The Earls Court Development Company (ECDC) have today, Monday 11 October, announced nineteen local organisations from Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington & Chelsea are to receive grants from the £180,000 Earls Court Community Fund.
With the first round launched in the summer, the fund will support investment across the local community in music, theatre, training programmes, health & wellbeing, children and young people. Over 35 applications totalling requests of more than £450,000 were received and assessed by an independent panel, recruited through an open process and comprised of six members of the public and an ECDC representative
Applications came from a broad range of organisations working within the Earl’s Court area and went through a detailed review process to allocate funds. Some of the successful initiatives include cultural events, two performing arts organisations, children’s holiday activities and workshops that will enable people to explore and discover more about their local area, in addition to sporting activities and volunteering opportunities to support vulnerable families, and rough sleepers.
Speaking about the launch of the fund, Chief Executive of The Earls Court Development Company, Rob Heasman, said:
‘The Earls Court Development Company is a local business, it is right that we look to invest in the communities within which we work.. I am thrilled the Panel has chosen this amazing range of local charities and organisations. These exceptional groups play an important role in and around Earl’s Court, providing activities, support and classes for residents through sport, art and culture. We are pleased to see there was such a strong interest in our fund and look forward to working with these groups, as well as our partners, to deliver real difference to lives of our community.’
Since acquiring the Earls Court development site in 2019, ECDC has made a commitment to positively supporting their neighbours and contributing towards the community.
Throughout 2021, ECDC have already donated £260,000 to local charities and community groups, supporting numerous activities and initiatives to benefit local people. These include the Earls Court Youth Group, Dads House, and Solidarity Sports.
Working with Lowe Guardians ECDC have also created new short term homes for key workers and those on low incomes in formerly derelict buildings on Empress Place and the Seven Stars pub on North End road.
The nineteen organisations that successfully applied for grants for funding in 2021 are:
• Barons Court Project: A Day centre supporting vulnerable groups, rough sleepers and the homeless
• Community Education Forum: Grassroots organisation that provides social, educational and economic activities for young people and families
• Dadihiye Somali Development Organisation: A charity that supports BME communities with finance, health and education.
• Dads House: A charity supporting Dads and families including a foodbank, weekend lunch club, Buddy service and Community Food nights
• Earls’ Court Community Trust: A local group that seeks to celebrate art and culture in Earls Court, their project will celebrate the LGBT history of Earls Court
• Family Friends: Charity that supports disadvantaged families training young adults to become buddies in the local area
• Finborough Theatre: A local theatre, supported to reopen after covid and provide a volunteer placement scheme
• London Sports Trust: Charity support young people across London offering weekly sessions for 150 vulnerable young people during term time and the holidays.
• Open Age: Local youth club organising wide range of activities in the area
• Outside Edge Theatre Company: Supporting addiction through performance skills including pastoral care for recovery, education, employment and mental health support
• Response Community Projects: Local charity working to reduce social isolation
• Solidarity Sports: Local sports club providing for 120 children in February half-term
• St Andrew’s, Fulham Fields: Local church (Church of England) supporting a weekly youth club
• St Cuthbert’s Centre: Charity that supports homeless and vulnerable groups
• St Cuthbert with St Matthias CE School: Local primary school
• The Brunswick Club for Young People: Local sports club for young people and children, helping disadvantaged young people join a local sports team
• The Smile Brigade: Social enterprise initiative that offers hot cooked meals for vulnerable groups
• Urbanwise London: Voluntary organisation that holds in cultural programmes for residents
• 10th Fulham Scout Group: Scouts organisation that arranges outdoor activities for young people, supporting 16 young people to complete their Duke of Edinburgh award.
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