Latest News
All the latest news, events and activities at AAA
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The AAA 2023 Easter Egg Appeal
13th March 2023 The sixth annual Ambition, Aspire, Achieve Easter Egg Appeal aims to provide for each child referred to the appeal, an Easter egg for Easter Sunday. This year the appeal will run from Monday 13 March 2023 and the donated eggs will be distributed safely to the children in time for Easter Sunday. A BIG thank you to AAA Patron Ricky Grover for launching this years appeal and for all of your continuing support which is truly appreciated. This year we are aiming to collect 2000 eggs to help 2000 disadvantaged, vulnerable and/or at risk children enjoy an Easter egg this year. Eggs can be purchased and donated through our Amazon Easter Egg Appeal site at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/1R8ZIJES63YUU? ref_=wl_share If you would like to make a cash donations, which can be converted into Easter Eggs, these can be made at our dedicated Easter Egg Appeal Giving Site: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/EasterEgg2023 You can also drop off Easter Eggs at Arc in the Park from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday. All donations must be received by Monday 27th March 2023 to ensure we have time to distribute the eggs in time for Easter Sunday, Find further details about the appeal here or contact Jonny Boux to find out more. |
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Our Cricket Clubs are Back!
March 2023 Our Cricket Clubs are back at both our Terence Brown Arc and Glyn Hopkins Abbey Hub for ages 5 to 11. Our All Stars Cricket Club runs every Saturday for ages 5 to 8 and our Dynamo's Cricket Club runs every Saturday for ages 9 to 11. The clubs are a great place to learn new skills and to build new friendships, and the fun restarts from Saturday 13th May 2023. Pre-booking is essential and spaces are limited and fill up quickly so be sure to book your childs place early! Contact Marie Poinsamy for further details and to book your place. All Stars Cricket Club at Arc in the Park flyer Dynamos Cricket Club at Arc in the Park flyer All Stars Cricket Club at Abbey Hub flyer Dynamos Cricket Club at Abbey Hub flyer |
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Playwheels is Back this Easter! 8th March 2023 Our popular Playwheels Mobile Playscheme is back this Easter holidays from Monday 3rd April. We'll be visiting parks and green spaces across Newham with lots of fun activities and games including arts and crafts, parachute games, sports and much more! Places are limited each day so come along early to join in the fun - no booking required and lots of new friends to meet and new experiences to try! For further details and to find out where we are throughout April find the flyer here. To find out more contact Bob Goldsmith. |
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ECO Hub this Easter Holidays! 7th March 2023 We are so excited to tell you about our new ECO Hub this Easter! Join us to make a difference this Easter and enjoy lots of fun activities and workshops including gardening and woodwork, and we'll be taking day trips too! Spaces are now available to book and please note that pre-booking is essential. To find out more and to book your place contact Candy Buckler. Find the project flyer here. |
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Easter Playscheme at Arc in the Park
6th March 2023 We have a busy and fun filled Easter coming up at Ambition Aspire Achieve including our Easter Holiday Playscheme at Arc in the Park! Spaces are now available to book and places are always in extremely high demand, so we do recommend booking your place as soon as possible to avoid disappointment as spaces are allocated on a first come basis. Pre-booking is essential and please ensure you read the project flyer for full details, including criteria here. To find out more and to book your place contact Paula Blake. |
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Winter Clothing Sale at Arc in the Park 1st March 2023 AAA will be having a Winter Clothing Sale at our Arc in the Park Hub on Saturday 11th March between 10.30am and 12pm. We will be selling pre loved, good condition winter clothing for £1- £2 with both adult and children's clothing available. Find full details here or contact Paula Blake to find out more. |
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We're In The News!
10th February 2023 We were honoured to learn that Ambition Aspire Achieve received a mention on the front page of Friday's Evening Standard, and were included in the double page spread article (pages 12-13). The article highlights the Breadline Cost of Living Appeal. The Appeal is being delivered by the Evening Standard in partnership with the Independent and The Childhood Trust and Ambition Aspire Achieve are one of the fortunate charities receiving funding as a result - receiving £50k to deliver the various residentials and trips we are planning throughout 2023. To read the article and to find out more about the Breadline Cost of Living Appeal visit here. |
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FREE Family Fun Days at Arc in the Park
8th February 2023 Our FREE family fun days at Arc are back for 2023 with dates running throughout the year! All the family fun begins from Sunday 12th March and we have something for everyone! Lots of family friendly activities to try including sports, arts and crafts and outdoor games, themed activities and lots of quality family time together! - it's fun for the whole family! Find all our 2023 dates and further details here and contact Paula Blake to book your family's place. |
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SEND Multi Sports at Arc in the Park 1st February 2023 The Arc SEND Multi Sports Club is back for 2023 from Sunday 5th February! Lots of different sports to try throughout the year including football, skateboarding, cricket, tennis, rounders, basketball, hockey and much more! Sports will vary each week and sessions are FREE and fully inclusive. We can't wait to welcome our young people back for another fantastic year of inclusive sporting fun! To find out more and book your place contact Tamara. |
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AAA FREE SEND Disco Nights Are Back January 23rd 2023 We are super excited to announce that our FREE SEND Disco evenings are back at Arc in the Park throughout 2023, including our special Halloween and Christmas themed nights later this year! To find out more and to book your place contact Paula Blake |
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West Ham United AAA Charity Match
January 21st 2023 A group of lucky AAA young people had the exciting opportunity to attend the AAA charity match at the West Ham United vs Everton game on Saturday. Our young people had a brilliant time and a brilliant result made the day even more special. We are thrilled and honoured to be one of West Ham United's chosen charity partners and we would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at the Club for their continued support and for helping us to continue to make a difference for our areas most disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people. |
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Arc Annex Refurbishment
January 2023 We are delighted to unveil our new annex space at the Terence Brown Arc in the Park! Thanks to the tremendous kindness and generosity of our long-term partner and supporters at the LEGO Group, the room, which was in real need of a lift, has undergone an amazing transformation, with brand new décor, flooring, lights, storage and fixtures and fittings all installed, giving the space a new lease of life. We are honoured to be one of the LEGO group’s chosen social impact partners and cannot thank them enough for their amazing support, helping us to further our work at the Arc, making a difference and changing the lives of vulnerable children and young people. |
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Co-op Local Community Fund
January 2023 As one of Co-op's Local Community causes, Ambition, Aspire, Achieve receives donations when Co-op customers (who are also Co-op members) chose us as their benefiting charity every time they purchase Co-op branded items! Shop at the Co-op and help raise important funding for our work this year! Find out more at - https://www.coop.co.uk/local-causes |
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Community Christmas Trees 2022 -
Downing Street Delivery 30th November 2022 Ambition, Aspire, Achieve Chief Executive Jonny Boux and volunteer Hamish Anderson made our annual trip up to Downing Street on the 30th November to deliver our regular tree for the lobby at No.11 and we were extremely honoured and excited to deliver our first order direct from the Prime Minister this year for his private flat at No.10. Downing Street and Mr Sunak have supported Community Christmas Trees for a number of years now and we would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their continued support. |
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Kevin Jenkins OBE Christmas Toy Appeal 2022
9th November 2022 Two stars of West Ham United Women have officially 'kicked off' our 2022 Kevin Jenkins PBE Christmas Toy Appeal years appeal - now in it's 45th year! A big thank you to stars Viviane Asseyi and Grace Fisk who also kindly gave their time to meet our very excited children and staff at Arc In the Park. Each year our appeal aims aims to provide for each child referred, a Christmas stocking of new gifts specific to their age, needs and abilities. This year we are aiming to help 2,800 children referred to us and we need to raise 12,000 gifts to ensure that not one of these children has to wake up on Christmas morning to an empty stocking and just another day the same as every other, especially in this the most difficult and challenging of all years. If you would like to support our 2022 Christmas Toy Appeal please contact Paula Blake or Jonny Boux or download our 2022 Appeal Information Pack for full details on how you can support us this year. |
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Community Christmas Trees 2022
1st November 2022 We are once again selling our beautiful real Christmas Trees to help raise funds to continue our vital work throughout 2023! All of our trees are -
You can order your tree online up to Tuesday 22nd November. |
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Big Day Out 2022 - Legoland Windsor
30th October 2022 Our young people and their families had a fantastic time at Legoland Windsor this weekend, on the Big Day Out 2022. Our families had such a great time, including lots of spooky fun with Legoland's brilliant Halloween displays and entertainment1 We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made the day possible, and enabled our families to enjoy a special treat which they could not have otherwise experienced! A big thank you to Community Transport Waltham Forest who provided free transport and to their volunteer driver for giving their time! and a special thank you to the Royal Docks Trust who funded the day, including paying our families entry fees! |
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BGC Charity Day
11th September 2022 Liam and AAA CEO Jonny Boux attended the annual BGC Charity Day in their Canary Wharf offices along with Oscar and his mum Edith. It was once again a fantastic event and we toured the trading floors with our ambassador, West Ham United legend Carlton Cole, taking part in live trading calls, helping to raise vital funds for AAA. A huge thank you to BGC and Carlton for their support – delighted to join the many charities involved and take part in such a great day! |
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Summer 2022 Round Up
August 2022 We've had such a fun packed Summer with our AAA young people and families! Check out all that we've been up to in our Summer Round Up Video and keep an eye out for upcoming news on our Autumn Programmes soon! |
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CANCELLED - Arc Family Day - 15/08/22
We are sorry but due to the extreme heat we are currently experiencing and the Amber weather warning in place over the weekend. We have had to take the difficult decision to cancel the Arc Family Day on Sunday 15th August 2022. We do apologise for any disappointment and inconvenience caused, and thank you for your understanding and continued support. |
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Girls On Track August 2022 We had a great time at Formula E at Excel over the weekend with Girls on Track. We had a great day and we were so excited to meet some famous faces too! The brilliant and inspirational racing driver Susie Wolff and one of our favourite actors Idris Elba who was there as part of his new Speed Academy initiative. |
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Summer Camps 2022
July/August Our busiest Summer of camping programmes to date have kicked off and our young people are already having a great time at Essex Outdoors, Mersea Island taking part in various activities from rock climbing and archery to scavenger hunts and walks along the beach! We would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to Glyn Hopkin who has supported our camps for a number of years and is doing so again throughout 2022. Glyn's continued support and generosity has enabled hundreds of young people to experience once in a lifetime opportunities! Keep an eye on our social media throughout the Summer to see what our groups have been up to! |
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Going Wild at Paradise Wildlfe Park
July 2022 All the young people on our Positive Transitions project had a fantastic time at Paradise Wildlife Park recently, getting up close to some unexpected pre-historic animals on their travels around the park too! All the young people on the project took part in this special celebratory trip to celebrate all of the progress and development they have made and everyone had a great day! To find out more about Positive Transitions please contact Liam Hartley-Davis at liam@theaaazone.com or call 0207 511 4253. |
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Music Making At Arc in the Park
We would like to say a big thank you to Val Fone and Action & Rights of Disabled People in Newham whose generosity has enabled us recently install a new outdoor music area at the Arc in the Park. The outdoor instruments have been a great hit with all of our groups and along with our music studio, the new facility will enable us to deliver more music-based activities for children and young people over the Summer and beyond. |
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Cricket Clubs are Back for 2022
The new season of our All Stars and Dynamos clubs, supported by the ECB have proved to be just as popular as they have in previous years, with 24 children already signed up and taking part! Each young person received a cricket goodie bag including rucksack, bat, ball and t-shirt. and everyone taking part so far have really enjoyed the sessions and love being part of a team! To find out more contact Abbey Hub Manager Marie Poinsamy – marie@theaaazone.com or 07852 350786. |
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Brick Lane Music Hall Annual Benefit Night
May 2022 On Saturday 14th May, we were honoured to be able to welcome everyone back to the Ambition, Aspire, Achieve Annual Benefit Night at the wonderful Brick Lane Music Hall, after the popular event was sadly disrupted over the past 2 years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We were once again joined by our many supporters and friends, helping us to raise funding for our work with vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people over the coming year. Led by Vincent and his cast, guests were treated to a wonderful show and thanks to the tremendous kindness and generosity of those present, we raised a significant amount at a time when we know it will be needed more than ever, helping us to deliver vital projects to support and care for young people most in need. We would like to thank Vincent and his team for all of their hard work and generosity, and the many individuals who joined us, providing kind donations, support and auction prizes, including AAA patron Terry Brown and trustee Sharon Kaur, the Rotary Clubs of Tower Hamlets and Newham and individuals and organisations who kindly donated raffle and auction prizes including Gallions Reach, the Backyard Comedy Club, West Ham United, renowned artist Darren Baker, Stan Harris, Glyn Hopkin and John Barber. A big thank you too to supporters Berkely Homes, Sahara Homes, Karl Fone and trustees Steve Cameron and Helen Page for donating tickets enabling attendees of the Arc’s Time Together Club and AAA volunteers to join us for the evening. We hope to welcome all back for our next fundraiser at the Brick Lane Music Hall in 2023! |
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Act As One Partnership
We are proud to be part of the Act As One Partnership, an important project delivered since April 2001, bringing together grass-roots Voluntary Sector organisations in Newham focused on improving youth safety in the Canning Town and Custom House area. Led by local partner Fight for Peace, we have been working closely to deliver the project alongside other consortium partners Rights & Equalities in Newham and the Exit Foundation. The project has already reached large numbers of vulnerable children and young people and has built engagement with the wider community and other grassroots organisations focused on improving youth safety, to coordinate efforts in the space. Our role in the project has been to deliver regular detached street work sessions, youth clubs and important youth safety sessions in schools with the interventions already reaching over 2,500 young people via detached sessions and engaging 12 local primary schools, delivering regular sessions on online safety, stranger danger, weapons and drug awareness. To find out more about our work as part of the Act As One partnership please contact our Outreach Coordinator Bob Goldsmith – bob@theaaazone.com |
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Easter Egg Appeal 2022
May 2022 Our 6th Annual Easter Egg Appeal delivered in partnership with the Newham Recorder, was launched recently in March by AAA Patron Ricky Grover. This year we were aiming to raise at least 2,000 Easter eggs to distribute to vulnerable and disadvantaged children in time for Easter Sunday on April 17th. The Appeal which receives referrals from a combination of Newham’s child support agencies and social services to ensure it reaches those most in need, was a huge success and our best year yet with our friends and supporters helping us to raise 2,600 Easter Eggs! All of the children who received an Easter Egg this year are living in poverty on a daily basis and experiencing multiple challenges and difficulties, made worse by the many challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Thank you again, 2600 times, to everyone who donated and who helped us to continue to make a difference this Easter. |
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Arc Family Days
April 2022 Our FREE Family Days at Arc in the Park are back again this year thanks to funding secured via the Aspers Good Causes Fund, and we will be delivering 30 free fun filled family days running throughout 2022 on weekends and Bank Holidays at the Terence Brown Arc in the Park. The regular family sessions will provide a mix of activities and workshops, with access provided to the range of facilities at Arc in the Park. Advice will also be on hand with local councillors running surgeries and information available for families about surrounding opportunities, support and activities on offer in the local area. To find out more and to book a place on a family day running this year, please contact Operations Manager Paula Blake. You can also find further details, including the full timetable here. |
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Annual Brick Lane Benefit Evening
April 2022 We are thrilled to be able to confirm that Vincent Hayes MBE and the Brick Lane Music Hall team will once again be staging our annual benefit evening on Saturday 14th May, with the proceeds from ticket sales kindly donated to support our work this year. The event is now SOLD OUT and we would like to thank everyone for their continued support, and we are so excited to be welcoming you all back to the wonderful Brick Lane this year! The evening promises to be full of fun, with traditional music hall entertainment and a 3-course meal on offer, and we will be running our silent auction in the lead up to the event and a raffle during the evening with a whole array of prizes on offer! We can't wait to see you there! |
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Children In Need - New Funding Secured
April 2022 Children in Need have been a key supporter of our work, having provided important funding for activities at Abbey Hub via their small grants programme and our Wellbeing Groups at the Arc, which have become firmly established over the past 3 years, supporting young people with additional needs. A growing number of children and young people have been attending the groups and have enjoyed a range of fun and exciting activities, designed to improve their overall confidence and wellbeing. Following a recent application, we are delighted to announce that funding has now been secured to grow and develop the groups over the coming 3 years, opening up even more opportunities for vulnerable children and young people. We look forward to sharing future updates on the project! |
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New Project - This Is Me
April 2022 We are delighted to announce a brand-new project, thanks to a grant secured in February as part of the Winter Pressures Fund/Inequalities Grant opportunities. ‘This is Me’ will deliver twice-weekly support groups over the coming year for young people who identify as LGBTQ+ or who are exploring their gender identity. The sessions will be facilitated at the Arc in the Park Lodge, providing a safe stand-alone space, supporting young people to discuss issues and explore ideas around their identities, whilst delivering a range of workshops and activities focused on building confidence and wellbeing and helping to identify ongoing progression opportunities. If you would like to find out more, please contact Jen Walton, AAA’s Youth Coordinator |
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Kevin Jenkins OBE Newham Christmas Toy Appeal
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Ambition, Aspire, Achieve 5th Birthday Celebration Event and tribute
to our Founder Kevin Jenkins OBE
September 2021
We'll be celebrating this milestone and the remarkable life of Kevin Jenkins OBE with a fun filled day FREE for all the family!
Activities include adventure play, bouncy castle's, arts and crafts, BMX track, under 5's area and MUCH MUCH MORE! Plus sports and fitness sessions and music and dance entertainment throughout the day.
Join us on Saturday 25th September from 12pm to 4pm.
For further details contact Paula Blake
Play Wheels
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Kevin Jenkins OBE
Funeral Announcement and Tribute Fund
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The funeral of the founder of charity Ambition Aspire Achieve, Kevin Jenkins OBE, will take place on Friday 30th April. A special tribute fund has been set up in Kevin’s name to go towards projects that were important to him, to help make life better for local young people. The funeral is for family only because of COVID restrictions, but in view of the numbers of people who want to say goodbye to Kevin, the funeral cortege will stop outside Ambition, Aspire, Achieve (AAA)’s base at the Terence Brown Arc in The Park, at Hermit Road Recreation Ground, Bethell Avenue, Canning Town. It will stop on the morning of Friday 30th April, at 10am for a few minutes. Kevin’s family have asked people who wish to pay their respects, to not do so at the cemetery, but only outside the Arc, along Bethell Avenue. They would also appreciate donations made to the special fund which has been set up in his name, instead of sending flowers. Kevin was a life-long West Ham United fan and mourners will be wearing “something claret and blue” at the funeral. Kevin’s wife Paula said that if those at the Arc wished to do the same that “would be lovely to see” when the cortege stops at the Arc. Kevin Jenkins OBE, founder of AAA and life president of Community Links, which he co-founded, died on 7th April. He served on Newham Council for 28 years, won a Beacon Award and was awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Newham. He dedicated his life to making life better for others. The special tribute fund set up by Kevin’s family can be accessed at: https://kevinjenkinsobe.muchloved.com/ Kevin’s family, AAA trustees and staff have pledged to carry on all his work, to hold onto and maintain his legacy. |
Thank You
The family of our founder Kevin Jenkins OBE would like to express their thanks for the support they received since Kevin passed away last week.
"We want to thank people for their well wishes, cards and flowers and would like to say how thankful we are for their kind words during this difficult time"
Paula, Emma, Katy, Ben, Lucy and all the family
"We want to thank people for their well wishes, cards and flowers and would like to say how thankful we are for their kind words during this difficult time"
Paula, Emma, Katy, Ben, Lucy and all the family
Kevin Jenkins OBEThe staff and trustees at Ambition Aspire Achieve are deeply saddened to announce the death of our founder Kevin Jenkins OBE, who passed away this week on Wednesday. Kevin will be hugely missed by all who knew him - the following is a tribute from his wife Paula and his family:
'It is with great sadness we inform you that our beloved Kevin Jenkins OBE, founder of AAA and life president of Community Links which he co-founded over 40 years ago, passed away on Wednesday 7th April 2021. He was an incredible man who achieved so much during his lifetime, including an OBE, creating two very successful charities, a Beacon Award, over 25 years’ service as a Councillor and the freedom of the London Borough of Newham. He was a loving husband, son, brother, uncle, godfather, the most wonderful dad to his four children and a role model that his wife and children can always be proud of – he was and always will be their hero. Kevin was an outstanding fundraiser full of new ideas and initiatives every day, to raise support for the vulnerable and those in need - he dedicated his life to making life better for others. He has left us all heartbroken, but we must hold on to the legacy he built during his amazing life. He always believed that children can achieve anything despite their background or circumstances. He was a people person who everyone loved and admired, always putting others before himself. He was a truly selfless man who touched the lives of so many. A pillar of the community, a life-long West Ham United fan and a collector with so many interests. We have a hole left in our lives that can never be replaced. Mr Kevin John Jenkins, our forever hero'. |
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AAA Cook Book
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Activities at the Arc
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Co-op Community Fund
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Annual Easter Appeal
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West Ham United Support
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2020 Christmas Toy Appeal
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Community Xmas Trees
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COVID-19 Update
November 2020
With the latest government announcement surrounding COVID-19 restrictions, some of our clubs and activities have been suspended during the lockdown period, in particular our weekly Wednesday youth club at the Arc and activities based at Abbey Hub. Our services at the Arc supporting children and young people with additional needs remain open, to ensure those most in need continue to receive support. Visit our What's On page to find out more about the projects and activities we are delivering. We expect to re-open all provision as soon as lockdown restrictions have been lifted.
Harvest Appeal
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Summer 2020
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Arc Music Project
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COVID-19 Support Project
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Easter Egg Appeal 2020
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Arc in the Park and Abbey Hub - Coronavirus/COVID-19 Update
March 2020
Following the latest government advice surrounding the current situation with the Coronavirus/COVID-19, we have made the difficult decision to suspend clubs, activities and open access provision at both the Terence Brown Arc in the Park and the Glyn Hopkin Abbey Hub for the time being. We remain committed to opening up our services again as soon as possible and also providing any help to the children, young people and families we work with where we can. We can be contacted via email or phone - please do feel free to get in touch with Jonny jonny@theaaazone.com 07957620462 or Paula paula@theaaazone.com 07432 024002. In the meantime, we hope that you and your loved ones are in good health and we look forward to welcoming all our service users and families back when our centres re-open. Take care and stay safe.
Comedy Benefit Night
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City Bridge Trust Project
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Get Involved!
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Lottery Development Grant
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Xmas Toy Appeal Collaboration
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Xmas 2019 at AAA
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Abbey Hub Refurb
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New Funding - Reaching Out
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Half Term Sailing Trip
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Duke of Edinburgh Awards
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Alice in Canning Town
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Young Londoners Fund
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MUGA Opening @ The Arc
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Easter Appeal 2019
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Future Talent - New Project
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Local Co-Op Support
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Merry Xmas 2018!
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BGC Charity Day
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Grand Opening Abbey Hub
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Arc Summer Open Day
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