Our October talk

Our October talk – community cohesion and financial literacy with Pat Clough from Minority Financial Inclusion

Social entrepreneur Pat Clough from Minority Financial Inclusion started her talk by telling us how her own experience of becoming a carer and not knowing where to find help had informed the work she is doing now.

One person pointing her at the local carers’ centre had made all the difference. In turn, Pat wanted other people in minority communities to feel comfortable finding help, telling their GPs that they’re carers and mixing with people from other backgrounds and faiths. In Pat’s community cohesion work, drumming and other arts activities are used as a way to get people talking about each other’s cultures.

Pat also runs financial literacy sessions in schools, often as part of a maths lesson. The sessions build the knowledge, skills and attitude to manage money. The topics that Pat covers include peer pressure, the difference between need and want, budgeting, saving, working and earning. There are meetings with financial institutions too, to encourage them to go in to schools.

A lively Q&A brought our members’ working knowledge, community experiences and family perspectives to the discussion. And there was a deceptively-tricky quiz. 

A big thank-you to Pat for her insightful and informative talk, hello to the two potential new members who came along, and snacks always being a welcoming part of our meetings, thanks also to Heather for the delicious (and photogenic) mini Victoria sponges.

Monthly Coffee Morning

Friday 28th October, 10.30am, Stepney City Farm

The nearest stations to Stepney City Farm are Stepney Green Underground on the District Line, and Limehouse DLR, (both around 10 minutes' walk). Bus 339 stops outside the farm (St Dunstan’s stop) and 309 stops behind the farm (Stepney Green School stop). 

Our October walk

A Wapping walk through East End history  

Graham Barker from Walk East, who gave our September talk, very kindly offered to lead us on an informal walk from the City to the river. 

London trading history, the Co-operative, the German church, theatres working and lost, Seamen's missions, public art by Hamish Mackie, Gordon Young and Wendy Taylor, street art by Jonesy, words and a memorial garden... it was a walk packed with interest. 

A bonus sight was watching Tower Bridge raised for a party boat, a vintage paddle steamer.

A big East End WI thank-you to Graham. For more walks, visit the Walk East website.

Top picture by kind permission of Graham Barker, who has looked up Jalap, a word in Trading Words, the artwork at our feet – apparently, it is a purgative drug obtained chiefly from the tuberous roots of a Mexican climbing plant. Join the WI; learn stuff!

Coming up in October

Saturday 8th October 

Monthly walk - 11.00am 

Aldgate East to Wapping, with Graham Barker from Walk East

Graham Barker from social enterprise Walk East has kindly offered to guide us on an informal walk this month. Graham entertained us last month with his amazing knowledge of Victorian Bethnal Green so this promises to be a gem of a walk. His suggested route is as follows: walk from Aldgate East to Wapping via Goodman’s Fields, London Dock, St Katharine’s Dock and finishing with a coffee and/or a bite to eat at the Turk’s Head in Wapping. It will be a relaxed walk with a few historical snippets along the way.

Meet outside Aldgate East Station. Once through the ticket barriers, turn left to exit the station. Our meeting point is at the westernmost entrance, at the top end of Leman Street, outside the Aldgate Tower office building. 

Thursday 20th October

Monthly Meeting - 7 for 7.30pm 

Pat Clough from Minority Financial Inclusion

Pat will be telling us about this social enterprise. Minority Financial Inclusion's mission is to help minority groups achieve financial inclusion. They offer training and help to transform the financial services systems in order to alleviate financial disharmony and inequality. Pat plans an informal session with the chance for questions. We will have our usual refreshments available: teas, coffee, fruit teas, some wine and a few nibbles.

Friday 28th October

Monthly Coffee Morning - 10.30am 

Stepney City Farm

The nearest stations to Stepney City Farm are Stepney Green Underground on the District Line, and Limehouse DLR, (both around 10 minutes' walk). Bus 339 stops outside the farm (St Dunstan’s stop) and 309 stops behind the farm (Stepney Green School stop). 

Photos above by kind permission of Graham Barker

Sketch of Stepney City Farm by Lydia Thornley