Islington Council

We were thrilled to welcome Youth Justice Minister Sir Nic Dakin to Islington recently – the first visit to a Youth Justice Service by the new Government, potentially informing its policy in this area Ministry of Justice UK. Sir Nic’s visit followed an 'outstanding' inspection rating for our Youth Justice Service earlier this year by HM Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP), who gave it the highest score in London and third-highest in all of England and Wales at the time. It signified a remarkable turnaround for the service, which has made significant progress in the eight years since it was put into Special Measures. Sir Nic met with Cllr Michelline Safi-Ngongo, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Families, and Cllr Diarmaid Ward the then-Deputy Council Leader, as well as council Chief Executive Victoria Lawson and staff from Young Islington to hear first-hand about what we’re doing to keep children and young people safe from violence, sharing the local context and showcasing outstanding practice. Sir Nic also met with young people Areeb Ahmed and Callum and said he learned so much from their experiences, asking them to write to him expressing and consolidating their thoughts and requests. The visit was a brilliant opportunity to demonstrate the strong and committed partnerships that exist, and the exemplary culture within the staff and across the service, dedicated to meeting the needs of children, parents and partners. For more information on the HMIP’s findings, see https://orlo.uk/qqh6D

Staff at New River College were honoured to be pitchside at the Arsenal F.C stadium recently to be presented with a super-rare No More Red team shirt, in recognition of their fantastic work with some of the borough’s most vulnerable young people, in partnership with the club. New River College supports young people aged 11 to 16 who have been excluded, or are at risk of exclusion, from mainstream education. This partnership with Arsenal dates back 20 years and has been instrumental in creating a positive learning environment with dedicated staff and important role models. New River College is the first organisation to be awarded the money-can’t-buy shirt, which is now proudly displayed at the school, reflecting the shared commitment to creating opportunities for young people and making Islington the best place to go to school, learn and live. For the full story, see: https://orlo.uk/uwnlY

We're launching a new training opportunity called ‘Let’s talk drugs and alcohol’ for anyone working or volunteering with Islington residents. The training aims to give you the knowledge and confidence to have informed conversations about drug and alcohol use with residents. You will learn about the services available for people in Islington who want to reduce or stop using substances or drinking alcohol, and how to access them. View dates for 2025 and sign-up to training here: https://orlo.uk/YIOlw #DrugsAndAlcoholSupport #Addiction #Training

🌟 Big news: The Cally will be home to Islington’s second liveable neighbourhood! Our ambitious plans will create accessible public spaces, improve safety, and support local businesses. Inspired by the aspirations of the We Are Cally Community Plan, and shaped by the voices of local people, these changes will provide a model for sustainable, liveable neighbourhoods. Learn more here: https://orlo.uk/uAMnb

💼 Celebrating Small Business Saturday UK in Islington! This #SmallBusinessSaturday, we’re shining a spotlight on the incredible contribution of Islington's small businesses. Today, we were delighted to host the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds MP at the Sunflour Bakery, on the Caledonian Road, where he also met other local business owners. Department for Business and Trade Small businesses are the heartbeat of our local economy, creating jobs, and helping to make the borough a great place to live, work, and visit. 🌟 Did you know? 👉 93% of businesses in Islington are small or micro-businesses . 👉 Small businesses contribute significantly to our local economy, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and adding unique character to our high streets. 👉 We’ve initiated four affordable workspaces, totalling nearly 6,000 square metres, which help small businesses and social enterprises by offering rents up to 80% below market rates, and providing tailored spaces for industries like fashion, tech, and social enterprises. 🎉 How can you celebrate Small Business Saturday? ✔️ Shop locally and discover hidden gems in Islington. ✔️ Leave a positive review or recommendation for your favourite small business. ✔️ Tag a small business in the comments and give them the recognition they deserve! Every purchase or positive review supports livelihoods, keeps our high streets vibrant, and contributes to a fairer local economy. #SmallBizSatUK #ShopLocal #LoveIslingtonLocal

As part of UN Women #16Days of activism against gender-based violence, Police and Community Safety Officers from Islington and London Borough of Hackney were on Blackstock Road in Finsbury Park yesterday talking to people about violence against women and girls. If you or someone you know is experiencing any form of violence, abuse or intimidation please visit our website below for information on support available. 👇 If you have caused harm or frightened a loved one we offer non-judgmental, one-to-one support to help you build healthy relationships. This service has been accredited by Respect, the standard for work with perpetrators of domestic abuse. You can refer yourself by emailing: JourneyToChange@islington.gov.uk.

Our 'Cultivating Change' event last week at the Town Hall marked the end of Islamophobia Awareness Month. Local faith leaders, academics, community members, council services and representatives, with external partners all came together to commit to tackling Islamophobia and ensuring Islington continues to be a borough where everyone is welcomed. You can make a difference in your community by becoming a Hate Crime Prevention Champion, email HateCrime@islington.gov.uk for more info.

Welcome to Cllr Angelo Weekes, who today begins his new role as Executive Member for Community Safety. Born and raised in Islington, Cllr Weekes is a school governor and Chair of the Licensing Committee. He will be working to ensure Islington is a place where everyone feels safe, secure and supported. Cllr Weekes said: "Islington has always been my home, and I am honoured to step into this role to serve the community I care so deeply about."

We’re investing in Islington. One of the ways we do this is by charging developers money when they want to build here, which we use to fund community projects. For example, in Laycock: 🛝 Replaced Arundel Square playground, bringing it back into use for children and families 🏋️ Added a new outdoor gym at Laycock Green ⚽ Refurbished the football pitch at Paradise Park and the games area at Haslam Close Nurullah Turan #placemaking #revitalisation #PublicSpaces

💼 Empowering Islington’s small businesses 💼 Islington's small businesses play a vital role in our local economy - providing jobs, enhancing our high streets, and providing a variety of essential goods and services for everyone who lives, works and visits the borough. We’re committed to supporting small businesses through things like our Business Resilience Programme, delivered in partnership with Action for Race Equality which provides small businesses with: ✅ Expert Advice: Guidance on managing finances, navigating funding opportunities, and adapting to economic challenges. 💡Specialist Workshops: Sessions on marketing, digital transformation, and business strategy to drive growth and resilience. 👥 One-to-One Mentorship: Personalised support from business experts to address unique challenges and unlock potential. 🤝 Networking Opportunities: Events to connect with other local businesses, share ideas, and build collaborative opportunities. Cllr Santiago Bell-Bradford, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Inclusive Economy, Culture & Jobs recently joined a networking event with participants from the programme. The event celebrated the programme’s successes, facilitated connections between businesses and the council, and explored new ways to collaborate and offer continued support. This programme is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and is part of our ambition to foster a fairer local economy where small businesses can establish, grow and flourish in Islington. Find out more about how we’re supporting small businesses: https://orlo.uk/k3Thc