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North London Community Fund

The funding application period for 2024-25 is now open.

NLWA has established the North London Community Fund 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.

The fund will be 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. Round 1 is open now and up to £150,000 will be awarded to small and medium projects. Round 2 will open in 2024 and will award a further £100,000 to large projects. Full details for that round will be available here. 

How to apply for a small or medium award

Application Form: complete the online form found below when you select 'Apply now'. You will be able to save a draft as you complete it and come back, and you can download a PDF copy once you’ve submitted it. If you’re having trouble accessing the form or need support, please email us wastepreventionteam@nlwa.gov.uk.

Apply now

If you have any questions regarding the funding, or would like some guidance on how to complete the application form, please join us for one of our Q&A webinars:

The deadline for applications is 1pm on 15 December 2023.

To be eligible for funding, an organisation must be non-profit. The project must take place in at least one of the seven north London boroughs and help north London residents reduce waste. Organisations that have previously submitted funding requests and/or received support from NLWA’s North London Community Fund may also apply.

Previous recipients

The fund has previously been used for a wide range of waste prevention projects in north London and below are just some examples of that work in action:

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Our Yard at Clitterhouse Farm

Our Yard at Clitterhouse Farm, a Barnet-based social enterprise, were awarded funding to raise awareness about food waste and composting through their family-focused ‘Composting and Food Waste Reduction Pilot’ project.

 

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Fashion for Future

Fashion for Future, based in Hackney, were awarded funding to tackle textile waste by offering workshops around clothes mending and redesigning. Also to host clothes swap events aimed at the residents of north London.  

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Laburnum Boat Club

Laburnum Boat Club were awarded funding for their ‘Using It All Up’ project in Hackney. Through a range of activities they engaged with disadvantaged, disabled and vulnerable young people and their families, supporting food and textile waste prevention through education. 

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Camden New Town Community Festival

Camden New Town Community Festival used their award to support the 'Fix, Make and Mend Project’. In the festival ‘Green Corner’, they supported residents through Make ‘n’ Mend, Dr Bike, electronic and woodwork repairs, sustainable cleaning strategies, healthy meal planning and other activities to reduce waste in Camden. 

Image of quilting workstation, brightly coloured material and two people working

The Inconvenient Store CIC

The Inconvenient Store CIC, developed an ‘E11 Circular Hub’, in Waltham Forest. This is a “doing” centre, a space where intentions meet and where community members learn ways to rethink, reduce and refuse waste through a series of workshops and events.

Image of seven people standing behind food trays on a table smiling at the camera

Bowes Park Community Association

Bowes Park Community Association took their flourishing Bounds Green Food Bank (BGFB) a step further and formed the BGFB Eco Project which built on existing recycling and reuse strategies. Their work is helping to support their vision to make the food bank zero-waste, plastic-free and a place that generates compost. 

Image of three people in community garden bending and looking at composting bins

Octopus Community Network

Octopus Community Network formed three neighbourhood-based food-waste ‘Compost Hubs’ on Islington estates. Each site was people-powered, community-centred and supported by an ‘Urban Soil Farmer’.

Image of a person sanding chair legs inside woodwork studio

Artist Hive Studios CIC

Artist Hive Studios CIC based in Upper Edmonton offered a ‘Repair, Restore, Reuse’ workshop programme to benefit communities in Enfield. Their project taught local residents the fundamentals of sustainable design to tackle waste.

Image of four people standing inside shop surrounded by paint tins, smiling at the camera

Forest Recycling Project

Forest Recycling Project, invested their award in growing their reuse offer and tackling paint waste. Their project has raised the profile of the benefits of saving paint from disposal, and making it available to north London residents. 

 

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Our Home Our Planet CIC

Our Home Our Planet CIC delivered ‘Eco Show and Tell Community Events’ across Barnet. These were run for the benefit of community groups and activists to showcase the sustainability work taking place locally. 

Image of two people working on a woodwork project outside

Garden of Earthly Delights

Garden of Earthly Delights, based in Hackney, delivered the ‘Woodshop of Recycled Delights’, a series of woodworking sessions aiming to upskill local people and turn ‘would-be’ waste into garden furniture. 

Image of person standing, smiling at the camera, folding reusable nappy

Nappy Ever After

Nappy Ever After, operating in Camden, Hackney and Islington, expanded their nappy laundry service through the renewal of their e-cargo bike. They were able to increase their stock and raise awareness of their service, thereby supporting reusable nappy use in north London.

Image of four people working inside computer repair workshop, one person standing smiling at camera

Mer-IT

Mer-IT offered a free professional repair service for beneficiaries of community centres and north London residents. The service was student-run, meaning it did not only reduce waste but helped to skill up young people with employment skills.

Image of four people sitting at table talking and repairing electrical items

The Mill

The Mill, based in Waltham Forest, delivered ‘Forest Fixers’, a series of repair cafes teaching people how to fix their small broken appliances and devices. Not only diverting things from going to waste but also upskilling café guests in how to repair and maintain their items. 

Image of three people standing inside holding computer hardware, smiling at camera

2econd Chance

2econd Chance ran a personal device donation and repair scheme to reduce electrical and electronic waste in Barnet. Young adults not in employment, education or training were also supported through this project to learn repair and refurbishing skills. 

 

Image of a someone standing inside gazebo wearing Camden Fixing Factory apron, smiling at camera

Possible

Possible, delivered their ‘Five Weeks of Fixing’ to seed community repair clubs. This project aimed to galvanise, energise and expand community repair of portable electrical and electronic appliances in north London. 

 

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Published date
11 October 2023

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