Bethan Hill, Community Newswire, 3rd March 2010

A charity that promotes the development of Tower Hamlets has been asking local people, including some celebrities, to reveal what they think about the borough.

City Gateway is challenging more than 1 million people to answer the question: "What does Tower Hamlets mean to you?"

So far, more than 300 women and formerly unemployed young people have recorded their thoughts about the borough on Post-It notes

These were put together in a speech bubble-shaped collage that went on display in a window at Canary Wharf Shopping Centre on Monday.

Included among them are the feelings of politicians Tessa Jowell, Iain Duncan Smith, Jim Fitzpatrick and John Biggs, as well as actor Sir Ian McKellen.

Sir Ian, who lives round the corner from the charity's Limehouse Youth Centre and is a regular supporter of its work, said of the borough: "For over 30 years Tower Hamlets has been my home."

Other comments made by local people included: "There are many opportunities in Tower Hamlets", "I like Tower Hamlets because of the food (especially PFC)" and "I haven't been outside of Tower Hamlets in five years".

The comments are accompanied by a series of photos taken by local people.

Jerry Daykin, City Gateway marketing manager, said: "The window celebrates the diversity of Tower Hamlets and the different individuals we work and partner with.

"It is also a challenge to the million people who walk past it as to what they themselves think about the area they live, work or perhaps just shop in."

To accompany the window display, the charity is launching a website that will allow other residents to submit their own perspectives and respond to the existing selection.

Jerry said: "We're launching a website at the same time so anyone will be able to go online, read more of the existing insights and contribute their own."

The collage is on display in the Community Arts Window in the Canary Wharf Shopping Centre's Canada Place mall, where it will remain until April.

City Gateway is a charity dedicated to bringing hope to the communities of Tower Hamlets that haven't benefited from the area's wider economic development. It looks to connect with local women and disadvantaged young people, and runs programmes to engage them, train them and provide them with the skills and opportunities they need to enter work or further education

For more information and to view the new website, visit www.citygateway.org.uk/perspectives.