Applications have now closed – thank you for everyone who has applied. 

Brent Cross South (BXS), the 180-acre new town centre development north of Cricklewood, is back with its Community Fund for a second year after a successful pilot in 2019. The BXS Community Fund has increased its pot to £30,000 to support local initiatives which aim to respond directly to the impact of COVID-19 in the community.

Offering grants of up to £3,000 per project, the BXS Community Fund opened for applications today (Monday 18 May 2020) and will select its grant recipients in week commencing 13 July 2020. The Fund is looking to support ideas from community groups located in the regeneration area and close by and is open to charities and residents.

Prioritising applications which respond to the effects of COVID-19 in the community, the Fund’s themes reflect the ambition for the new town centre to be an inclusive, people-first place which strives to be healthy and sustainable. It will support:

• Projects that build community networks
• Projects that promote personal wellbeing, and
• Projects that celebrate the varied communities around BXS

Nick Searl, joint CEO of Brent Cross South, said: “Ten great projects received grants from the Community Fund pilot last year, supporting a wide range of community activities from community murals to children’s play projects.  This year, in these exceptionally challenging times, we have increased the Fund to £30,000 to support projects which respond to the effects of COVID-19 in the community by strengthening networks, promoting wellbeing and by celebrating community in the area.”

The fund is being delivered by Semble, an independent organisation which will manage the grant process. Consultation agency Soundings will be supporting the process by running an online Question and Answer Workshop for applicants with Semble on Wednesday 3rd June 2020 from 6.30 to 7.30pm.

Councillor Daniel Thomas, Leader of Barnet Council, said: “The Community Fund is just one of the ways the Brent Cross Cricklewood development is already bringing benefits to the people that live in the area. Now more than ever we are focused on building safe, strong and united communities and I look forward to seeing the proposals put forward by local people for this latest round of funding.”

More information about the Community Fund and the Q&A Workshop can be found on the Brent Cross South website.