New Avenues Youth and Community Project

Jil Cove - Chair

Jil Cove has lived in Spitalfields for over thirty years and has been involved with New Avenues Youth and Community Project for much of that time. Jil has been chair of the Management Committee since 1996. As a resident of the diverse neighbourhood,  Jil is particularly concerned about the lack of youth provision to meet the needs and aspirations of local young people, whatever their cultural roots.

"The work and staff of New Avenues are well respected by the community and we provide services vital to the well being of local young people and their families. Our plans are to extend working across the cultural divide to decrease tensions on the streets and increase welfare rights and other family related activities. I am confident that we can achieve our goals over the coming years and continue to play an important role in the community."

Owen Gower - Secretary

Owen has been a Management Committee member for New Avenues since May 2003 and is now the Secretary for the charity. He is studying for a PhD in Philosophy at King's College London. He volunteered to be part of New Avenues in order to support a small charity that does vital work in his local community. Since moving away from the East End, Owen has continued to volunteer on the Management Committee.

"New Avenues is a small charity aimed at delivering basic support to the local community. The area around Brick Lane is particularly deprived, and New Avenues works at improving the quality of life for its inhabitants. Can you imagine living somewhere so overcrowded that you do not have your own space at home for doing homework or listening to music or just relaxing? Many of our users have nowhere that is their own other than the streets. Can you imagine not knowing how to make the most of life through using basic institutions such as the Job Center or hospitals? Many or our users are so marginalised that they do not know the benefits they are entitled to. New Avenues aims to give local people the opportunity and the will to improve their lives so that they realise that no one in our society is without a choice."

Bruce Campbell

"I have been living in Spitalfields since 1997. I am an artist and do life drawing, painting and photography. I am involved with Landmark Education which is about growth and development and about making a difference in the lives of people from all walks of life. I sing in an acapella world music choir and I have been on the organising community of Spitalfields Community Association since 1998.

Since the summer of 2004 I have been privileged to be on the Management Committee of New Avenues, which for me is a lively organisation that reaches out to the roots of our diverse community and brings people together and supports them in living in an integrated and fulfilled life with use here in East London. I am taking a stand for an ethnically and culturally diverse community that functions to enrich all our lives."

Vicki Kwesiga

Vicki is a graduate in Law, has a masters in Law and is currently pursuing postgraduate studies in Accountancy.

"Since I joined the Management Committee of New Avenues in June 2004, there has been a positive progression in the work carried out by the project, such as the increased emphasis on cross-cultural work with young people, which leads to greater amicable relations within the community.

I am extremely proud to be a apart of an organisation whose ethos is centred on the positive integration of minority communities within the Spitalfields area."

Ibrahim Ali - Treasurer

Would You Like to Join the Management Committee?

Please contact Jessica Gadsby or Derek Cox on: 0207 247 0933 for more information.