
Laura Spencer from Enfield Connections meets the latest winners of its grant funding programme
The latest round of ‘Community Chest’ grants have been issued by Enfield Connections to eight local projects, totalling £15,000.
Applicants could apply for grants supporting small projects that would benefit the local community and improve residents’ wellbeing.
Among the winners was Alison Buttery, from Boundary House Surgery, who will be using her grant to invest in early-cropping fruit and vegetables. She told me: “This project aims to improve the health of patients by reducing glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes, and improving weight in general for obese patients.
“I hope this project will gain support among all Enfield GP practices and they will then undertake similar projects in the future.”
Another was the British Alevi Federation, which will deliver four health and wellbeing sessions. Kishore Kanani, a volunteer with the charity, said: “Alevi, Turkish and Kurdish-speaking community members suffer silently when going through depression, anxiety, isolation, menopause and health crises, because they do not use mainstream services due to a lack of knowledge or support.
“Through this project we aim to increase their knowledge, enabling them to be better informed and supporting them to begin using mainstream services.”
Enfield Town FC Community Sports Development, which will offer physical activities to vulnerable adults and children, is also a Community Chest recipient. Director Ramadan Ismail said the organisation was “delighted to be recognised for funding” and that it would “assist us during the start-up and publicity period” before the newly-formed charity became established. It aims to become a local sporting hub.
It’s My Move is an interactive theatre and training programme which focuses on the transition of young people with learning difficulties from school to adult life. It provides crucial information and advice which young adults can use to make informed, independent decisions about their futures. The project is being run by Edmonton-based Face Front Theatre which will use the new funding to tour its theatre show across Enfield, with a company of professional performers and facilitators, starting in October. Artistic director Ray Downing said: “We are chuffed to receive this support as we know how hard it is to find funding in the current climate. We hope to show It’s My Move every year in Enfield schools and colleges.”
Forest Road Surgery was delighted to receive Community Chest funding, with Janice Downing explaining how the money will benefit their ‘Movement to Music’ class. She said: “Our class is a gentle exercise and movement-to-music session, aimed at helping patients recovering from strokes, operations, Parkinson’s disease etc.”
All these local initiatives will be able to strengthen their work in the community thanks to the funding from Enfield Connections. Programme manager Angela Greaves said: “We received such a diverse mix of applications this year, all aiming to improve wellbeing in Enfield. We’re lucky to have such a range of ideas, and so many passionate, willing people on board to help improve Enfield’s mental health and happiness.
“I’m excited to see how each project develops over the coming year, and how the borough will benefit.”
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