London Eye Community Chest 2024-5

South Bank and Waterloo Neighbours (SoWN) is absolutely delighted to have been 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 working in the Waterloo and South Bank area surrounding the London Eye. 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. The results have 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.

After an open application process between September and November 2024, a group of judges drawn from local councillors, the London Eye and individuals with experience of local needs, selected 13 diverse projects, which 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

Most projects either met or exceeded their objectives and were greatly valued by participants. Inevitably a few experienced issues along the way, and not all quite achieved the ambitious targets they had set. But this is only to be expected and does not reflect on the tremendous energy and commitment shown by the many individuals involved. The results have shown how even relatively small grants, between £1,000 and £8,000, can provide impetus for projects that have real impact. The full report on outcomes of this round of the Community Chest will be published shortly.

South Bank and Waterloo Neighbours would like particularly to thank Merlin Entertainments and the Borough of Lambeth for the funding, made possible through a S.106 agreement, that makes the Community Chest such a valuable resource for the local community. And we also thank the organisations and volunteers who seized the opportunity to make this a more resilient and engaged community. We look forward to consolidating the success of the programme through future rounds of the London Eye.