Locals in south Lewisham, London have voted to award £100,000 of funding to projects that will make a difference in their community.
Phoenix Community Housing residents voted for their preferred projects, from a shortlist of ten schemes, to receive a share of the £100,000 Phoenix Community Chest at an event on 6th June.
Visitors at the event could meet representatives from the shortlisted projects to find out about their plans and how the money would be used.
Phoenix Community Housing – London’s first resident-owned social landlord – has offered Community Chest funding for three years now. A total of £500,000 is being awarded over five years for schemes that will have a positive impact on the lives of locals in south Lewisham.
The winning projects were:
Bellingham Community Project, £16,834
This is a year-long programme of community activities, including: an intergenerational art project between Sedgehill School and Bellingham Golden Oldies; free monthly play sessions for children with special needs; weekly meetings at the Bellingham Craft Club; and a summer sports and leisure camp for children aged 5-11.
Phoenix Families Together, £19,605
This project is designed for families to strengthen relationships, and build new skills and experiences. It includes summer camping and day trips, training in community conversation to develop skills and ideas, and after school activities.
Aquila Fitness Project, £14,494
Older residents or those on low-incomes can receive free fitness classes in Bellingham and Downham through this scheme. The hour-long classes will take place twice a week and run for a year.
Health & Summer Scheme for Teens (REAP Youth Centre), £11,920
Young people will learn about health and wellbeing during this project, which includes: sports coaching, trips, cooking classes, and accredited courses in personal budgeting, money management and business enterprise.
Phoenix Get Out, Go Wild, £15,608
In the summer and October half-term holidays, this programme will offer young people free outdoor adventures. During the summer, fifty young people will go on a five-day trip to Kent to develop personal and social skills. In October, thirty young people will have the opportunity to take part in a two-night residential programme.
Dumps Adventure Playground, £5,055
This six-week summer programme at the Dumps Adventure Playground will run for seven hours a day on weekdays. The project includes: day trips, creative art projects, team and group games, sports, and much more.
Jim Ripley, Phoenix Chief Executive, says: “To date, our residents have used their votes to award more than £200,000 of funding to support good causes and great projects in our area, which have benefitted more than 2,000 people in Lewisham.
“Phoenix is resident-owned and resident-led. The Community Chest is a brilliant example of how we use our residents’ expertise to make a difference in our community.
“It was fantastic to be joined by so many people on Saturday and to receive a record number of votes from our residents. We’re delighted to be able to fund so many fantastic projects that we know will have a long-lasting impact and benefit to our community and people living in south Lewisham.”1