Investing in Our Community

Recently there's been loads of activity on the funding front here in Thamesmead.

Back in March we told you about our successful application to the Mayor of London’s ‘Pocket Parks’ programme to help transform the areas adjacent to The Link Thamesmead’s entrance into a welcoming and enjoyable amenity for local people.

Well, since then we’ve been successful with another funding bid that will help us bring the former One o’clock Club building in Birchmere Park back into use by the community.

Staff at the Trust have also been working alongside colleagues from the London Borough of Bexley’s Sports Development Team to develop a bid to Sport England’s ‘Community Sport Activation Fund’ which would be worth around £250,000 over three years.

We’ll keep you posted on the outcome of these exciting funding opportunities...

Since gaining the funding for our new ‘Pocket Park’ we have been working with partners Gallions Housing Association, the London Borough of Bexley, Groundwork London and Saville Jones Consultants to develop the detailed proposals for the £75,000 scheme and, following design consultation with local people over the coming weeks, we hope to begin work on site in the autumn.

Then, just over the Eastern Way from The Link lies Birchmere Park, home to the recently established The Good Life Community Garden and site of the former One o’clock Club.

It has long been our ambition to bring the building back into use and we’ve taken a giant leap forward in meeting that aim thanks to a generous grant of £75,000 from Cory Environment Trust. The award will go a long way to enabling refurbishment of the building as a community hub and the creation of additional food growing facilities for the The Good Life group. But we’re not there just yet: the total project cost is likely to be in the region of £250,000 and to meet the shortfall we have submitted an application to the Big Lottery Fund’s ‘Reaching Communities’ programme.

The aims of the Sport England’s ‘Community Sport Activation Fund’ grant programme are to encourage and support local partnership working to develop new approaches to the delivery of sport, and to increase and sustain once a week participation in sport for those aged 14 and above.

Thamesmead’s bid focuses on the delivery of new opportunities for local people to take part in team sports, outdoor pursuits, fitness classes and healthy living activities. The delivery of the programme will be led by a Thamesmead Community Sports Activator who will oversee activities, classes and sessions delivered by paid coaches, volunteers, sports clubs and local leisure centres.