In 1988, when Shian was founded, it was a time of heightened racial tensions and the scars of Brixton and Broadwater Farm Estate riots three years earlier were still raw.

A voluntary organisation, Harambee II, which helped young offenders, had identified a need for permanent housing for those who wanted to move away from a life of crime. Shian was formed to meet that need and to cater for the general housing requirements of ethnic minority people in Hackney and neighbouring areas.

In the intervening years, our housing stock and the services we provide have grown, but we remain, proudly, an independent Black and Minority Ethnic (BME)-led organisation tuned in to the cultural sensitivities of the communities we serve. Most of our housing is based in Hackney, Haringey and Islington, although we hope to expand across neighbouring boroughs.

The riots of the 1980’s are no more, but, sadly the country has witnesses a growth in a gangland culture, which seems to be drawing ever young people into its midst. Our ground-breaking Makeda Weaver Project, which works with young offenders, is expanding its work to schools and colleges and other organisations across a wider area of London, to prevent those who are vulnerable from being drawn into gangs, and to help young men, women and families exit gangs safely.

Coming of age has been a great journey for Shian and we look forward to the future.