You may have heard about Siva, a local shopkeeper in Clarence Road, Hackney, whose shop was devastated in the riots. With buildings insurance but no contents insurance, he has been left with 25 pence to his name, and no means of income. Yesterday a group of local people set up www.helpsiva.com.
Within a few short hours, the site had raised around £5,000. In the same way that social media fanned the flames of the riot, it is also providing a rapid response to the situation. Rebuilding trust and confidence is going to be a long difficult task, but restocking Siva’s shelves is something that we can do quickly and effectively if we all pull together. Please donate as much as you can through the website and forward it to anyone who may be interested. You can also spread the word on twitter using the hashtag #helpsiva.
A couple of support events are in the pipeline….
There will be a Community Tea Party on Clarence Rd, a week after the riots, on Monday 15th of August from 5pm onwards. The street will be closed to traffic. This could be a chance for reflection, or a time for socialising and catching up: No speeches, no agenda – this is whatever you, as a member of the local community, want to make it. Please contact jane@hackneyhomemade.com if you want to volunteer to help move tables and chairs or help in any way. Please bring cake!
Hackney Homemade Markets on Saturday and Sunday will be going ahead as usual, and will be fundraising for Siva. The Society will be at both events. Please come along, have a cup of tea, and show your support.
- Read more, here on dalstonpeople.co.uk, Hackney Gazette.