Harringay Trip to the Tottenham Community Assistance Centre

A support centre to help those made homeless by the Tottenham riot on Saturday was established today at Tottenham Green Leisure Centre.

Following the stupendous response from Harringay to the donations appeal, I travelled up there earlier this evening to show my support and see how things were going.

Everything seemed remarkably well organised. I imagine in part that's down to the enthusiastic and welcoming council officer Helen who greeted me and showed me round.

 

 Helen clutching some nappies donated in Harringay

The operation has been organised into two parts. In a large sports hall they have an area to welcome people, asses their needs and arrange support. Around the edges of the large hall are arranged service areas including ones for housing and medical needs as well as one for business support and victim support.

 

 Council Officer Nick Schlitner, providing support for those whose business has suffered as a result of the riots

 

In the centre of the room there's an area for charities and a place for refreshments, currently stocked courtesy of Pret a Manger.

In a separate area, there are spaces to receive donations and for affected residents to choose what they need.

 

 

 

I'd only just finished looking around when with impecable timing Andy Newman, from the Gardens Residents' Association arrived with his daughter Amber and a car heaving with goodies donated by the good folk of Harringay.

 

 

Andy was particularly proud of one bag which he said he picked up the other night, but he wouldn't say where from.

 

 

Folks have clearly been very generous. There were clothes, toys, books, bedclothes, toileteries, shoes, nappies and even a carrycot. Included were items from people's homes as well as new purchases from Sainsbury's.

 

 

As we were carrying stuff in, I couldn't resist the opportunity to talk to some of the steady stream of folk arriving with their own goodies. I was amazed at how far people had travelled. I met one group of publicity shy girls who had come from Hackney, elsewhere in East London and Lewisham. They explained that they just liked doing good.

I also met Catherine. She hadn't travelled that far, but the distance she had travelled with her backpack of goodies had been hard-won.

 

Catherine, determined to donate

 

Andy has also sent me a couple of snaps of him and Amber loading up outside the Gardens Community garden.

 

 

Big-up to Maddy for setting the whole process off, to Liz for taking it the next step, to Andy for arranging the Harringay drop-off and to him and Amber for taking the stuff up to Tottenham. Last and by no means least, thanks to everyone using HoL (both directly and through our Twitter outpost) for donating and spreading the word.

Fantastic work people of Harringay and elsewhere in London. What a heart-warming start. Let's keep it coming.