Community Engagement
AHEC method of engaging with the community has been to promote awareness, education,
community cohesion and involvement through health awareness workshop, educational
events, articles newsletters, running of parenting courses and after school supplementary
tuitions, referring services users to relevant organizations for specialist advice
and representational activities.
We recruit volunteers and facilitators with shared vision to equip them through
training so that they could engage, educate and affect the community in a positive
way. Through our evaluation mechanisms, we feed in the inputs, contributions and
views of the engaged community into development of improved services.
AHEC has working
partnership with a host of organization and a member of several forums and boards
in and around the Borough of Waltham Forest. These include Voluntary Sector Forum,
Waltham Forest Voluntary Set-up Forum, Voluntary Action Waltham Forest, Local Strategy
Board, Children and Young People Providers Network (CHYPPS) Forum, Screen Station,
Royal Geographic Society, Royal Commonwealth Society, National Resources Centre
For Supplementary Education, various Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) groups, DEA, Cultural Learning Alliance and
Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector Organization, Disability groups and
Mentally Challenging Organization.
Additionally AHEC has consistently worked with schools
in Waltham Forest to promote cultural activities and community cohesion and involvement.
AHEC receives referrals from schools and parents to engage young people and families
with difficult and challenging backgrounds
We also signpost drop-in and telephone enquires to the
appropriate and relevant services providers which include L&Q Housing Trust,
Citizens Advice Bureau, Medical Foundation Care of Victims Of Torture , African
Caribbean , Disable Associations, Refuge council.
Over the years AHEC has worked with Voluntary Action Waltham
Forest (VAMF) to broaden its organizational capacity and adopt best practices to
effectively engage the communities.
From May to November 2010, AHEC In collaboration with
VAMF will undertake a pilot project to collect the memories and experiences of Africans,
Caribbean communities in Waltham Forest, Newham and Hackney, as part of the celebration
of the 2012 London Olympic Games