Hackney Community College initiative links past and present students

Musicians, actors, fashion designers, artists, local business people and prominent community figures – all with roots in Hackney – came together to launch of a new initiative at Hackney Community College, pledging to support and inspire Hackney people to reach their full potential.

HCC Alumni and Friends was launched in the Hoxton college on Thursday November 25 by Leroy Logan MBE, a senior police officer now seconded to the 2012 Olympic policing team, who believes studying at the college laid the foundations for his successful career.

The Speaker of Hackney, Cllr Sally Mulready, who studied at the college’s Ayrsome Road site in 1968, told the gathering how the one-day-a-week course helped her to catch up on previously-missed schooling, after which she progressed to Birkbeck University.

Pledging to support today’s students, Sally said “If I can do anything, I will. HCC gave me the inspiration, the aspiration and the determination that I didn’t have.

“Without the start in life that this college gave me, I wouldn’t have got to where I have today”.

Other supporters included fashion designer Rhianon Jones who has taken the fashion world by storm with her label Bolshie since she graduated from the college this year, and Hackney actor Colin McFarlane who appeared in the film Batman.

HCC Alumni and Friends offers members discounts in Hoxton Street’s Open Kitchen Bar & Restaurant and the SPACe sports centre on Falkirk Street, where the college is now based.

Members will also enjoy discounted rates on business training and conference facilities from the college, as well as regular seminars and social events.