2024/2025 Community Chest Projects

SoWN was delighted to be given the opportunity to re-launch the London Eye Community Chest Grants Programme. Previously run very successfully from 2010 to 2017, this grants programme was reintroduced in 2024-5 to support the work of charities and community groups in the Waterloo and South Bank area. The focus is on projects that promote ‘Community resilience and capacity-building’. This focus was based on detailed research to understand the current social and economic situation in the area, assess the policy and funding environment, examine the experience of other community chest programmes, and make recommendations.

13 diverse projects were awarded grants in the last round, and were implemented during 2025. They were:

Gardening for All - Archbishop's Park Community Trust - £3,732
Half-Term and Family Fun - Bankside Open Spaces Trust - £7,580
Room for You - The Bridge at Waterloo - £5,000
Bright Inspires - Bright Centre - £6,102
Herbs, Flowers, Teas & Treats - Coin Street Neighbourhood Trust - £3,465
Jazz for All SE1 - Colombo Centre - £5,840
My Name is Mud - Futures Theatre - £5,539
Neighbours Day - Garden Museum - £1,176
Hot Meals for Homeless - London City Mission - £4,000
Youth Services - Oasis Centre - £6,150
Waterloo United - Waterloo Sports and Football Club - £5,000
Community Resilience for Local Refugees - Waterloo Community Counselling - £3,285
Oral History Project - Wellington Mills Residents Association - £3,000

More info

Most projects either met or exceeded their objectives and were greatly valued by participants. The full report on outcomes of this round of the Community Chest can be read here.

The results amply demonstrated the value of a fund focused on the needs of local communities and designed to develop the capacity of smaller community and voluntary organisations. Even relatively small grants, between £1,000 and £8,000, can provide impetus for projects that have real impact.

South Bank and Waterloo Neighbours is hugely grateful to Merlin Entertainments and the Borough of Lambeth for funding the Community Chest, made possible through the London Eye S.106 agreement.