London’s community groups have been invited to turn their city green. The Our Space Award is open for its third round, with grants of up to £5,000 being awarded to encourage a sense of ownership and help local communities unite in creating sustainable open spaces. A great opportunity to get young ones into gardening and to beautify your corner of London .
Environmental regeneration charity, Groundwork London., is inviting groups to send in their ideas to improve local spaces from parks to housing estates or school grounds. But Hurry –applications close on the 25th March.
The scheme is sponsored by a private funder and administered by the social and environmental regeneration charity, Groundwork London. The award aims to help Londoners green their city through projects which promote active community engagement and participation.
Now in the scheme’s third round, community groups based in London can apply for a grant between £500 and £5,000 to either create or improve an open space; whether that is a park, housing estate, town centre, woodland, school grounds etc.
So far the Our Space Award has supported 45 London projects with £105 000 to improve community spaces. One example is the ‘Friends of Bridgehouse Pond’ in Feltham. The group were awarded funding to create a community garden and reinstall Feltham’s lost identity as a market garden town.
Richard Clark, the project, said: “seeing the difference we have made is really satisfying, especially how celebrating local heritage has connected with people’s memories of the area and brought the community together.”
Martin Petry from Groundwork London said: “The Our Space Award was very successful last year, and we are excited to see the scheme continue in 2019 with hopefully even more applications from a diverse range of London communities. These grants have provided the opportunity for communities to come together and make the places they live in more enjoyable. It increases the sense of pride in those spaces, an increased sense of ownership and new places for people to meet.”
The award will support Londoners of all ages and backgrounds, communities and schools in creating and improving sustainable community spaces; making them inclusive places for all to enjoy.
Applications for the third round of the Our Space Award will close at 5pm on Monday 25th March. To apply visit their website. For any application queries contact: Hannah.standen@groundwork.org.uk