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Islington Tribune - by TOM FOOT
Published: 18 April 2008

Chinese centre pleads: Help us find new home

ISLINGTON’S Chinese centre is desperately searching for a home after
20 years in Archway.
The Islington Chinese Association (ICA) – a registered charity promoting education and training for its 700 members – has been told to leave its headquarters in Giesbach Road by September.
St John Ambulance, which bought the freehold of the site from the council in 2002, now wants to run training courses there.
The charity has provided free meals, tai chi classes and social support for vulnerable elderly people for more than 20 years.
Co-founder Katie Tse said: “We used to be funded by Islington Council until 2002 when cuts were made. Since then we have been relying on funding from charities on a project-based basis.
“Despite this, we are going from strength to strength. Because we provide so many dynamic services that benefit the council it should help us find affordable premises. More than 500 people come through our door each day.”
She added: “We have contacted them repeatedly but they have not been forthcoming. If it gets to August and the situation is the same we will be homeless.”
The charity is looking for a 3,000sq ft building with good disabled access.
Since the 2002 cuts, the charity has survived by staging fundraisers which have brought in thousands of pounds.
Dr Stephen Ng, also a co-founder, ran the London marathon last year to raise money. He said: “We have been desperate to seek alternative premises without success.”
A council spokesman said: “We did try to help the association find another suitable building in Islington, but we have no control over the current situation because we don’t own the property in Giesbach Road.
“We continue to fund a lunch club and a meals-in-the-home service for the Chinese community, which is run from the association’s centre, as we have done for a number of years.
“This funding amounts to almost £65,000 a year.”

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