Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood

Where did you go?

I went to Bethnal Green Childhood Museum.

How did you travel? How long did it take? How much did it cost?

By bus. 5 minutes from Heba.1.45p.

Is it easy to find?

Yes. 3 minutes Bethnal green station

Was there an admission charge?

What did you see there?

Old different things, like handmade toys, dolls houses, flutes and other musical instruments. There are some special toys from Bangladesh, and different toys from different countries. You can see how toys changed – for example dolls houses from 1700s 1800s 1900s… There are old fashioned games like Ludo. Every year, the museum has different projects, like photography exhibitions.

What are the opening times?

The Museum is open from 10.00 to 17.45 daily.

Is this a good place for school holidays? For families?

Yes. Downstairs is a coffee shop and toy shop and upstairs are the exhibits. It’s interactive – there are questions for children to answer, and children can play the Ludo and make sandcastles in the sand pit on the top floor, where there is a whole play area. There is a sensory area with lights and sounds.

by Ferdousi Ahmed

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Heba’s Production

Every week our multicultural team of Heba women led by Anjum, Rehana, Laila and Rahima realise unique creations for our stall in Old Spitalfields Market on Sundays. The stall is kindly donated by Spiatlfields Estate.

 

The womenwear designed and manufactured in our well-equipped production room is inspired by the latest British fashion trends, and it embeds influences of the women’s home countries. We even take inspiration from customers themselves, making our products a direct response to the market.

If you want to join us and learn everything from how to control the machine to pattern cutting with our friendly and flexible teacher Anjum, do not hesitate to contact her at anjum@heba.org.uk or call at 020 7377 0261. We offer Sewing and Garment Production training programs as well as Weekend Workshops catering for all levels, beginners to advanced.

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British Library

Where did you go?

British Library, Kings Cross

How did you travel? How long did it take? How much did it cost?

Tube from Aldgate East. 25 minutes: 10 minutes’ walk from Heba to Aldgate East, then 15 minutes on the Hammersmith and City line (pink).

Is it easy to find?

When you arrive at Kings Cross, it’s 3-4 minutes away. We didn’t see any signs in the tube or street, but the British Library has a big sign on the door.

Was there an admission charge?

No. It’s free.

What did you see there?

It’s a big library, on 3 or 4 floors. We saw a lot of books from all over the world, including from India, Pakistan, Morocco, Turkey, Italy, France… We saw old and new Qurans, including hand written. There are pictures of famous writers, a café and a shop. I bought a book: The Hungry Caterpillar and a book about London buses, for my grandchildren.

What are the opening times?

Monday	09.30 – 20.00
Tuesday	09.30 – 20.00
Wednesday	09.30 – 20.00
Thursday	09.30 – 20.00
Friday	09.30 – 18.00
Saturday	09.30 – 17.00
Sunday	11.00 – 17.00
Public holidays (when open)	11.00 – 17.00

Is this a good place for school holidays? For families?

It can be good for children. If they don’t like libraries it can encourage them because it is a special place.

By Sufia Begum

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From Brick Lane to Buckingham Palace: Heba’s sponsored walk is back!

Following the success of the last four years, Heba Women’s Project is having its annual sponsored walk along the Thames on Sunday 22nd of June at 10.30 am. From Heba’s location in 164 Brick Lane to Buckingham Palace, Heba’s supporters are going to walk for 10 km, passing through the most famous London sights, such as Tate Modern, Millennium Bridge and London Eye, just to name a few. The walk will finish in Old Palace Yard and it will be followed by a relaxing picnic at St. James’s Park.

With the funds raised, Heba will keep empowering women from diverse cultural backgrounds by offering them a welcoming place in which to socialize and improve their skills in order to integrate in the everyday British life. Women at Heba are happy to attend Training programmes that include Spoken and Written English, IT, as well as Sewing and Garment Production, while having the possibility to benefit from the lovely Nursery providing quality childcare.

But, to keep offering these (and more) services Heba do need your help!

So, what are you waiting for? Sign up today and… keep your most comfortable shoes ready! Anyone is welcome to get involved, men too!

Raise our handmade flag! Raise women’s aspirations of the East End! 

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Regent’s Park

We went to Regents Park in winter.

We travelled by tube. We took the Circle Line (yellow) from Liverpool Street. It took about half an hour from leaving Heba to get there.

We had a picnic in the park then went to see the beautiful mosque. Some of us prayed there and it was interesting to see the mosque. The park was nice – we walked in the inner circle and the outer circle. We had a proper walk!

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Ideas Store Whitechapel

We went to Whitechapel Ideas Store. We walked there from Heba and it took about 12 minutes. It’s near big Sainsbury’s or Whitechapel Market, so it’s easy to go when we are shopping.

Faduma and Natalie came to Heba to talk to us about what our children can do in the Ideas Store and after that we went together. Parents should encourage children to read more and we can do different activities on different days at the Ideas Store, like after school book club, art club (Sundays)

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2014 Sponsored Walk

Our 2014 Sponsored Walk will be on Sunday 22nd June.

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Visit from Rushanara Ali

Rushanara meets volunteers and staff

Heba women with Rushanara

We had a visit from Rushanara Ali MP. She came in International Women’s Week to talk to us about women making change and women in public life. We were very excited before she came and the teachers helped us prepare questions to ask her about her job and her life and her inspiration.

When she came she sat and talked to us and answered all our questions. We asked what is important for girls to grow up to be active and important like Rushanara, and we asked what made her choose politics and how she manages her job with her life. She told us about her mum and dad – her mum was always interested in her education and her exams, and her dad had an open mind and let her follow her interest, which was politics because she believed her school friends could have better opportunities if the country was run better. She works very long hours but she enjoys her life and she isn’t doing the same thing every day.

Rushanara stayed and had lunch with us and we had a happy Women’s Day together.

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