News in brief

ELBA Gets Healthy: After the Christmas break ELBA staff will be busting their winter bellies by participating in a healthy workplace project. The project is aimed at all businesses in Tower Hamlets and you are welcome to join in. Whether it’s lunchtime walking clubs, pedometer challenges, or healthy eating workshops; contact us to hear how you can get involved. Futsal Fun: With community partners City Gateway, ELBA has organised corporate teams to come and play at their new futsal league. Futsal is indoor football Brazilian style. More skilful with only four players per team it’s been a real success. If you want to get a team involved please let us know.

Nomura Thinks Big: The new kid on the Canary Wharf block is already making a splash in Tower Hamlets. Nomura’s Prime Services Division has developed an adoption programme with community partner Poplar HARCA. A year’s worth of charity events, decorating, cleaning, and business advice is set to make a big difference to one of the most deprived parts of London.

Recipe for Success: After a year of insight tours around corporate kitchens and healthy cooking classes for local residents, Recipe for Success is launching in the New Year bigger and better than ever. Supporting community cafes, women’s cooking groups and young aspiring Jamie Olivers ,this programme will be winning hearts and filling stomachs throughout 2010.

Global Community Day at Citi: How do you support over 100 young people in two mornings? Take them to Citi’s Global Community Day. With over 80 volunteers Citi put on a real event for the Tower Hamlets students. Employment was the theme for the day with the young visitors being taken through job interview skills, CV workshops and a Q and A session with a panel of some of the most senior staff at the bank.

Statistic: Credit Suisse’s volunteering numbers were up 5% this year. A sign that we can all do our bit and turn things around despite the gloomy economic climate.