Community Chest awards £29,000 of funding to local projects

A sensory library project, knife crime drama and homework support workshops for parents are some of the first projects to receive a grant from our 2021 Community Chest.

Phoenix's award-winning Community Chest offers up to £100,000 of grants each year to projects that will improve people's lives in our areas of Bellingham, Whitefoot and Downham.

We're pleased to announce that eleven projects have been awarded small grant funding. 

These are:

Ambient Jam - £2,500

The project will create a sensory library experience for teenagers living with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD). Over eight weeks, the project will offer weekly creative sessions which provide sensory interpretation of a book (or books) chosen by the teenagers. The project will support teenagers transitioning from secondary school and formal education to develop creative and social connections with each other and their local community.

Bellingham Bats - £2,470

Bringing local children and families from different backgrounds, together through Cricket. Providing weekly sport and exercise sessions to enhance their physical and mental health. Training take place at Conisborough College during the winter and Forster Memorial park during the summer.

Bellingham Dances - £2,500

The project will support young people to engage in weekly high-quality dance sessions, improving their health and wellbeing, building friendships, reducing isolation and increasing long-term engagement and achievement.

Block Business - £2,500

The project will work with young people who are involved in, or at risk of youth violence and crime, to encourage entrepreneurship among the community. It will enable them to learn how to write and execute business plans in the hope of starting their own businesses.

Farmstead Road Community Garden - £2,500

Providing free, accessible family activities and nature kits in our garden. We’ll focus on art and crafts, bread and pizza making with fresh herbs and vegetables, and seed swapping and gardening activities.

Kids Kitchen - £2,497

Encouraging healthy eating and reducing social isolation through friendly cooking classes for parents, carers and children. Teaching simple, low cost, healthy recipes and providing ingredients and recipe bags.

Mary’s Creative Crochet - £2,492

Bringing together older women and people from BAME backgrounds through creative crochet and other hand craft sessions. Encouraging participants to consider careers or small business ventures in craft-based activities.

Parent Partnerships - £2,500

Workshops and after school clubs for parents and children to improve parent’s confidence in their ability to support their children with homework. The project will help parents to develop their understanding of key vocabulary in the National Curriculum.

Recover Rebuild Restart - £2,500

The project will focus on enabling recovery from domestic abuse and/or sexual abuse that the participants experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic; this will increase confidence for individuals and the local communities that they live in. This will allow people to recover, rebuild and restart their lives.

SAFE Theatre - £2,500

The project will take an original drama about the impact of knife crime and gang culture on children and young people into schools, youth centres and other venues. The project aims to provide a positive message about life choices through participatory drama activities, inspire children to consider a career in the performing arts industry and encourage children to value their own and others’ lives.

WellBeIn 4 Girls - £1,600

This project will give free access to personal hygiene products, wellbeing information, advice and support for young women and girls who are living on the poverty line.

Larger grants of up to £20,000 each will be awarded by a tenant vote, and the panel has shortlisted ten projects. You can find out more and how to vote, here. Voting will close at midnight on Thursday 13 May.

All of these projects will work to improve wellbeing, strengthen the community and enhance prospects for our residents and the broader community living in south Lewisham.

Since Phoenix Community Housing established its Community Chest in 2013, £800,000 of funding has been awarded to 81 projects, benefitting more than 21,000 people.