A HISTORIC centre working to tackle disadvantage in the East End is celebrating its 125th birthday this month with a debate about poverty. Toynbee Hall was founded in Whitechapel in December 1884 to tackle work tackling poverty, injustice and disadvanta

A HISTORIC centre working to tackle disadvantage in the East End is celebrating its 125th birthday this month with a debate about poverty.

Toynbee Hall was founded in Whitechapel in December 1884 to tackle work tackling poverty, injustice and disadvantage and works with 6,000 people a year in some of the most deprived areas of the country, offering residential support as well as outreach schemes.

It has seen demand for its debt advice rocket since the start of the recession.

Journalist Polly Toynbee who is patron of the centre in Commercial Street is chairing the debate.

Speakers include Kevan Collins, the chief executive of Tower Hamlets council and Julia Unwin, the boss of the campaigning Joseph Rowntree Foundation.