150 local women and corporate volunteers today came together at the City Gateway Women‟s project for the launch of a new Literacy Lunch volunteering scheme . The programme is part of the charity‟s new „Volunteering Ten Minutes From Your Office‟ initiative, giving City and Wharf workers volunteering opportunities they can take up in their lunch breaks or straight after work. The Literacy Lunch project addresses poor adult literacy rates by offering businessmen and women the chance to mentor local women within an informal and fun environment.

In celebrating its 10th Anniversary City Gateway is launching a new initiative to encourage businesses, office workers and local residents to get involved in a range of opportunities accessible in just 10 minutes from Canary Wharf or the City.

As new youth unemployment (Not in Education, Employment or Training) figures highlight how those just leaving education are being hardest hit by the credit crunch, an East London charity is beating the trend and showing a model which helps young people beat the odds.

Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Children's Services and Skills, last month visited City Gateway as part of a national survey inspection of providers working with young people who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) and has recognised the charity's training services as a national example of best practice.

As City Gateway looks to launch a new volunteering scheme, giving Canary Wharf and City workers volunteering opportunities less than 10 minutes from their offices, Sir Ian McKellen came down to the Limehouse Youth Centre to see an art project already bringing together a wide spectrum of the community.

The centre in Tower Hamlets, run jointly with Poplar HARCA, has attracted more than 50 entries into its art competition which is being openly judged by a mix of young people, Canary Wharf workers and local residents, including Ian himself.