“The East London Business Alliance help to deliver our team volunteer programme and the Nomura - Josh Lewsey Rugby Academy.  The Academy supports rugby development in Tower Hamlets and raises sport participation in the borough in time for the Olympic Games.  The ELBA team also help create sustainable partnerships with community based organisations that leverage the knowledge, action and dedication of Nomura employees.”
- Antony Harte, Head of Community Affairs, EMEA, Nomura

“Our partnership with ELBA creates practical, real life activities which motivate our students to work hard and achieve great grades. When a group of students recently visited Morgan Stanley, not only was this the first time they had been to a company, it was also the first time they had gone to Canary Wharf. They were truly inspired and have been pestering me ever since to see if we can repeat the visit.”
- Charlotte Robinson, Head Teacher, Rokeby School

“The Canary Wharf Group is very pleased to be working with ELBA in creating training opportunities and work experience placements for local graduates. We applaud ELBA’s commitment to creating and sustaining employment and enterprise opportunities for young people entering the job market in the current climate.”
- David Fendley, Group Personnel Manager, Canary Wharf Group

"The mentoring programme has shown real evidence of success. This can be measured by improved school attendance and greater examination success. Participation has increased our students’ self-esteem, and enhanced their motivational, speaking, communication and time management skills. Thank you ELBA for your commitment to our students. "
- Hackney Schools Mentoring Programme, school co-ordinator

“Mentoring has made a difference because I’m learning new things. I’ve learnt to be punctual and on time. I am in the process of learning how to write a CV.”
- Hackney Schools Mentoring Programme Student

“I think mentoring is a good thing for me because travelling to the city and looking at interesting buildings makes me want to go to mentoring more. I enjoy it!”
- Hackney Schools Mentoring Programme Student

“Mentoring has changed me and made me want to go a long way in life. Just seeing my mentor every Tuesday and the way that she works and how confident she is just made me want to go to Uni and come out and get a good job and be a better person.”
- Hackney Schools Mentoring Programme Student

“Mentoring has improved my body language….and the way I talk now I use more big words and am more eager to learn and be a better person. I have realised that success is a journey and not a destination….Mentoring has kept me out of trouble. I just want to say a big thank you.”
- Hackney Schools Mentoring Programme Student

“This mentoring programme has allowed me to be more confident in my school work and out of school too.  It also helped me to be more expressive.”
- Hackney Schools Mentoring Programme Student

“Mentoring made it easier for me to imagine what life would be like after school.  I had the experience of a workplace and it was interesting entering the adult world!”
- Hackney Schools Mentoring Programme Student

“LCH.Clearnet is delighted to sponsor the ‘Open Your Eyes’ photography competition.  Through our involvement in London Legacy 2020, we have been introduced to an impressive group of enthusiastic and talented Petchey Academy students and helped them to articulate their views of the world around them. Having the photographs in our office will be a semi- permanent reminder to all of us of the many different facets of East London life.”
- Jackie Alexander, Managing Director HR, LCH.Clearnet

“Although not directly related to my work, the volunteer experience helped broaden my experience beyond just law and I appreciate the firm’s understanding of the need to get involved in the community and for employees to have a more broad-based, balanced life.”
- Linklaters volunteer

“Working in the City we tend to forget how close we are to some of London’s poorest communities. It is great that Linklaters allows staff time to put something back into the community.”
- Linklaters volunteer

“Sharing my legal knowledge with others who are eager to receive it, and otherwise wouldn’t have access to justice, is the reward I get from volunteering. As for what I get out of it? Invaluable training in the art of public speaking together with face-to-face interaction with clients – both of which are rare opportunities for junior lawyers when working in a big City firm.”
- Linklaters volunteer

“We need to ensure that the Olympic and Paralympic Games work for our communities in East London. It is true that we do need more jobs, but we also need people to be capable of filling them. ELBA’s London Legacy 2020 initiative will help increase the skill sets of the young people of Newham, present them with greater career opportunities and also inspire and encourage them to pursue these opportunities.”
- Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of Newham

“Building links with communities local to our City and Canary Wharf offices is an important aspect of Société Générale’s CR programme. The beauty of working with ELBA is being able to tap into their expertise; they know what is happening on the ground and how our Community Investment can make a real difference.”
- Michael Collins, Head of Corporate Responsibility, Société Générale

“The impact of Project Shoreditch has gone far beyond the original brief with organisations benefiting from the development of relationships of trust and a genuine sense of “partnership”.  ELBA’s role in brokering high quality and relevant volunteering activities for both volunteers and community groups has been pivotal to the success of the programme.”
- Michael Pyner, Chief Executive, Shoreditch Trust

“For the end of year Christmas Party, we have been able to give the children toys donated through ELBA’s Toy Appeal. Many of the children would normally go without, and we would not have been able to provide such wonderful presents if it were not for the hard work of the ELBA team and the generous support from their member companies.  The toys have always been of such high quality and of an educational value.  Many of the parents thank us, as they truly appreciate their worth.”
- Shadna Miah, Home Start Newham

“Using our skills to benefit our clients as well as the community around us, is an important part of Allen & Overy’s Pro Bono and Community Affairs Programme. Our unique partnership programme with ELBA means we have a dedicated broker who understands the challenges and possibilities within East London, and who can create bespoke programmes that enable us to make a difference to the aspirations and lives of local people.”
- Shankari Chandran, Pro Bono & Community Affairs Senior Manager, Allen & Overy