The Balham and Tooting Community Association (BATCA) is a network of individuals and organisations who are committed to creating a cohesive, thriving community where there is trust and friendship between people of all faiths, cultures, ages and backgrounds.
Its goals are set out in its strategy agreed in June 2016.
It is seeking to involve an increasing number of local organisations and help them to work together.
How BATCA began
BATCA was established in February 2006 in the wake of the tragic events of 7/7/2005 by a concerned group of local people who wanted to find new ways to bring the community together.
BATCA serving the community
BATCA’s Fun Days, Community Awards schemes and other events bring people from all backgrounds together and build up community spirit.
BATCA aims to give local groups a platform to share news and promote themselves through e-bulletins, social media and this website. Many new connections have been made this way.
BATCA takes an interest in local issues and as appropriate expresses members’ views on these.
BATCA’s members and partners
BATCA members and partners include faith bodies (Churches Together, Tooting Islamic Centre and Balham Mosque, Sikh and Hindu bodies), local businesses, many local voluntary organisations (eg Transition Town Tooting) and bodies in the public sector (eg St George’s Hospital). BATCA’s membership is representative of all sides of the community.
Goals and strategy
BATCA’s strategy, adopted in June 2016, emphasizes its core purpose of creating a harmonious, thriving community. It seeks to achieve this by bringing people together from diverse backgrounds, and finding ways enabling groups to work collectively and support them in promoting themselves. It also seeks to listen and respond to local issues.
BATCA’s activities currently focus on organizing well targeted and worthwhile events, and participating in community events. In order to link and support a wider range of local groups, it is working to increase its membership, build a local community database and develop its communication tools.
Strategy for BATCA (adopted on 17th June 2016)
Key elements:
PURPOSE of Balham and Tooting Community Association
- Creating a harmonious, thriving community
GOALS (to achieve the purpose)
- Bring people together from diverse backgrounds
- Enable groups to work collectively
- Support groups to promote themselves
- Listen and respond to local issues
ACTIVITIES (to achieve the goals)
- Organise events with an objective
- Participate in community events
- Develop Local community database
- Increase membership
- Build a new Website
- Create a mailing list with categories
- Coordinate responses to local issues
Balham and Tooting Community Association 