Almost £400,000 will be handed out to twelve projects in the second round of a council-led community fund

Hearts and Helpers were a previous recipient of the fund (credit Enfield Council)

Twelve community projects from around the borough will benefit from nearly £400,000 in funding from Enfield Council this year to help “transform communities”.

The funding was confirmed following the second round of bids for money from Enfield Neighbourhood Fund, which backs projects that address the issues of poverty and inequality in the borough.

Project bids were assessed by a set of criteria including how the programmes would work to reduce deprivation, improve the environment or widen access to opportunities such as jobs, training and local services.

The twelve winning community bids include sports, education, computing, volunteering and skills development projects. The successful bids are:

Community Aid – women’s health, activities and workshops for the over 50s;
Conway Tennis Club – resurfacing of courts, new lighting. There will be wider access to community groups;
Cockfosters Cricket Club – refurbishment of the cricket practice facility. They aim to encourage new, young members through working with local primary and secondary schools and to excluded, deprived families;
Everybody Loves Music – education, training and employment for 16 to 30-year-olds in music and youth work;
London Cycling Club – bike library and refurbishment of the kitchen at Pymmes Park Visitors’ Centre to create a community hub for families that would otherwise be excluded due to financial challenges;
Stitch! Crafts and Classes – expansion of the crafting and sewing community hub to reduce isolation;
Phoenix Family Services – to fund a co-ordinator and sessional workers for the food pantry. The project will include access to quality food and free bilingual advice and advocacy services;
Ruth Winston Centre – to upgrade computer equipment for training for the over-50s;
Southgate Ataturk School – a Turkish school based at Southgate School, providing Turkish language training as well as cultural arts/performance classes and supporting young people in prevention of crime and anti-social behaviour;
Swim Enfield – to redevelop under-used space at Arnos Pool, to provide wheelchair access and a space to train swimming teachers, upskill coaches and provide fitness sessions to the community;
St Mary Magdalene Church – restoration and refurbishment to the church hall including kitchen and toilets used by the nursery school. Additionally providing a space for outreach work with vulnerable people;
Samafal Association – bilingual employment and skills outreach worker to reach residents living in temporary accommodation and prevention of young people who could be targeted by gangs.

In 2021, the first round of Enfield Neighbourhood Fund benefitted eight community projects with £349,548 in total funding. Council leader Nesil Caliskan, said: “These winning bids demonstrate how Enfield Council can support voluntary and community sector groups to help build strong, healthy and safe communities and to help children and young people to thrive.

“I would like to congratulate the winning programmes and I look forward to seeing their projects come to life and for residents to see the benefits in their local areas.”

The money for Enfield Neighbourhood Fund comes from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) which is a levy on new developments that is used to support and deliver infrastructure to the benefit of local communities and neighbourhoods.

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