Community First Funding for Lewisham Central
For several years now Lewisham has enabled local people at the ward assemblies to choose how to support local organisations dealing with issues that are important locally. In 2011/12 Lewisham Central Assembly allocated a total of £44,250 to a wide range of projects including a summer play scheme on the Mercator estate, improvements to St. Swithun’s community hall, a club for older people, a heritage project in St. Mary’s churchyard, support for Hither Green Community Association, jointly with neighbouring wards funding the Youth Village based at the adventure playground on Ladywell Fields and producing a newsletter which was delivered to every home in the ward.
We are very pleased with the way our Locality Fund works and so were delighted when the Conservative/Lib Dem government decided to take a leaf out of our book. The Cabinet Office, as part of David Cameron’s Big Society, has decided to give Lewisham Central £33,910 over the next three years. The only pity is that the reason we were given the money was because our ward saw a steep rise in the number of people claiming job-seekers allowance! However, a panel has been set up to run the scheme. Jo Honeybone of Hither Green Community Association will chair it and other members are Jane Kustner from St. Swithuns, Bobby Mizen from the Jimmy Mizen Foundation at the Cafe of Good Hope and Cllr. Stella Jeffrey. They have held just one meeting so far but you should be hearing much more from them soon.
If you are part of a local organisation which may be eligible for funding, keep looking on the Hither Green Association website, as they are acting as our partner organisation in this and details will be coming out shortly about the agreed priorities and how to apply. Find them at ourhithergreen.com
Even though HGCA is hosting the Community First Panel, the funds are meant for the WHOLE of the ward – from Orchard Gardens in the north right down to the South Circular Road boundary.
