Green funds to support East London communities

This June, we are pleased to share news of two funding grant schemes to help local London communities tackle climate and social inequalities: The Grow Together fund and Grow Back Greener Fund.

The Foundation is committed to helping reverse the negative effects of climate change on East London. We know that Black, Asian and ethnically diverse people are disproportionately affected by poor air quality, lack of green space and other issues. We believe that funding and supporting local communities to come together to create positive solutions will help build social value and social cohesion and develop skills, learning and employability.

Both grant schemes aim to address issues faced by Black, Asian and ethnically diverse Londoners, who are disproportionately affected by environmental issues and yet underrepresented in environmental decision-making.

The Grow Together fund

The Grow Together fund will award five neighbourhoods £18,000 each for community-led projects to address environmental inequalities. The Mayor of London and environmental charity Hubbub launched this new fund earlier this June. The successful groups will also receive a year-long series of bespoke workshops and guidance from expert mentors. London boroughs and housing associations can apply.  The deadline for expressions of interest is 5pm on Monday 27 June 2022.

The fund builds on a community-led pilot project on Alma Street in Newham. The community created new green spaces, grew food and organised community litter picks in response to social issues, such as anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping.

“Having worked on the pilot project, I know if residents and authorities work together, we can make our communities greener, healthier and stronger,” said Billie-Jean Holmes, Community Coordinator of Alma Street Pilot Project and project coordinator at Hubbub.

2022 Grow Back Greener Fund

The next round of the Mayor of London’s £1.2m 2022 Grow Back Greener Fund will open at the end of June 2022. The fund aims to help London’s communities to create and enhance green space and increase climate resilience. Community groups, schools, civil society organisations and local authorities can apply. The fund will prioritise projects where Londoners live further than a 10-minute walk from green space, at high climate risk and in areas of deprivation.

Grow Together fund, deadline for expressions of interest is Monday 27 June. For more information, see Hubbub website.

2022 Grow Back Greener Fund will open at the end of June 2022. Sign up to the mailing list.

Read our article Why Environment and Sustainability Matter.