Being a volunteer enriches lives, says Business Design Centre founder Jack Morris as Islington Giving hands out first awards

Published: 25th February, 2011
by PETER GRUNER

THE founder of the flagship Islington Business Design Centre invoked the Victorian reformers and their sense of civic duty when he spoke about the need for people to help each other in the current recession.

Philanthropist Jack Morris spoke at an awards ceremony on Wednesday night organised by Islington Giving, a coalition of charities which aims to tackle deprivation and social exclusion. 

He revealed that in just six months since its launch the charity had raised more than £500,000 and hundreds of people had donated their time and money.

Mr Morris, chairman of Islington Giving appeal committee, contended that the Big Society had been working in Islington long before Prime Minister David Cameron came up with the idea.  

“The message is that if you care about the community in which you live, do something about it,” he said. “Don’t just complain. I’ve done a lot of volunteering in my life. I can say that the process is enriching. It benefits both the person volunteering and the one being helped. 

“It can be educational. You learn something new, and it can also be inspirational. It can keep your mind exercised. It gives you another focus other than the day job, family or business.

“The old Victorian reformers had the right idea. Previous generations had a far greater sense of civic duty, pride and involvement in their community.

“It is something we really need to rediscover. You can’t always turn to government or the council when things go wrong. Sometimes you’ve got to do things for yourself.” 

Kristine Glenn, chief executive of charity Cripplegate, who is spearheading the  Islington Giving appeal, told the event at the Design Centre that the charity’s first tasks include extending the opening hours of under-used adventure playgrounds and providing more activities for young people at weekends.

She added: “We are also working with the Help on Your Doorstep group, who are providing personalised support for Islington’s poorest residents, helping them access essential local services.

“And we aim to offer extra support to the borough’s most vulnerable people, those affected by loneliness and mental ill health, by helping to provide mentoring, counselling and psychotherapy.”

She described how there had been a surge of volunteers since last September’s launch of Islington Giving at The Guardian newspaper offices in King’s Cross, which was featured in the Tribune. Volunteers have included staff at the daily newspaper and Homes for Islington, who have also donated cash.

The charity’s first awards, a share in £25,000, presented in conjunction with UnLtd, the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs, were given to seven schemes involving local people.

They went to Lorraine Grout, a drama teacher who is setting up workshops at Pentonville Prison; Christopher Higgins, a writer and director who will be implementing creative learning programmes in schools; and Holly Jones, who is launching a Science Museum project involving 50 excluded young people from Islington. 

Other winners were Huda Al Amin, who is setting up a project to train and find work for women refugees; Adrian Taylor, a child psychologist who has invented a game that helps young people develop their employability; Angela Woods, a single mother of two young children launching arts and employment events on the Bemerton estate; and Chelsea Anyiam and Shaneil Burkes, who provide free acting and dance classes for young people who live around Whitecross Street, Finsbury.

To contact Islington Giving, call 0207 014 5999 or email www.islingtongiving.org.uk or mail@islingtongiving.org.uk.