Our community hub is facing closure. Established in 1984 and based at Hibiscus Community Centre, Hibiscus Caribbean Elderly Association (HCEA) provides services primarily to African and Caribbean elders. Services include Day Care drop-in and advice services, a free vitamin D distribution centre, and a range of social, cultural and networking opportunities for elders and their families.

Hibiscus provides employment for community members and offers work experience for young people in our community that have aspirations for a career in the care sector. Removing the HCEA premises licence will deprive its elderly membership of a place to meet and socialise, close after school provision for primary school children, render homeless nine community organisations, and deny local people an affordable meeting space in which to hold family celebrations.

Hibiscus Community Centre is home to two churches, Moslem Friday Prayer, an after school club, keep fit classes for adult women, a domino club, a cricket club, and carnival troupe, an art gallery, a lecture theatre and has recently established a dance partnership with Sadler’s Wells Theatre.

Removing the licence will undermine social cohesion in the London Borough of Newham and deepen racial disadvantage in the borough. Newham Council's decision to remove the premises licence is based on having received nine complaints from four households. I urge the Magistrates Court to allow the Association to keep its Premises Licence and continue its important work.

We ask you, reader, that you support us by:

1) Supporting the Hibiscus Caribbean Elderly Association (HCEA) in retaining its Premises Licence, and;

2) halt the destruction of a significant component of the UK's black community secular infrastructure.

Please sign the petition to help our community hub retain the Premises Licence and continue its important work. Thank you.