The Mayor of Hackney, Jules Pipe spoke about the important work VCH carry out and it was great to hear how volunteering was a route to work for many local people.

VCH have a database of volunteer opportunities and talking to the service users they spend a lot of time getting to know each person to match them with the right organisation. The centre has been doing this type of work for over 13 years.

We heard from a number of volunteers who’s lived have been turned around thanks to the staff at the centre.

Charlie Forman from the Hackney 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games Unit also gave a speech about how important volunteers for London 2012 will be. 70,000 volunteers will be needed to help staff at the Games.

Their current website at www.vchackney.org is under construction, but hopefully they’ll have some content on there soon.

Have you volunteered in Hackney? Let us know you’re experience.

Everything was gleaming as you’d expect for a new station. We had the cavernous steel place to ourselves, except for what looked like elderly trainspotters. White bearded men taking photos and riding the short journey to New Cross, and presumably back to Dalston as some of them looked familiar three hours later on our way back. But that could just be our imagination.

TfL have also redesigned the tube map with the East London line now in a solid orange. The river is back and key stations now have a solid background colour to aid findability.

We’re very excited about being so close to a tube and it will make it easier for clients to visit the studio and quicker for us to get to meetings.

The farm provides free access to a wide range of farm animals for children of all ages. Their rare breed sheep ‘Amy’ asks if you can help keep the farm open to everyone through regular giving and supporter fundraising.

View the Amy’s Appeal microsite

It’s also completely free and they don’t have plans to charge for it as yet. Try it out yourself at Adobe Labs.