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Putting the spotlight on the Spotlight team
THE POPLAR HARCA Youth
Service now includes the
Spotlight Youth Centre team. Helal
Ahmed, the youth services manager
will manage the centre, supported
by strategic development managers,
Blossom Young and David
Pilkington. Together, Helal, Blossom
and David will be responsible for making sure
that Poplar’s young people get the world-class
opportunities that they deserve.
What do you think are the biggest challenges
poplar harca has?
helal: Continuing to provide a high quality
service for local people and sticking to
our commitment to provide a worldclass
service for Poplar, Bow and Tower
Hamlets young people.
david: Helping young people to see there are
other opportunities for them and to
raise their aspirations.
What do you love about working for poplar
harca:
david: In the organisation, there’s a real passion
for change. We have a big vision for a
small area, this is quite unique. I really
like the way the centres and housing
works together to help build a
community.
helal: As an organisation, we have set standards
and won awards for our work. We have
taken risks only when there’s been a
benefit to local people – Poplar HARCA
puts money where it’s mouth is and it
has paid off!
from l - r: Blossom Young, helal ahmed and david pilkington
25
Blossom: There’s something about
this community which draws people
to it. It has its challenges – the
deprivation but, there’s a drive in
people in the area to make it better.
if you could change one thing about
poplar, what would it be?
helal: I would cut some of the beauracracy in
place to make things smoother and
quicker to execute.
david: Things are changing already; the
regeneration of Chrisp Street, more
infrastructure into the area which in turn
attracts more people. But, I would also
like to see more coffee shops.
Blossom: There are lots of organisations doing
the same thing, more collaborative
working is needed. The gaps need to be
recognised and then filled. I also think the
distribution of resources are not always
as effective as they could be.
thoughts for the future:
helal: It would be great if we, as an
organisation could recognise our
strengths and play to that and where
we’re weak, partner with organisations
that have the expertise. We’re great at
supporting grass roots organisations and
building their capacity. A lot of these
organisations have gone on to be fully
fledged businesses in their own right, I’m
proud of that.
HARCA
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