Cheapside Business Alliance has today announced the recipients of a £15,000 community fund, designed to support the work of local community groups, registered charities and community businesses. Three charities and community groups will benefit from this round of funding.
The fund was launched earlier this year by the Cheapside Business Alliance, a collective of local businesses that work together with statutory stakeholders and charities to promote and enhance Cheapside. Supporting the local community is a key aim for Cheapside BA, and the Community Fund has been introduced to help support grassroots initiatives.
To deliver this initiative, Cheapside is working with Action Funder, a platform that makes it easy for businesses to support smaller, local community projects that often find it difficult to secure vital financial backing.
There was a high level of interest in the Cheapside Business Alliance Community Fund, with dozens of imaginative and inspirational applications. Three local groups were awarded the funding: Forget Me Not Memory Café, St Luke’s Community Centre and YMCA London City and North.
It is estimated that over 600 people will benefit from the funding, with initiatives ranging from art classes to ease loneliness to music classes for young people with complex needs. Cheapside BA will also work with the successful applicants to raise awareness of their important work and extend their reach.
Charlotte Fletcher, Chair of the Cheapside Business Alliance, said:
“We are delighted to announce the recipients of this funding. The community groups and charities of Cheapside and the wider City never fail to inspire me, and we hope that the Cheapside Business Alliance Community Fund will help the chosen recipients to continue delivering their vital work across our community. We would like to thank everyone that took the time to submit an application this year, and we look forward to seeing the initiatives develop.’’
Fund recipient Maurizio Morelli, St Luke’s Community Chef, said:
“As we gradually recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are so thrilled that funding from Cheapside BA gives St Luke’s the chance to deliver a new programme of fun and informative cookery classes and feasts for our local community. Thank you!”
Quote from Action funder:
“Under-the-radar community groups desperately need funds to meet local challenges. It’s brilliant to see Cheapside Business Alliance meeting that need with this £15,000 funding pot. Every penny of that funding will go direct to local projects and we look forward to seeing the impact!”
Successful applicants under the Cheapside Business Alliance Community Fund:
- Forget Me Not Memory Café (Project 17) is a charity providing cognitive stimulation activities, help, advice, support and information to those diagnosed with dementia, other memory problems and their carers. With the funding, Forget Me Not will be running a series of creative classes designed to combat loneliness and bring the local community together.
- YMCA London City and North is a charity providing young people with safe and stable accommodation. YMCA London CAN also offers a range of youth interventions through four youth hubs. YMCA LondonCAN will use the funding to purchase music equipment to provide young people, both in their hostels and in the community, with opportunities to learn new skills and express themselves through music.
- St Luke’s Community Centre provides a base from which the team deliver a wide range of services and activities, a place for local people to meet, outdoor spaces, and a resource for other organisations to deliver their services to the local community. The Cheapside BA Community Fund will enable St Luke’s to run cookery classes for people in the community, with meals shared with those most in need.