Hackney Cypriot Association – A community organisation supporting the Cypriot residents of Hackney, based in the heart of London’s East End.

We have some exciting news!

On July 25, 2023

We are happy to announce that we have recently secured funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, to run a project titled ‘Healthy People’ to help improve the health and well-being of our Cypriot community in and around Hackney. Within this fantastic project, we will work hard with our service users to improve their health and well-being, through various weekly workshops in which support will be available to stop smoking and maintain a healthier lifestyle. Thanks to this additional funding, we are now open an extra two days during the week, Friday and Saturday, where we will run a weekly blood pressure check for our community. We will be running quarterly health days where we hope to welcome our community to our luncheon club, and part take in our activities and workshops.

This project is available for Hackney Cypriot Association service users. We would like to invite all members of our community to take part in our project, and hope to see you all soon!

We are delighted to introduce our two new welfare support officers, who will be managing this project, Andriana & Dilem.

The HCA Team

Turkish Stop Smoking Service

By hca

On October 21, 2023

In Support & Services

Long Covid Awareness and Guidance

By hca

On August 18, 2023

In Uncategorized

There are other ways an infection with Covid-19 may be affecting you, or someone you know.

What is Long COVID?

“It is estimated that one in 10 people have ongoing symptoms from the time they initially become unwell with the virus, for 12 weeks or longer. Long COVID is diagnosed when these lasting symptoms cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis. Symptoms can vary a lot, fluctuate over time and may have an impact on your ability to do your day-to-day activities. Being diagnosed with Long COVID does not seem to be linked to how ill you were when you first got the virus. As this is a new condition, lots of research is being done to better understand what causes it and how to help people living with it.”

Common symptoms include:

• extreme tiredness • depression and anxiety • breathlessness • fast heart beat • widespread pain • chest pain or tightness • changes in taste and smell • changes in sleep/difficulty sleeping • pins and needles • difficulty concentrating and memory (“brain fog”)

At Hackney Cypriot Association we are running a project with CoRe, Hackney Giving, and NHS Homerton Healthcare to help identify possible instances of Long Covid in our community and advise people on the next steps they can take to get better.

Get in touch with us and book a 1-1 appointment if you are concerned about Long Covid and would like to chat.

Our new opening hours and extended services!

By hca

On July 27, 2023

In Support & Services

HCA is looking for two Welfare Officers

By gorkem

On May 21, 2023

In Uncategorized

Thanks to National Lottery Community funding, we have two exciting opportunities to work with the Cypriot community, improving mental and physical health in and around Hackney.

Welfare Officer – Greek Speaking 15 hours / week £28,700 (pro rata) per annum

Welfare Officer – Turkish Speaking 15 hours / week £28,700 (pro rata) per annum

Application deadline: 4th June 2023

Interviews: w/c 12th June 2023 in person or online

Job Descriptions and Application Process

Welfare Officer – Greek Speaking

Welfare Officer – Turkish Speaking

Covid Support

By gorkem

On February 3, 2021

In Support & Services

The Hackney Cypriot Association is committed to supporting our community through these challenging times. We understand how scary and uncertain the situation feels, and we are available to support you with any concerns about staying safe.

With the help of Hackney Giving and the City and Hackney Clinical Commissioning Group, we will be sharing key information and the latest government guidance through our website, social media and printed materials throughout our Borough.

Need help or advice?

Our services are still available during lockdown. We are providing these over the phone, as it is important that our users and staff are not at risk.

Our dedicated Coronavirus support lines are available for questions on staying safe, accessing support services, what to do if you think you have the virus and how to support your mental health and those around you. We will get back to you with advice

Turkish 07888 542 631
Greek 07888 582 495

Please stay indoors and stay safe

Here’s some advice for staying safe:

Wash your hands with soap or hand sanitiser.
Wipe down your shopping with sanitising sprays to avoid bringing the virus home from the supermarket.
Make sure your mask is fitted well and covers your nose. If your nose is not covered, or if there are gaps above your cheeks, you risk being infected or infecting others. If your mask leaves gaps, you can use medical tape to stick it to your face, or wear another mask on top.
DO NOT REUSE plastic masks.
Wash cloth masks well with soap after every use.

Ongoing updates

Please find our Facebook page if you use social media, as key information will also be available there.

If we have given you printed materials with government advice, please read them, and share the advice with your friends and family

We will also be updating our website as the situation unfolds.

Exhibition: IN-BETWEEN Lines and Words on the Wall

By gorkem

On December 14, 2019

In Uncategorized

14th December 2019 – 24th February 2020
Monday- Friday
10am – 4pm

Recounting the layers of our lives, from one home to another, memories shape us and new land offers new dreams…

In collaboration with Cypriot artist Sümer Erek, the Hackney Cypriot Association invites you to step into the stories of our regulars, their coffee moments, warm embraces and passionate debates, embedded in the walls. This project tells the tales of home here and home there, Cyprus, reflecting the ongoing transitions of life and community, how we adapt and become part of the space where we are…

Sümer’s transnational contemporary art installations stem from participatory elements of the experience of migration and trauma, interlacing personal and local histories into social and universal narratives. These experiences force the participants and the artist to confront memories that exist in an inactive state alchemizing dynamic emotions and experiences in the acts of listening, documenting and display.

***

Thanks to Vivi Stamatatos for taking excellent pictures of the opening night.

The opening night had a great turn out from our regulars as well as people beyond the Cypriot community. Those themes are themes that many individuals and communities connect with nowadays.
Esra Plumer Bardak

Mini Living Walls Project

By gorkem

On September 5, 2019

In Activities

In collaboration with the Geffrye Museum of the Home
June – December 2019

Over several months, we have been working in partnership with the Geffrye Museum of the Home to bring our members back to the island of Cyprus through plants and stories.

This empowering project for older Greek and Turkish Cypriots included lots of hands-on gardening and planting. Members made and planted their very own beautiful pots of plants. These activities enabled them to share their memories, feelings and stories about their home and the nature in Cyprus.

The project culminated in the planting of our very own living wall which is now displayed in the window of our centre. One of our regulars said the wooden structure holding the plants looks like a travelling boat.

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You can find more information about our collaboration with the Museum of the Home on their website.

Feel Good Festival

By gorkem

On June 1, 2019

In Day Trips

A group of us went to the Feel Good Festival at the Geffrye Museum. This summer festival is focused on wellbeing and feeling good. The event celebrates Turkish, Cypriot and Vietnamese culture, working in partnership with the local community.

We were spoiled for choice with activities. They ranged from group exercise classes to crafts including Turkish marbling. Some people got involved with gardening, while others got competitive playing outdoor games. For those who wanted to relax there were even restorative foot massages.

The highlight of the day for many was the delicious foods which had been bought by members of the Turkish, Cypriot and Vietnamese organisations.

The weather was glorious and many people took advantage of the deckchairs in the sun.

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Thanks to the Geffrye Museum of the Home for hosting. The event was organised in partnership with Centre 151, Derman, Hackney Cypriot Association and Islington & Shoreditch and Lien Viet Housing Associations.

Exercise Session

By gorkem

On April 24, 2019

In Activities

As we get older it’s important we keep moving and continue to work on our strength. We organised an exercise class to help our members gain confidence in movement. These are well needed moments of gentle movements and interaction.

Mobility, balance and coordination enable our elderly members to stay independent. We could all do with a bit more self care and stretching to keep our bodies and minds in shape.

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If anybody has skills to share with older people please get in touch. We are reaching out to anyone that could come regularly to the centre to support our older people with movement and strength!