Walking sessions for local people and arts workshops for people with dementia are among great causes supported through the Elephant and Castle Community Fund.
The Elephant and Castle Community Fund has once again demonstrated its transformative impact, with its end-of-year report revealing a productive 2024. Through grants totalling £75,000, the fund supported eight local groups, benefiting 746 people across the Elephant and Castle community.
Funded by Southwark Council alongside equal contributions from sponsors Lendlease and Get Living, the initiative continues to enrich the lives of residents by fostering opportunities for personal growth, cultural celebration, and social connection. Projects supported by the fund range from arts initiatives to STEM skills training, helping people leverage their strengths while navigating the evolving character of the area.
The fund’s objectives focus on themes such as further education and skills, wellbeing, the environment, young people, and arts and culture. These priorities are designed to address community needs and empower residents with the tools to thrive in a changing landscape.
Councillor Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development, praised the initiative’s achievements: “It’s great to see the Elephant and Castle Community Fund continuing to make such a tangible impact, supporting the local community through programmes which are enriching the lives of residents.
“As Elephant and Castle continues to change and renew, this Fund is an important way of connecting the community with new opportunities, helping people learn new skills, grow in confidence, and build friendships. Whether it is through gardening, creative arts, English lessons or coding classes, the organisations supported through this Fund are doing incredible work and will have a lasting impact on the lives that they touch.”
One notable beneficiary of the fund is Silverfit, an organisation dedicated to promoting healthy and happy aging through exercise classes for older adults.
Eddie Brocklesby, CEO and founder of Silverfit, expressed gratitude for the fund’s support: “Silverfit is so grateful to the Elephant and Castle Community Fund for their generous support of Silverfit Nordic Walking sessions in Burgess Park, Yoga at the Elephant and Castle Community and Engagement Hub, and exciting new sessions in the pipeline for 2025.
“The organisations supported through this Fund are doing incredible work and will have a lasting impact on the lives that they touch.”
-Helen Dennis, Councillor
“This support is vital in promoting the well-being and health of our ageing population, and we couldn’t be more thankful.” Among the groups awarded in the latest round of grants, the Afghanistan and Central Asian Association received £9,400 to provide English language (ESOL) classes and careers advice to 70 newly arrived refugee women.
Additionally, Arts 4 Dementia was funded to deliver workshops for individuals with early-stage dementia and their carers, featuring activities such as journalling, ceramics, and textiles aimed at reducing isolation and fostering creativity.
Other projects funded this year addressed critical areas such as climate change education for children, STEM skills development, and community theatre, ensuring that the fund’s impact extends across diverse aspects of community life.
As the Elephant and Castle Community Fund continues to support meaningful initiatives, it remains a vital force in driving positive change and fostering a sense of belonging in the area.
