Brent Cross Town, the 180-acre mixed-use park town for London being delivered in partnership by Related Argent and Barnet Council, launches its Community Fund today (5 September 2024).
The Fund supports new and established endeavours which benefit the local community. Now in its sixth consecutive year, the Fund is focused in 2024 on supporting projects and initiatives that contribute to skills development, training, employment, and education outcomes – reflecting the important role these play in the development of Brent Cross Town as it becomes a place where all can flourish.
This year’s themes recognise the significant skills gaps that exist in London and across the UK and align with the priority given by the new Government to education, employment and training, which as part of ‘Breaking down the barriers to opportunity’ form one of its five core missions.
Brent Cross Town has made available a total of £50,000 for the fund in 2024, matching the total for 2023, with individual grant amounts offered ranging from £3,000 to £10,000. Managed by engagement and fundraising platform ActionFunder, applications to the Fund are invited both from new organisations and from those that have received funding in previous years, with a deadline of 24 October to apply. This year the Fund, run in partnership with Barnet Council, is open to projects and initiatives from right across the borough.
In 2023, the Fund gave the local community the opportunity to vote for their priority projects to receive additional funding and this year, the community will have a bigger role to play. Following a judging panel comprising local stakeholders and community leaders to select a shortlist of eligible projects, Barnet residents will be asked to choose all the Fund recipients through an online poll.
Morwenna Hall, Executive Director at Related Argent, commented: “We are very proud of the impact the Brent Cross Town Community Fund is having and to see the many enterprising ways in which communities are supporting each other to thrive. Employment, education, and life-enriching skills are intrinsic to creating flourishing communities, which is at the heart of what we are looking to achieve at Brent Cross Town, and we are pleased to be able to bring the Fund back again for a sixth year. We look forward to receiving this year’s applications and are grateful for the opportunity to support our communities in this way.”
Councillor Alan Schneiderman, Cricklewood Ward Member and judge on the community fund panel, said: “This year’s £50k community fund joins a host of other initiatives made possible by the Brent Cross Town development to deliver skills, employment and training to people living in the area. I encourage all local groups, schools and individuals delivering a programme or activity that could benefit from additional funding to apply.”
Examples of previous projects that have benefited from Community Fund support include:
Our Yard at Clitterhouse Farm – forest schools and nature play for disadvantaged children and gardening workshops for adults.
Keep Rolling Project – skateboarding and art workshops to inspire and empower under-represented groups aged 8-18 to get more active and build their confidence.
Claremont Primary School – creation of a Community Garden Kitchen. Many children do not have access to a garden or outdoor space at home and the community garden provides an outside space to grow and harvest herbs, fruit and vegetables as well as a place to gain advice on how to use the produce in healthy family meals.
Friends of Mapledown – funding to provide access to iPads for pupils of Mapledown School, Barnet’s Secondary School for pupils with Severe and Complex Learning Disabilities.
Since it started in 2019, The Brent Cross Town Community Fund has supported 52 charities, community organisations and initiatives that are making a positive impact in the local area and has awarded £180,000 to local projects so far. All information on how to apply for a grant from the £50,000 Brent Cross Town Community Fund and how to get involved in voting can be found at: https://brentcrosstown.co.uk/brent-cross-town-community-fund