In June the team behind Brent Cross South, the 180-acre new town centre development north of Cricklewood, launched a £25,000 community fund to support local initiatives celebrating or improving the local area. It can now announce the first 10 projects to be funded via the pilot; they range from a scheme to build an exciting outdoor activity area for local children’s groups to the creation of a new ‘village green’ for a residential street, and a local history ‘memories’ project.
In all, the panel received 23 applications and were impressed by the imagination of the ideas and the obvious dedication the applicants have to supporting their communities and improving their environment. Entries were judged on their potential to bring a range of people of all ages together to build community networks, promote health and wellbeing, and to celebrate Brent Cross South as a community / neighbourhood.
Leader of Barnet Council, Councillor Dan Thomas, said: “I am pleased to see the BXS Community Fund supporting important local initiatives that will bring immediate benefits to residents. The new spaces, artworks and activities planned will celebrate the local community and bring these neighbourhoods closer together.”
Nick Searl, joint CEO of the developer Brent Cross South, said, “We are delighted the BXS Community Fund has been able to support a wide-range of local projects that will strengthen networks, promote wellbeing and celebrate community in the area.”
The fund, delivered by independent organisation Semble, offered grants of up to £3,000 for projects located in, and just outside, the wards of Golders Green, Childs Hill and West Hendon, neighbouring the Brent Cross South development. Its themes reflect the ambition for the new town centre, which is anticipated to begin construction early next year, to be an inclusive, people-first place which strives to be healthy and sustainable.
Its recipients and their projects are as follows:
Apache Kids Club – a Friday after-school kids club which provides craft and games activities for children aged between 6 and 14.
Brent Terrace Residents’ Association – the creation of a small village green area with new trees and facilities to hold community events.
North West Two Residents’ Association – a new mural in Cricklewood, designed by the community with a local artist to celebrate local history.
3rd Golders Green Scout Group – building a new outdoor activities area and installing a climbing wall for local children’s groups to access.
Memories Local History Group – the reviving of the group and the cataloguing and digitisation of two important local resident stories.
The Friends of Childs Hill Park – creating a sensory garden in the Park to revive the area, creating a colourful and welcoming space for all to enjoy.
Kisharon – designing and delivering a children’s play area at the back of Childs Hill Library.
The Warm Hearts Project – enabling the purchase of a new boiler for a community centre, making it useable by groups in the winter months.
Childs Hill Walk Art for the Community – matched funding for an artistic project that illustrates the best of Childs Hill, which will be showcased in the green walkway running from Cricklewood Lane to All Saints’ Church.
Golders Green Estate Residents’ Association – to plant flowers and hang solar lights in five neglected areas of the Estate to encourage better use of the shared space.
The majority of the projects are expected to be finished by Spring 2020.