What is the North London Community Fund?
As set out in our Waste Prevention Plan, North London Waste Authority established the North London Community Fund (NLCF) to support waste prevention initiatives in the north London area. This fund provides community-based (non-profit-making) organisations running waste prevention projects the opportunity to apply for grants of up to a total value of £250,000. Along with the funding, we offer communications support and guidance from our officers throughout the delivery of projects.
The funding on offer is split into two stages providing small, medium, and large sized awards to community organisations across the seven north London boroughs: Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, and Waltham Forest. The small and medium awards provide grants up to a total value of £150,000 and the large awards provide grants up to a total value of £200,000.
Small and medium awards
The small and medium awards are for projects which will deliver over the course of one year.
Small awards are for projects up to the value of £5,000.
Medium awards are projects which are more than £5,000 and up to the value of £15,000.
The next round of funding for the small and medium awards is opening in November 2024. Please go to our How to apply webpage where you will find a link to the online application form, FAQs and guidance documentation.
Large awards
The large awards are for projects which will deliver over the course of two years with a maximum of two organisations receiving funding.
Applications for the 24/26 large awards have now closed and we will be announcing the recipients in late autumn.
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What do our recipients say?
Abbey Community Centre is a current recipient of the NLCF. The centre is based in Camden and offers a variety of community based activities.
Through the Fund, Abbey Community Centre is delivering art classes for local residents. The classes have been well-attended and become a hugely important part of the attendees' weeks.
The focus of the classes is on repurposing unwanted materials to make crafts or objects. Participants use household waste such as plastic and cardboard to create beautiful items for in or outside the home.
Barbara, who attends the sessions every week, says: "being able to reuse the plastic is great, otherwise we have to throw things away."
Thanks to NLWA funding, the Recycle-Art sessions have been possible - they have become a very popular activity in Abbey Community Centre's timetable.
Bryony, Abbey Community Centre's Publicity and Fundraising Coordinator, has enjoyed working with NLWA. She said: "they are passionate about what they do, creating opportunities for organisations to learn from each other and explore new ideas around environmentally friendly projects."