Aldgate Connect Community Fund Awarded

Following the launch of the Aldgate Connect Community Fund last October, we are pleased to have awarded our funding to 8 community projects. The business community represented by the BID can be a collective powerful force for good in the local area supporting their community through charitable giving.

Non-profit organisations and community-led initiatives working within the Aldgate area were invited to apply for projects that support with the following categories:

• Climate – Aim to address climate change and how our urban environment needs to adapt to support a greener and more sustainable world
• Education – Support people to enter good work and education in order to become a cohesive and prosperous neighbourhood
• Upskilling – Develop skills through upskilling, skills sharing and training local people into employment.

There were so many valuable applications that supported these categories that the initial funding of £9,000 was increased to £23,420, so all eligible projects could receive funding.

We are delighted to be supporting the following projects:

• The Switch (Tower Hamlets Education Business Partnership) helps local young people build a professional CV and provide mock assessment centres to boost teenagers’ job prospect.
• Accumulate’s Climate Change Creativity (CCC) project will use creative education to reverse negative impacts of people who are homeless, targeting those living in hostels within a 10 mile radius of the local area.
• David Game Higher Education are holding a three-day Climate Symposium Exhibition which will see students exhibiting their work inspiring behaviour change and research projects, speakers on sustainability issues, practical videos on sustainability tips and workshops for children.
• Providence Row‘s The Dellow Centre supports homeless clients who often face a complex mix of issues, struggle to access mainstream help and often leave school with few or no qualifications and most have been unemployed for some time. Their Employability & Progression (E&P) work helps achieve people’s potential via learning, training, volunteering and employment.
• Climate Ed teaches children about climate change and empowers them to take action. Children’s climate action project sends trained volunteers into primary schools to deliver workshops about carbon literacy and climate action.
• Aldgate Solar Power will be holding 5 Creative Energy Clubs using the power of art and co-creation to bring people together and empower them to get involved in community energy projects. They will create beautiful artwork (exhibits, posters, solar lanterns) which will be displayed and distributed in public spaces as engagement tools; increasing the local community’s understanding of the energy system and empowering them to play a part in changing it.
• AAD Projects, London Metropolitan University’s Fashion Showcase will support UN Sustainable Development goals of Climate Skilling and Education in relation to fashion and textiles by advocating the important of craft, skills and the need to invest in multi-generational lifetime wear. They will do this through a Showcase event and exhibition that will present fashion craft skills in a sustainability context.
• AAD Projects, London Metropolitan University – following on from the Fashion Showcase will develop a proposal and deliver Craft Skill Sessions based upon interest in fashion craft skills. They will introduce craft skills needed to make and take care of items. Supporting the reduction of landfill and waste consumption by repairing rather than replacing clothes.

We look forward to seeing the impact these wonderful projects deliver, stay tuned for updates!