Brent Cross Town, the new £7 billion, 180-acre net zero carbon park town in north London, is today launching its Brent Cross Town Community Fund for 2022. Now in its fourth year the grant fund, which has increased to £40,000 this year, has become an established source of support for small charities, community organisations and entrepreneurial individuals making a positive impact in the local area.
First launched in 2019, the fund helps projects that support mental and physical wellbeing, foster community togetherness, those which include an outdoor and active offer, as well as initiatives making positive interventions to tackle anti-social behaviour. This year, the fund is also keen to include projects helping refugees and asylum seekers in the local area.
From today, local groups and initiatives based in and around Cricklewood, Childs Hill, Golders Green, and West Hendon can apply for grants of anywhere between £500 and £5,000. Applications to the fund close on Friday 10th June 2022.
Those eligible to apply for the grant include:
- Informal and formal community groups
- Local charities and local branches of national charities
- Schools and educational organisations
- Not-for-profit organisations
- Residents’ associations
- Social enterprises
All information on how to apply to the Brent Cross Town Community Find can be found on the Brent Cross Town website: https://brentcrosstown.co.uk/community-fund
To support applications to the fund and to raise awareness of fund-raising strategies and opportunities for community groups and initiatives, Brent Cross Town, together with Action Funder, is hosting two workshops and a Q&A session for local groups in and around Brent Cross:
- Storytelling for funding, engagement and impact reporting will take place on 18th May between 4:30 pm- 6:30 pm at The WorkShop, Brent Cross Town, Claremont Way. NW2 1AJ All information on how to register for the event can be found here.
- Brent Cross Town Community Fund Q&A session will be hosted on 24th May from 5pm-6:30pm at The WorkShop, Brent Cross Town, Claremont Way. NW2 1AJ. The session will provide insight into what the fund is focussing on this year and advise on how to make a strong funding pitch using the ActionFunder platform. All information on how to register for the event can be found here.
Over the last three years, the fund has supported 25 community groups, including a diverse mix of community groups and initiatives, and awarded £90,000 in funding. It is estimated that over 11,000 people in the local community have directly benefitted from the fund’s investment.
The Brent Cross Town Community Fund remains focussed on supporting new or existing projects that boost local wellbeing and create flourishing communities, reflecting the ambition for the new town centre to be an inclusive, people-first place which strives to be healthy and sustainable.
Applications to the fund will be made through ActionFunder. This platform enables community groups to apply for funding with an accessible written or video pitch, making it easier than ever before to give and get funding. It also means that groups that may not be successful in this funding round have their application made available to other funders.
Nick Searl, Partner of Argent Related, commented:
“We are pleased to be bringing The Brent Cross Town Community Fund back for a fourth year. We have welcomed some brilliant entries from local groups and initiatives since we launched the fund, all of which have made a real difference to the local area, and there are some projects we have supported year after year.
“For the 2022 fund, we are encouraging entries from new applicants. We are keen to hear from even more of the local community about the great things being done in and around Brent Cross, especially those that are focused on bringing the community together and being active to support mental and physical wellbeing.”
Councillor Barry Rawlings, Leader of Barnet Labour Group, said:
“I am pleased to see another round of the Brent Cross Town Community Fund launch this week. Community funds like this play an important role in ensuring local projects benefit from the wider regeneration in the area, and since 2019 the fund has helped thousands of people in the community. I encourage groups and individuals to apply to this year’s fund and I look forward to seeing the project proposals as they come forward.”
