ECDC Launches its 2022 round of community fund grants worth £180,000

The Earls Court Development Company (ECDC) has today launched the Earls Court Community Fund (ECCF) 2022, to support local communities around the Earls Court site and surrounding areas of Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington & Chelsea.

The fund aims to make a difference to the lives of local people, offering resources to charities and community organisations that provide much-needed projects, services and activities.In the 2021 grants issue last summer, 35 applications were submitted to the ECCF. After careful consideration by an independent panel in October 2021, nineteen organisations were named the recipients of grants worth £180,000.Funding was allocated for a range of organisations including Dads House, Finsborough Theatre and the Earl’s Court Community Trust, to support and expand their programme of activities with local people.

Speaking about the fund, Rob Heasman, CEO of ECDC, said: “Last year’s round of funding saw nineteen fantastic organisations receive £180,000 to continue their important work to support our communities. One year on, I am pleased to see how the ECCF funding has helped these organisations to grow. Groups like Family Friends, who have expanded their programme of activities with the grants, are creating more diverse opportunities for residents and young people. We look forward to receiving this year’s round of applications and continuing to support the work of local businesses and organisations to improve the lives of our neighbours, friends, and residents.”

Mel Christodoulou, CEO of Family Friends, a recipient of the 2021 ECCF said: “With funding from the ECCF, we created the ‘Big Buddy’ initiative, where people aged between 18 – 30 mentor young people across Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington & Chelsea.Launched last year, Big Buddy has been a resounding success. 72 people are involved in the programme, and mentees are benefiting from the experience of our mentors, being taken on day and educational trips to improve their learning, mental health and pursue special interests from sports to music and many others.We are excited to broaden young people’s horizons through our work, allowing them to have fun and learn real-world skills.”Organisations can apply for a grant of up to £15,000 per year and to be eligible, applications must meet at least one of the three priority areas:

1. Communities and people: Projects that build a strong sense of community and provide opportunities to learn new things, meet new people and feel connected with their neighbours.
2. Health and wellbeing: Initiatives that support mental and physical wellbeing, enabling local people to build resilience and flourish, personally and professionally.
3. Young people and training: Projects that support young people through the integration of education, skills development and employability, making them better placed to access new, exciting opportunities.

To be eligible for the Fund, a group will need to be a formally constituted not-for-profit organisation either based in the Earl’s Court opportunity area, or directly benefit the lives of those who live, work or study there.

Applications to the Earls Court Community Fund are now open and will close on 30 May 2022. To submit an application, please click here.