£20,000 fund launched to support community development in Deptford
Lewisham Local has launched a new £20,000 fund in partnership with property developer Lendlease, to be distributed in small grants to support community development in the Evelyn, New Cross Gate and Deptford wards as part of the regeneration of the area.
Five £4,000 awards are available for local charities and community organisations to develop and launch new projects that can make a real difference for the people in the communities surrounding Deptford Landings, Lendlease’s emerging neighbourhood in North Deptford, located between Pepys Park and Deptford Park.
Projects should address at least one of five themes: economic prosperity, community inclusion, wellbeing, healthy people, healthy planet and vibrant and resilient communities. Applications for the small grants programme will be assessed by a panel of community stakeholders with knowledge and lived experience of the area and the issues the programme is trying to address.
Lendlease has been developing the Deptford Landings site since 2018 and has worked with Lewisham Local since 2020. Lendlease previously worked with Lewisham Local to fund the Familia project, which provided an African, Caribbean and Asian hot meal delivery service alongside telephone befriending, group wellbeing sessions and Zoom healthy walks during the pandemic, and has also partnered with the charity to research digital exclusion Lewisham.
Colin Murphy, Project Lead, Deptford Landings comments: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Lewisham Local on the development of this new community grants fund for 2023. Lendlease has a long history of working in partnership with Lewisham residents, and this fund means that local people will now be able to access funding in support of a wide variety of community activities for the benefit of local people“
Lewisham Local, a charity based in Lewisham that is delivering the small grants programme, encourages local giving in Lewisham to alleviate poverty, promote equity and fairness. Sam Hawksley, CEO, Lewisham Local, comments: “We are excited to work with Lendlease again to deliver this grants programme to assist new projects that will benefit local residents in the Deptford area at a time where community investment is needed more than ever.
“We want to ensure new developments in the borough benefit the local community and this is a great opportunity for local charities and organisations to secure funding that will support their work in the community.” Brenda Dacres, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Lewisham Council
Applications are now open and are to be submitted by Lewisham Local’s website via an online form.
The deadline for applications is 5pm Friday 17th March 2022.