Brent Cross Town’s Community Fund 2025 shortlist has been announced and it’s your turn to vote for your winning projects.

This is the seventh year of the Brent Cross Town Community Fund which for the second year-running is supporting projects that focus on education, employment and training in Barnet. This year, we’ve had more applications than ever before which were reviewed by an expert judging panel who have selected a shortlist of eight projects who can win grants between £4,000 to £10,000.

The eight shortlisted projects which you can vote for are:

RC Vision: Brent Cross Youth STEM & Careers Programme: This project helps increase STEM confidence, career awareness, and sense of belonging among young people through the use of Remote-Control Cars. They are now looking to support young people in the Brent Cross area and funding will go towards providing new equipment, staffing and marketing resources.

Clitterhouse Farm work experience and volunteering: Our Yard at Clitterhouse Farm is a local non-profit organisation looking to provide volunteering and work experience for young people, including those with SEN. Participants will gain hands-on experience in horticulture, sustainability, and café operations. Funding will also go towards improving the garden’s accessibility and training facilities.

Colindale Communities Trust: This group focuses on helping adults who want to return to work but lack confidence, qualifications, or up-to-date skills by providing two courses, Customer Service (Level 2) and Health & Care (Level 1). This will help participants gain the skills, experience, and qualifications to move into rewarding local jobs. Funding will cover tutors, learning materials, and support for placements.

Construction Youth Trust: This group will deliver a programme at Brent Cross Town called ‘Building Future Skills’ (BFS) to engage young people from underrepresented backgrounds studying local schools such as Clarion school. Over 3 days, young people will take part in a hands-on team activity, becoming immersed in-built environment sector. Funding will go towards programme costs as well as staff and training.

Scope: Scope is a Charity that supports disabled people get in, stay in and progress at work. This funding will help provide bespoke employment support (up to 26 weeks) to disabled people in Barnet through a Support to Work service. Scope will also support conversations with employers on disability and reasonable adjustments.

Artsdepot SEN Work Experience & Placements programme: This programme helps young people with learning disabilities access self-development opportunities that can significantly improve their life outcomes. By providing 10-week (1 day per week) work placements, young people can build confidence, communication skills, and experience of managing money, travelling and working independently. Funding will support careers coaches to facilitate the placements.

Launching Futures: This project helps young people prepare for employment through targeted coaching and real-world career experiences. They will work with Barnet and Southgate College and local providers help young people gain work experience at Brent Cross Town with roles in construction, hospitality and management. Funding will cover staff coaches, transport and project costs.

Hospitality Horizons: Skills Through Wellbeing: This project will help provide local residents with jobs at Brent Cross Town through facilitating workshops, providing accredited qualifications, and help participants progress into employment, apprenticeships, or further training. The project will also particularly increase the confidence and employability for those who are economically disadvantaged, from ethnic minority backgrounds, or facing other barriers.

You can vote for up to three projects which you think should be awarded a grant. Vote before Thursday 4 December here.

The Brent Cross Town Community Fund started in 2019 and has since supported 57 small charities, community organisations and individuals working to make a positive impact in the local area and has awarded £230,000 to local projects. Now with a successful history of local funding, it is estimated that over 15,000 people in the local community have directly benefited from the fund’s investment. See examples of previous projects that have benefited from Community Fund here.

More details on the Brent Cross Town Community Fund can be found here.