Charity for African communities celebrates new home at council property in Clapton – with Hackney Mayor welcoming ‘brilliant’ organisation

AFRIDAC’s new home on Lower Clapton Road. Photograph: Hackney Council

A charity advocating for members of the African and Afro-Caribbean communities has found a new home in a Hackney Council-owned building.

The African Development and Advocacy Centre (AFRIDAC) will be open seven days a week and provide a range of community services from its new base on Lower Clapton Road.

The charity will offer advice on topics such as benefits, housing, and sexual health, on top of mental health support, cultural activities, training sessions, food collection, and even fitness classes.

AFRIDAC was founded in 2009 and previously operated out of a Turkish and Kurdish community centre in Dalston.

It focuses on issues that disproportionately affect people from African and Afro-Caribbean backgrounds, such as unfair immigration and housing policies.

The charity’s executive director Oladapo Awosokanre said: “We are pleased to have a community space where we can engage and support more Hackney residents in advocating for issues that disproportionately affect them.

“Members of this community in London have experienced years of systemic and institutional racism, marginalisation, inequalities at different levels and endemic poverty.

“This space will help AFRIDAC provide a platform and voice for the African community by influencing social change through community collaboration, policy engagement and capacity building.”

Its new property is one of around 50 that the council leases to charitable organisations with at discounted rates.

AFRIDAC was chosen after a high volume of charities and voluntary groups expressed an interest in using the space.

Unsuccessful applicants who were shortlisted were given support and feedback following an interview process.

The selection of AFRIDAC will also help the council fulfil a promise to provide more services for Black and global majority residents in the borough.

Mayor of Hackney Philip Glanville said: “There are many charitable organisations in Hackney providing vital services for residents and we are proud to support a large number of these through our lettings policy, which offers favourable lease conditions on up to 50 council-owned buildings in every part of the borough.

“The council is committed to being an active anti-racist organisation and we celebrate the fact that Hackney is one of the most diverse places in the country.

“However, we also know that these are difficult times, with increasingly hostile immigration policies from central government and a disproportionate number of people from Black and global majority backgrounds facing financial hardship and difficult living conditions.

“AFRIDAC is an important new tenant and while there is much to be done in the fight for equality, offering such a brilliant advocacy organisation use of one of our buildings will place them at the heart of the community and will help improve the lives of people who are a prominent and much-valued part of Hackney.”