History
City Gateway was set up in 1999 by residents from the local church and community. Its aim has always been to help alleviate poverty, unemployment and exclusion, helping individuals to develop their potential and realise targets and ambitions by providing training and progression programmes for them. Originally focusing on the Spitalfields area, we have grown so as to now be able to help individuals borough-wide.
From small beginnings, offering the European Computer Driving Licence & Certified Internet Webmaster courses, alongside opportunities for personal mentors and quality work placements, our growth has meant both adaptation and expansion.
In response to recognised need and consultation within the community, our programmes and activities now primarily target the hard to reach 16-25s or those out of education or employment. Our activities are designed to meet the needs of this age group, particularly in relation to motivation and becoming trained up and job ready.
Tower Hamlets is a borough of great contrasts. It sits on the edge of the wealth in the City and is home to Canary Wharf and some of the highest wage earners in the country. Yet it is also home to communities experiencing some of the highest levels of deprivation. So much so that, overall, Tower Hamlets comes close to the top on many documented indices of deprivation.
It is a borough with an average population density of over 1,000 people per km2 and has one of the largest and fastest growing youth populations in Europe. With low educational attainment and high unemployment and crime rates, the number of young people not in economic activity is large and growing.
The government is recognising these issues and has started and pledged to continue to commit funds for dealing with this significant problem.
