London City Airport has announced the successful applicants to its latest round of 2022 grants from the airport’s £75,000 Community Fund.
In total, £35,683 of funding has been awarded to 13 local groups and community organisations, covering seven East London boroughs, including Newham, Hackney, Lewisham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Barking & Dagenham. Each successful applicant will receive grants of up to £3,000 to enable important and positive change in their local communities.
Successful grantees that have secured funding in this latest round include Breaking Barriers, which is working with refugees across East London boroughs, supporting them back into employment through training and development. Also securing funding was Bags of Taste, which is based in Hackney and work with people from marginalised communities to enable them to purchase and cook healthy meals on a budget.
“At Breaking Barriers we’re so grateful to London City Airport’s Community Fund for awarding us this grant,” said Matt Powell, CEO Breaking Barriers. “This is an incredibly challenging time for refugee communities. Thanks to this grant, we will be able to reimburse the travel expenses for our clients travelling to access our support in person this year. Thank you so much from the whole Breaking Barriers community.”
Since launching in 2019, London City Airport’s Community Fund has awarded grants totalling more than £270,000 to 85+ local charities and not-for-profit organisations.
Another recipient was Teen Action in Hackney, which is working to improve the lives of disadvantaged young women and help them reach their potential. The organisation’s Director Ellie Phirer said: “Teen Action is delighted to receive a £3,000 grant from the London City Airport Community Fund towards our employment entry ‘Get a Job’ programme, which will support marginalised young women during this transitional period and on their journeys to employment.”
Inspire EBP, which will run a specialist employability programme for students with Special Educational and Mental Health Needs (SEMH) at Belmont Park School in Waltham Forest, welcomed its award. Business Development Officer Olivia Fuller commented: “The donation from the London City Airport Community Fund will allow us to run a specialist employability programme for a group of 10, year 11 students with Special Educational and Mental Health Needs. Our highly tailored three-part programme will raise the pupils’ aspirations and create pathways into employment by preparing them for work experience, offering supported work placements in local businesses and a comprehensive follow-up. There has never been a more important time for increased careers support and we cannot thank the London City Airport Community Fund enough for helping us to do so, with some of London’s most vulnerable young people.”
