Let us introduce ourselves
About Us
Over the past four decades Bangladesh Youth Movement has been acting as a beacon to the youth & community of Tower Hamlets in guiding them to engage with the mainstream society. Starting with the anti- racist ruggles of the late seventies it has evolved into a new and different body that is poised to develop its own definition and meaning of the big society in the second decade of the 21st century. Whatever changes that had to be made to adjust to the new realities of social and political life BYM has remained loyal to its original and abiding principles of serving the local community and meeting their diverse range of needs. What started as vehicle representing Bangladeshi young men has moved to deliver services for women, the elderly and children. Starting with issues around racial attacks and harassment.
BYM has gravitated towards delivery of projects in housing, training and employment, sports heritage and regeneration. At different points in their historical trajectory, they responded to immediate needs, whether it referred to planning issues or one of community cohesion. Whatever the issue the organisational thrust was clearly defined by their intimate links with the local communities at a neighbourhood level.
It is quite significant that of all the neighbourhood-based youth organisations that emerged in the 70s and early 80's in Tower Hamlets it is only BYM that has survived the changing political and economical scenario and has been successful in handling their baton to a new generation of community activists. They have been able to move from a purely grant based body to the commissioning and contracting of projects and have responded to the differential needs of various client groups that have emerged over the past three decades. They managed to successfully embrace different funding structures, engage with an ever-changing policy agenda at both, the local and national level, reoriented their organizational ethos to develop a more professional approach and positively dealt with competition in the third sector arena.
What has always made BYM distinctive is their ability to innovate without losing sight of their roots within the local community. They might have travelled far and wide in their attempts to improve the lives of their clients but have never lost their anchor in the locality. No wonder that over the last three decades their presence has been enshrined where they began in Henriques Street. That more than anything makes them unique and a permanent fixture in Tower Hamlets.
Background Information
During the late 1960s Bangladesh Youth Movement (BYM) has originated as an informal group being concern with drama, camping and football activities. The preparatory work for the creation of a formal BYM in Tower Hamlets was started 1976 by a number of young activists led by Mr. Shahjahan and Mr. Peter East (Youth Worker). They were later joined by youth workers Caroline Adams, John Newbigan, Dan John, Pat Topely and Mike Thomas and started the following activities - Primarily youth, community work and cultural and educational exchanges. BYM was established as the first self-help in the Bangladeshi community here in Tower Hamlets.
Our core focus revolves around young people in Tower Hamlets, our youth provision/ activities are coordinated, organised at BYM centre and delivered at there or at our Women's centre. Our youth workers are responsible for the provision of activities.
BYM has a shop front property at 21-23 Henriques Street, London E1, which is also used for bi-lingual welfare rights advice and information service. Advice sessions, counselling sessions are run on a daily basis from Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm.
BYM also have a Women centre of excellence at Whitechapel Centre Myrdle Street, E1 which is providing range of activities to local young girls/women and elderly women such as ICT Training, ESOL Course, Sewing/ Designing Classes, Health Sessions, Yoga Classes, Art Activities, Youth Activities and Cancer & Guidance Sessions, supplementary school and networking with other groups.
Our cultural activities include organising of the 'Annual Berner Youth Festival' which has become one of our normal but an essential activity since 1980's. We are able to provide the local person a day of celebration, which takes place in spectacular fashion every year. Our other activities include play schemes; detach/outreach work and the publication of BYM's monthly newsletter, which deals with difficulties opportunities and threats faced by young people.
We are immensely grateful to our funders for their continued support and assistance and for our work within the local people and young people in particular. Without their support BYM would not have been able to reach the level that it has and build reputation that it has built the process.
Links & Affiliation
Advice Quality Standard (AQS)
Office of Immigration service commission (OISC)
Wapping Bangladeshi Association (WBA)
Tower Hamlets Council for voluntary service (THCVS)
Tower Hamlets Law Centre
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
London Youth
Wapping Women Centre
Tower Hamlets Community Transport
Whitechapel Community Centre
Media link worldwide
Wapping Youth Club
Berner Estates Tenants association
Tower Hamlets Community Health Council
Primary Care Trust & NHS
Tower Hamlets Collective of School Governors Forum
Tower Hamlets Parents Centre
Bangladesh Welfare Association (BWA)
Tower Hamlets Youth Exchange Group( THYEG)
Limehouse Project
Advice UK
JCWI
Tower Hamlets Homes
Southern Housing Group
Tower Hamlets Community Housing
Tower Hamlets Community Advice Network (THCAN)
One Housing Group
Toynbee Housing Association
Newlon Housing Association
Spitelfield Housing Association
Our Funders/Sponsers
