In 1979 with the help of the Community of Race Equality and later with the help of Barnet Council and the Department of Social Security, Sangam set up an Advice Centre in West Hendon N.W.9. This proved to be extremely successful and showed a clear and urgent need for more advice Workers and a Community Centre where people could turn to for the help, advice, a sympathetic ear and shoulder to cry on.
With the ever increasing demand at the Advice Centre and the increase in the scope of Sangam’s activities, funds were raised and the idea of having a purpose built building from which to operate the Advice Centre and all of Sangam’s other activities was put into practice. This allowed Sangam to enhance and improve the quality of the lives of the local community.
Princess Diana came to inaugurate the Sangam Centre on 18th November 1991.
Cultural Activities
The Centre arranges:
· Plays in Asian Languages
· Musical Evenings
· Diwali Celebration
· Holi
· Dinner and Dance
We celebrate social and cultural festivals. These functions are organised to raise funds for the running of the Centre. The Association has expanded over thirty years and during this time the development has been spontaneous and responsive to the needs of the community.
Objectives and Mission
Sangam's Objectives
1. To promote charitable causes for the benefit of the community by advancing education, protecting health, relieving poverty, distress and sickness.
Further, the Association aims to:
a) Provide instruction in the English Language for persons living in England but unversed in its language.
b) Act as a channel of communication between persons from abroad and the United Kingdom authorities and agencies
c) Establish, maintain and manage a centre or centers for the activities of the Association.
d) Promote the co-ordination of the efforts and resources of local authorities and voluntary bodies in the furtherance of the objectives of the Association.
2. The Association sRoom carry on its activities without distinction of the grounds of politics, race or religion.
3. The Association will have the power to co-operate with any other charitable body and to pay or apply the whole or any part of its funds to or for the benefits of one or more such bodies as it sRoom from time to time think fit
Sangam's Mission
· To provide information, advice and support to the local and adjoining borough communities.
· To act as an agent to communicate with appropriate authorities on behalf of the clients
· To explain in a clear and coherent manner the law to the client in client’s mother tongue
· To ensure that clients are aware of their rights and have information about the law to enforce their rights
· To help prevent homelessness through advice and advocacy
· To ensure that disabled people gain access to local and central government services
· To act on behalf of the client and represent their case with appropriate authorities
· To prioritise client’s needs and making necessary referrals to access public services
· To build up network of professionals whereby client can be referred to specialist adviser
· To provide all necessary support under one roof by establishing and strengthening our partnership with service providers such as The Pension Service, The Metropolitan Police, The National Health Services , Legal Professionals and other service provider
Library
The Centre provides a Library service, which supplies reading material in Gujarati, Hindi, English.