THE Hedgecock Community Centre (HCC) held its third AGM on Wednesday, 27th January 2021. This was their first HCC AGM to have been held online, via Zoom.
The AGM was attended by 18 HCC members and local ward councillors, representatives from Barking & Dagenham Council, and guests.
The HCC Chair, Secretary and Treasurer provided members with a report on the centre’s progress and future aspirations – which acknowledging the financial and social constraints of the Covid 19 pandemic. The online meeting also viewed clips on past projects, highlights of the year, challenges, opportunities and the way forward.
Trustee Mohammad Hassan discussed the Foodbank project and how HCC was reaching out to the most vulnerable and the needy across the borough.
Chair Yousuf Khan thanked and welcomed all the participants and thanked Council officers for working hard with the trustees to conclude a 30 year lease of the centre. He said, “since the beginning of our journey in 2017, we have continued to grow as an organisation, delivering essential services for our community, and with the continued help from the local authority we would like to oversee a centre extension to facilitate much growing demands from our local community.”
He also thanked all the trustees and volunteers for coming forward, responding to the emergencies and “supporting communities when they needed help the most, through the Foodbank and delivery services.”
Emdad Rahman MBE, an advocate of the centre, congratulated the Trustees for initiating the Food Bank and said “it has been a whirlwind year and the way the local community has rallied round to support our centre and Foodbank has been is nothing short of phenomenal. It is a proud achievement for the whole community.”
●The Hedgecock Community Centre styles itself as “a hub for the community”. For more information about the centre, including how you can become more involved and a list of the activities available, go to: www.hedgecockcentre.org.uk To contact the centre, email: info@hedgecockcentre.org.uk
●Read more stories about the Hedgecock Community Centre: Hedgecock Community Centre