superwoman'

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