Welcome to the Attlee Foundation
The Attlee Foundation was established in 1967 to benefit people disadvantaged by poverty or lack or opportunity, in particular young people - and in so doing, to build on Clement Attlee's life achievements and work.
Clement Attlee initially volunteered and then became a paid youth/social worker in the Spitalfields area in Tower Hamlets in the East End of London. His experience of the issues facing communities and young people he worked to support completely changed his outlook on life. He created new opportunities that helped to improve their lives and that of the community and built on this as a MP and Prime Minister.
Foundation News
Richard Davis
We are very sorry to report the news that Richard Davis, ex Chairman of the Attlee Foundation and staunch, long term supporter, passed away on the 16th June. Richard worked hard to support the Foundation in many ways. He played a lead role in creating the idea for the Attlee Youth & Community and then in driving forward the plans and fundraising campaign to make the idea into a reality. THe Centre is a modern day living memory of the contribution that Clement Attlee offered, particularly in his early days as a volunteer working with young people in poverty - in the area in which the Centre is currently based. Richard will be remembered for making it happen and for his generous support of the Attlee Foundation.
Louise Casey meets residents at Attlee Youth& Community Centre
The Attlee YOuth & Community Centre hosted a meeting on behalf of the Probation Service and Community Payback scheme for residents, officers and community payback offenders to meet with Louise Casey on Friday 19th June.
2009 Attlee Memorial Lecture - From Social Breakdown to Social Breakthrough
Our Annual Attlee Memorial Lecture 2009 was held on the 14th May at the Victory Services Club, W2 and delivered by Iain Duncan Smith MP and founder of the Centre for Social Justice on the subject of 'From Social Breakdown to Social Breakthrough'.
A captivated audience listened to a stimulating and passionate presentation on the social issues affecting families and communities in the UK and the work of the Centre for Social Justice. Speaking without notes, Mr Smith spoke passionately about individuals and families living on deprived estates and the fundamental cause of social breakdown - which primarily stems from lack of money but which affects all aspects of individual, family and community life.
He also highlighted the importance of the work of the voluntary sector - the type of work that the Attlee Foundation delivers with young people in need and disadvantaged communities - in supporting the welfare of our society. The Lecture was followed by a range of questions from the diverse audience and closed with a vote of thanks from Lady Mary Jay - supporter and ex-Trustee of the Attlee Foundation. A film of the Lecture will be available soon on this website.
Improving Community Health & Well Being
Following the success of sports and health programmes at our Attlee Youth & Community Centre (e.g. Attlee Olympics last summer) the Foundation,through its work at the Centre is developing a new programme of activities that will tackle the issues of poor health and well being of children and adults - particularly in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Spitalfieds and Banglatown ward.
Child obesity in Tower Hamlets is higher than the average for London and England and the third highest in the country amongst reception aged children. (Indices of Deprivation ODPM, 2004). An Active People Survey in 2005/06 stated that only 17% of women reported doing any sporting or physical activity for the minimum recommended time of 30 minutes, three times a week. Our Youth & Community Centre is based in the heart of a community in great need. Working with new partners such as Crisis's Skylight Cafe, Thames Gateway, Street League and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets authority, we shall be building our community programme around sporting and physical activities to cater for all ages and ability levels, healthy eating activities and social networking opportunities for local residents to make new friends to support a group effort in improving their health & well being.
Attlee Then & Now - Youth and Social Enterprise
In recognition of Clement Attlee's own experiences of working with the communities of East London, we have continued to centre our work on supporting young people, particularly from disadvantaged areas to build the skills needed to be enterprising or to create their own social enterprises which benefit their community. The Attlee Then & Now project is a priority project that we are seeking to develop with partners from businesses, schools, youth groups and training agencies. We want to inspire the next generation of young people - supporting them to devlop the skills of leadershiop, problem solving and team working in order to heighten their apsirations and future employment choices whilst contributing to the quality of their local neighbourhood. To be a sponsor, partner or participant, please contact the Attlee Foundation office or e-mail.
BIG Lottery Play Matters Project
We are pleased to have the support of the BIG Lottery Fund as part of a consortium of organisations in Tower Hamlets for our play work with children and young people. This is a real boost to the tremendous work of the Foundation and its Attlee Youth and Community Centre. During the past year we have been able to add value to our existing provision by developing health and sporting activities linked to the Olympics and encouraging the involvement and engagement of children and young people with special needs or disabilities. Throughout 2009 we are extending the involvement of young people and parents as volunteers and developing play as a means of improving community cohesion. We shall be sharing our experiences and lessons learnt through the BIG Lottery Play Matters Forum on our website. 
Rising to the Challenge
During 2009-2010 we are looking to raise £155,000 to support programmes of work and the delivery of activities and services within the Attlee Youth & Community Centre.
Our 4 priority areas will be:
Entrepreneurship - putting our energy into developing our Attlee Then & Now project - youth enterprise project within schools and our Centre.
Community Involvement - engaging and supporting some of the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods and creating more cohesive communities.
Knowledge Sharing - to capitalise on our legacy by being a prominent commentator on youth and social issues through our Attlee Memorial Lecture, Attlee Then & Now project and other initiatives.
Opportunities for All Young People - making increased use of our Attlee Youth and Community Centre as a hub to creat opportunities and develop initiatives for the benefit of young people and the wider community.
Our greatest challenge now is to attract the right supporters, sponsors and donors who are interested in working alongside us, in partnership, to support the work of the Attlee Foundation and the development of young people and communities most in need - at least for the next three year.
Please call the Attlee Foundation office on 0207 183 0093 or through info x attlee.org.uk (switch the x to @) to arrange a meeting with our Chief Executive,Tracey Fletcher and / or our Chairman, Derek Wood QC.
Thank you.
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