The Crick's Community Chest scheme supports and funds community-led projects that improve wellbeing in the local area. Three organisations are selected to receive funding every May/June and November/December. Find out more about the projects we have funded in this round!

Following a call-out for members of the Crick community to join our Community Chest panel, the panel have now selected three local projects to receive valuable funding.

I have had an overwhelmingly positive experience being part of the Community Chest panel. The Crick’s work on developing and supporting local community projects and actions is not always championed, and it should be! I discovered many great local projects and ideas submitted with the aim to improve the health, opportunities, experiences and development of our Somers Town neighbours. The only hard part was identifying which needed the funding the most at the time of application.

Mairead Reynolds, Finance Systems Lead

Find out more about our chosen initiatives ...

The bike project

This project aims to teach deprived young people about cycle maintenance, cycle provision and cycle safety. They provide individuals with apprenticeships and accreditation, encourage a healthy lifestyle and promote wellbeing through cycling within the community.

The Bike Project responds directly to the socio-economic challenges prevalent in the Somers Town area. With high levels of deprivation, unemployment, and involvement in crime among young adults, providing skill-building opportunities in bicycle maintenance and upcycling presents a vital pathway towards employment and financial stability. This intervention is essential in breaking the cycle of poverty and providing an alternative to vulnerable individuals who might otherwise face limited prospects.  

Moreover, the project tackles pressing environmental concerns by promoting a cycling culture. In an area heavily affected by air pollution, the adoption of cycling as a mode of transport reduces emissions, contributing to a healthier and greener neighbourhood.  

By providing free bicycles, market stall training and entrepreneurial support, the project empowers individuals to forge their own paths, promoting self-sufficiency and community cohesion. 

Plot 10 - community play project

Plot 10 aims to provide a safe and enriching environment for children to grow and learn. They believe that by providing positive role models and creating opportunities for young people to improve and develop, we can make a positive impact on our local community. Staff support children's emotional wellbeing by providing a source of encouragement, making them feel safe and creating activities that provide a sense of achievement.

This club aims to reach young girls at the transitional age of 9-14. It sits somewhere between a play centre and a youth club, representing a group of young people who are not ready for the all the freedoms that a youth club has to offer, but some of its independence and opportunities. The project provides informal learning and mentoring, whilst facilitating fun and enjoyment. They aim to empower girls and improve self-esteem through a range of activities, including talks on safe community, body development, sexual health, drug and alcohol awareness, healthy-eating and cooking, first aid training, yoga, football, basketball, tennis, ice skating, rock climbing, karaoke nights, street dance, drumming, didgeridoo lessons, radio station tours, conflict resolution training, scavenger hunts, drama workshops, theatre trips and more.

A space for us - A centenary that includes all

This community museum was setup by local residents to play a part in the sustainable development of London and to reduce inequality in Somers Town. They do so by celebrating and preserving local working class heritage, and aim to benefit the local community through work experience and educational activities.

2024 marks the centenary of the St Pancras Housing Association, which sits at the heart of a large social housing area. This funding will enable them to engage local communities and connect people to the places where the housing began. Their activities will include an exhibition, guided walks throughout the summer, educational workshops, an outdoor community party at the Story Garden, continued weekly cultural Group of Women of Bangladeshi heritage (who have been working on folk tales in relation to local heritage), a theatrical workshop to raise the social housing conservation issue, and more.

(Posted on Cricknet by Amina Begum)