New round of cash in the kitty for Grenfell community projects

By Ben Lynch, Local Democracy Reporter

A £600,000 pot has been made available once again to back projects supporting the community affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

Kensington and Chelsea council’s Grenfell Projects Fund (GPF) was first launched in 2019, and to-date has supported almost 100 schemes across several rounds.

These include youth fitness training and mentoring, arts and crafts workshops and boxing lessons, according to the local authority.

This year, community providers and organisations can apply for a slice of the funding if they either already run or want to deliver a project meeting one of three themes: bringing the North Kensington community together, community-based ‘cultural enrichment’, or caring for the vulnerable.

The council said the GPF has been co-designed with the North Kensington Residents’ Panel, which has “worked to champion the community’s voice in the grant’s design as well as build on the previous GPFs to further long-term recovery”.

The deadline for applications is September 30, following which a shortlist will be drawn up by the Residents’ Panel. North Kensington residents will then be able to vote on the submissions put forward.

On Kensington and Chelsea’s website, the local authority writes the timeline has been designed to ‘allow space’ either side of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry report, due to be published on September 4. “We know that the publication of the Inquiry report is an important milestone for the bereaved, survivors and local residents and for all those who have fought, and continue to fight, for justice,” it adds.

Cllr Sarah Addenbrooke, lead member for communities, said: “I am extremely grateful to the North Kensington Residents’ Panel for their dedication and commitment in helping to shape this latest Grenfell Projects Fund. It is important that the North Kensington community leads its recovery and works closely with us so we can be sure to deliver what local residents and organisations want and need.

“I really hope that local community providers and organisations take advantage of this latest round of the Grenfell Projects Funded. It has previously funded some great projects that have really benefited the local community and I look forward to seeing future funded projects.”

A drop-in session is planned for August 19, 1.30-4pm, at Baseline Studios on Whitchurch Road. To apply or for further details of the GPF, visit: www.rbkc.gov.uk/grenfellprojectsfund

Pictured top: Grenfell Tower (Picture: Facundo Arrizabalaga/LDRS)