July 6th saw Hope in Tottenham begin its long-awaited transition into “Hope in Haringey – rooted in Tottenham” with a blockbuster event at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

By Omar Alleyne-Lawler, Communications Manager

Hosting 300 guests from the local Tottenham community, leadership and charity outreach spaces, Hope in Tottenham made its intentions known to support young people in the wider Haringey borough.

The idea for a name change began during the Covid-19 lockdowns when Hope in Tottenham’s teams were being requested to support young people in West Haringey. Recognising that the ‘Hope in Tottenham’ name felt unrepresentative to many people, the charity was now working with, the Hope in Haringey – rooted in Tottenham rename followed a period of extensive consultation.

Sultan Stevenson of the Jazz Band, Sultan Stevenson Trio

A change in name will not change the charity’s aims which will continue. The charity will continue to offer Haringey’s young people early intervention counselling, employment-focused mentoring, creative youth workshops and police engagement events.

This new era for the charity puts the ‘Hope in Tottenham’ name behind them in favour of ‘Hope in Haringey – rooted in Tottenham’.

It is part of Hope in Haringey’s desire to tackle social inequality and enhance the life chances of young people within Haringey.

Hope in Haringey has a deep commitment to addressing the inequality of opportunity which exists within parts of our borough. We will continue to address this by brokering the social capital they need to be able to move confidently into employability and adulthood.

Hope in Haringey’s work on the night was endorsed by Principal of Haringey Sixth Form College, Lisa Westray, Headteacher of Willow on the Broadwater, Dawn Ferdinand, Sister Systems’ Founder, Okella Douglas, Counsellor Xavier Fontille, Counsellor Adam Jogee and Police Officer, Sachin Vishran. Development Manager, Hannah Whitehead said the event “was a fantastic opportunity to bring the east and west of the borough together to show what we do as it launches us into a new stage of growth”.

Invitees to the launch were entertained by 2005 Brit Award Winners Keane, who volunteered their time in a lineup which included; jazz band Sultan Stevenson trio, freestyler Mr Silky Skills, oil painter Tim Benson and photographer Agenda.

Hope in Haringey Director Rev. John Wood MBE said “It was an epic, one-off, non-repeatable event which launches us into a focused, borough-wide campaign to provide equal opportunity to all of Haringey’s young people.” 

Videos of the charity’s previous work was shown on the night.