A record number of supporters attended the Lloyd’s Community Programme Celebration Event on 14 January, held at Lloyd’s, to celebrate the achievements of one of the longest running community involvement schemes in the City of London.
The new style event replaced the traditional Lloyd’s Community Programme Annual General Meeting. In an informal setting, volunteers involved in the programme from the Lloyd’s market and representatives of partner organisations from the East London Business Alliance to Tower Hamlets College, had the opportunity to hear about the 2007 successes and the future vision for the programme, which works with the East London community.
“2007 was a year of growth for Lloyd’s Community Programme with 900 volunteers taking part in the volunteering opportunities in Tower Hamlets and Hackney. The outstanding commitment to Lloyd’s Community Programme from our volunteers was also recognised by Business in the Community with two prestigious awards acknowledging the success of the programme,” commented Nick Furlonge, Chairman of Lloyd’s Community Programme and Director of Beazley to lloyds.com.
The event also launched Lloyd’s Community Programme’s six new themes which will be focused on in 2008 – Children and Basic Skills; Young People and Employability; Broadening Horizons through both Sport and Arts; Regenerating Communities and Effective Community Leaders. (See link to right of page for more information on these themes).
With statistics showing Tower Hamlets and Hackney - communities on the doorstep of the City - have the highest youth unemployment rates in the country, helping young people to develop employability skills is a priority for Lloyd’s Community Programme. Jane Owen, Compliance Director of Aon and Lloyd’s Community Programme Management Board Member told the supporters, that, last year, five Lloyd’s market companies hosted work placements for local students, preparing young people for the world of work.
A series of work-related learning events were run in schools in Tower Hamlets and Hackney, helping students to develop skills to access employment opportunities and more are planned for 2008. The Tower Hamlets Public Speaking Competition held last year also helped young students gain valuable public speaking skills and confidence.
The winner of the Public Speaking Competition, 15 year old Eibhlin Priestley from Morpeth School in Tower Hamlets, joined the event and revealed how winning the 2007 competition had enabled her to enhance her employability skills through providing a unique opportunity to develop public speaking. Eibhlin had also benefited from the student mentoring aspect of Lloyd’s Community Programme.
A volunteer with 11 years experience - Kirat Nandra from ACE explained to the audience how she had played a role in encouraging students to develop employability skills by running work-related days at ACE for East London students.
“We are all privileged to work in the Lloyd’s market with so many opportunities at our finger tips. By becoming involved in Lloyd’s Community Programme you have a chance to help young people with employability; students with their reading and number skills or help them with their passion for arts or sports. And all it takes is a small amount of your time but what you get back is immeasurable,” commented Kirat to lloyds.com.
