East London Citizens
Citizens UK is a people powered alliance of diverse local communities working together for the common good - challenging social injustice and building stronger communities.
Through the method of Community Organising, Citizens UK enable local community leaders to develop their voice and come together with the power and strategy to make real change.
Queen Mary has been an institutional member since 2000 with QM staff and students working with The East London Citizens Organisation (TELCO) and Citizens UK organisers for over 25 years. This long-standing relationship has made an impact not just locally, but nationally too.
Staff and students work with community organisations and other member institutions on key campaigns across Tower Hamlets, East London and London:
- Research in the School of Geography helped to form the Living Wage campaign 20 years ago.
- Queen Mary was the first university to be accredited as a real Living Wage Employer in 2006, and we are a founding partner of the Living Wage Foundation.
- Tower Hamlets Citizens organisers support the teaching of modules in the Department of Politics and International Relations in the School of Society and Environment, and provide internship opportunities for QM students each year.
- The public engagement team worked with Tower Hamlets Citizens organisers to run an East London listening campaign to form the basis of QM’s Civic University Agreement.
Historical relationship between Queen Mary University of London and Citizens UK
London Citizens holds the first ever London Mayoral Assembly at Queen Mary University of London
2000
Queen Mary was the first university to be accredited in the UK as a real Living Wage Employer.
2006
After a campaign from both within the university and through TELCO, better working conditions were won for every staff member who now receive a basic minimum package of 30 days’ annual leave, access to sick pay, an annually negotiated pay increase and an employer-contribution pension scheme.
2008
MA in Community Organising was launched by the Geography department at QMUL. This ran for 5 years led by Prof Jane Wills in the School of Geography. More details below
2010
QMUL was a founding partner of the Living Wage Foundation (part of Citizens UK), which was established in 2011 to recognise the leadership of employers who choose to pay a real Living Wage.
2011
Following the death of students on the Mile End Road, QM students and Tower Hamlets Citizens ran the Save Me Campaign which won a safer crossing installed on the Mile End Road junction. More details below
2015
Teaching support for first year induction and second year module ‘Geographical Research in Practice’ in the School of Geography.
2016
60 QM students joined Community Organising Training led by TH organiser Afsana Salik.
2017
QM Citizens Society a student society was formed to listen to students and develop effective campaigns addressing concerns that were raised.
School of Politics and International Relations joined Tower Hamlets Citizens.
2018
QM Students and staff took part in the London Mayoral accountability assembly with 1300 citizens leaders at Southwark Catholic Cathedral. Two students from QMUL spoke at that event.
2018
School of Politics and International Relations joined Tower Hamlets Citizens.
2018
The Centre of Public Engagement worked with Tower Hamlets organiser to use community organising principles to run an east London listening campaign to form the basis of QM’s future Civic University Agreement.
2020
School of Politics and International Relations ran a 3rd Year CUK Internship for 15 students. The impact on the students involved has been great. Read more below
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2021
Over 100 leaders from QMUL turned out for the online London Mayoral assembly in April, joined by 5000 leaders across London
2021
Over 250 women attended the International Women’s Day at QMUL, organised by TELCO Citizens and QM Politics and International Relations student interns. Rushanara Ali MP, Apsana Begum MP and many local councillors attended the event
2022
Emmanuel Gotora, Lead Organiser for TELCO and Assistant Director for Citizens UK, joined the QM Civic Advisory Board as a strategic partner. Queen Mary hosted the Citizens UK Higher Education network event, bringing together over 100 university community and civic engagement leaders who work with Citizens UK in various ways.
2023
Emmanuel Gotora, Lead Organiser for TELCO and Assistant Director for Citizens UK, joined the QM Civic Advisory Board as a strategic partner. Queen Mary hosted the Citizens UK Higher Education network event, bringing together over 100 university community and civic engagement leaders who work with Citizens UK in various ways.
2023
Through the East London Research Network, QM hosted a workshop to introduce the campaign priorities of East London Citizens and explore areas of alignment with researchers. The event created new opportunities for collaboration, bringing together over 50 academics and 30 community leaders from TELCO.
2024
Launched a transformative Policy Secondment: a six-month, two-way collaboration between QM and Citizens UK designed to put lived experience at the heart of policy and research. As part of this initiative, Afsana Salik, Senior Community Organiser, has been seconded to QMUL to map existing services and listen directly to precariously housed residents in Tower Hamlets about the barriers they face in accessing healthcare. Guided by Dr Rachel Humphris’ research, the project is capturing a deeper, more holistic understanding of people’s concerns and the social factors shaping their health. By amplifying the voices of those most affected, this work will inform future interventions, drive more inclusive policy responses, and ensure that research translates into real-world change.
2025
HEAL Assembly - QM researchers had stalls at the event to connect with the community and creating engagement opportunities for local people to take part in health focused research.
2025
Youth Assembly - QM showcased our work for young people in East London at the event.
2025