Groups getting local people involved in art and theatre, as well as supporting people with serious mental health problems, are among the Elephant & Castle organisations that have won a total of £50,000 in funding.
The money comes from the Elephant & Castle community fund, set up by developers Lendlease and Southwark Council in 2012. Lendlease is the company behind the Elephant Park development on the site of the former Heygate Estate. The fund has provided more than £300,000 in grants to local groups since it was set up.
Groups could apply for individual grants of between £500 and £10,000 to address a local need in areas like further education, skills, training & entrepreneurship, arts and culture, environment, young people and wellbeing.
The six groups below received the £50,000 between them.
Art in the Park
Art in the Park is an arts organisation that tries to reach people who are isolated and vulnerable by getting them involved with “relaxing and empowering creative activities.”
Art in the Park has won funding for a project that will enable their artists and volunteers to reach out to the wider community surrounding Elephant & Castle with a series of art workshops which explore different art processes using local history.
Local historians Julia Honess and Diana Cochrane will uncover stories about the Newington Estate, African fabric shops and Jewish tailoring on Walworth Road and historic music venue the Trocadero for workshops in July and August next year.
Once finished the artwork will be published in a booklet and celebrated in an event that will bring together everyone who took part.
Colab
Colab is an immersive theatre experience that works with local communities on themes that are relevant to their own history and neighbourhoods.
With this grant Colab will carry out a year-long youth theatre workshop for people in Elephant & Castle. Groups of young people will have the chance to join one of a few twelve-week programmes, each of which results in a community performance.
Pembroke House
Pembroke house is a community centre which offers a number of activities and facilities, all which aim to bring local communities together, like a café and English classes.
The new funding will go towards expanding the range of courses to include dance classes, for people who may not usually get to take part.
The Listening Place
The Listening Place is an organisation that provides face-to-face support for people who have suicidal thoughts. Based in the area surrounding Elephant Park, funding will go towards continuing their work.
Southwark Carers
A free service for all carers in Southwark, offering advice, emotional and wellbeing support, training, counselling, advocacy/ The funding will help transform a rooftop space at the Carer’s Centre into an inner-city allotment and nature area to deliver activities and development opportunities.
Citizens UK
Citizens UK runs Parents and Communities Together (PACT), a family support group, in Southwark. The new funding will help the service’s Spanish language mothers’ group Espacio Mama offer weekly group meetings for peer support, signposting and workshops.
Lendlease’s project director for Elephant Park, Kristy Lansdown, said: “We are committed to creating a thriving, inclusive and sustainable community at Elephant Park, and are pleased to support community projects which directly benefit those who live, work and study in the area.
“There are some superb initiatives this year which we’ll be supporting, in addition to the broad range of projects which have already benefited from funding through the scheme.”
Cllr Helen Dennis, Southwark Council’s cabinet member for climate emergency and sustainable development, said: “Over the last eight years, a diverse range of groups and activities have received funding from this scheme which have delivered real benefits for thousands of local residents.
We look forward to seeing the contribution this year’s projects will make towards creating a vibrant and sustainable neighbourhood at Elephant and Castle that new and existing residents can enjoy.”