London Bridge based businesses range from huge global professional services to start-up creative agencies, but one thing they have in common is their desire to connect to and invest in the local community.  

Coordinated by the Team London Bridge Business Improvement District (BID), local businesses have invested more than £430,000 in charities and community groups over the past 10 years. In this latest round of investment, 10 organisations have been pledged money via grants from the Building Communities Fund.

This is financed by the Team London Bridge BID levy which means the whole business community in London Bridge is contributing. Building Communities grants are issued annually and are dedicated to supporting local events, youth projects, residents’ activities, general community programmes and more.

Most projects are delivered within two miles of the BID, mainly in the SE1, SE16, or SE17 postcodes. The beneficiaries can belong to any age groups, but funded projects must utilise and promote sustainable community places.

Team London Bridge received 28 applications for the 2019-2020 Fund. The standard was extremely high, making it a challenge for the business-led Task Group to narrow it down to 10 successful projects.

The chosen projects included providing social, Capoeira classes aimed at enhancing the well-being of carers in north Southwark, drama-based workshops helping children make the transition to secondary school, empowering young people through judo, day care services for older residents, and helping people grow and prepare their own fruit and vegetables in Rotherhithe. All of which will be delivered within the next 12 months. To see the full list of all 10 grantees please click here. 

Brenda Wade, Stones End Day Centre, Age UK said, ‘Through the project our older people have felt more empowered having received a tailored service. This project allows members to further retain their dignity and maintain positive self-esteem.’

Had the available Fund been larger, the Task Group would have had no trouble approving more initiatives as many of the unsuccessful applications represented equally exciting and productive projects.   

Building Communities is one of three grant funding streams from Team London Bridge. They are part of a wider Responsible Business programme managed by the BID that allows London Bridge businesses to buy into coordinated, locally focused CSR initiatives which aim to promote a north Southwark community that is more positively engaged, supported and connected.