Residents and community groups can now apply for grants of up to £3,000. The funding must be used to deliver events and activities that will make life better for the community in Thamesmead.
The latest round of grants opened today, Monday 21 September, and will remain open for applications until Monday 19 October.
“The Thamesmead Community Fund enables local people to turn their ideas into action,” said Gez Kellaghan, Peabody’s Community Investment Manager. “The fund is open to anyone in the community – from committed individuals to small groups – who need support to deliver a project that will have a positive impact on the town.”
The fund is financed by Peabody. Half of the money comes from the Peabody Community Foundation, with the other half coming from Peabody’s culture team through income generated when Thamesmead is used as a location for film and TV shoots.
Lisa Drew, Senior Cultural Programme Manager at Peabody, added: “We can’t wait to find out what ideas for creative community projects local people will put forward this time as the Thamesmead Community Fund reaches its £500,000 milestone.”
To receive a grant from the Thamesmead Community Fund, a project must achieve at least one of these things:
- Increase arts and cultural activity
- Support educational outcomes for a group
- Bring the community together
- Improve local health and wellbeing
- Encourage community use of local outdoor spaces
- Strengthen children and family relationships
- Help people develop new skills
- Provide services or activities for older people
- Bring people together through nature or gardening
- Provide opportunities to enjoy the natural environment
- Increase biodiversity in Thamesmead
Potential applicants should email georgia.mann@peabody.org.uk or lisa.drew@peabody.org.uk to check their eligibility before starting their application. To find out more, join a live Q&A session on Tuesday 29 September at 5pm.
The deadline for applications is 10am on Monday 19 October. A panel of local people will then work with Peabody to award grants. Find out more about projects previously funded by the Thamesmead Community Fund in the publication The Power of Community: Funding Local Projects in Thamesmead.
