Volunteers in the Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park are among the groups who will benefit from a £1.9 million community fund set up by the peninsula’s main developer, Knight Dragon.

An initial £100,000 will be shared by seven groups who demonstrated that their projects had a social, economic, and environmental impact already as well as a long-term plan to continue to support the local community.

The ecology park will involve residents from the peninsula in gardening projects across the area, where Knight Dragon is building more than 17,000 new homes.

The fund was launched last June and 47 applications were received. The winners, who get at least £10,000, were:

  • The Ahoy Centre in Deptford, a charity that helps young people through sailing and rowing, will work with children from three local schools
  • Breadwinners, which works with refugees and asylum seekers to tackle issues with unemployment and wellbeing, including selling bread at a market stall in Peninsula Square
  • London Gypsies and Travellers, which will use the money to support  Irish Traveller families on the peninsula to improve their health and wellbeing.
  • Motivez CIC, which helps 14 to 25-year-olds access training and employment in in science, technology, engineering and maths. The money will go to a project to involve teenagers in finding solutions to local pollution issues.
  • MumsAid, based in Blackheath, will deliver a programme to help expectant and new mothers in the peninsula 
  • Queercircle, which has a gallery in the Design District, will use the money for a welcoming community space & access to LGBTQ+ arts and culture, including a library, reading room and education programme

The judging panel included Adel Khaireh, Greenwich Council’s cabinet member for communities, Rev Jane Petrie from Holy Trinity Church and representatives from Knight Dragon, the housing association L&Q and the Greater London Authority.

Khaireh said: “I feel incredibly proud to have been part of the panel for the Greenwich Peninsula Community Fund and to hear from all the inspiring applicants to understand the vital and impactful work they do to make our community a better place. I am confident that with the finalists we have chosen, we are going to see positive change across Greenwich Peninsula and the money being awarded is going to help some of our most vulnerable communities and individuals.”

Steve Yewman, the chief of staff at Knight Dragon, said: “We had 47 fantastic applications and as a panel our common goal was to identify projects that will have the highest social impact and support those who are most vulnerable in the community. We are very much looking forward to seeing these projects come to life over the next few months.”