Celebrating community

Celebrating community: 18 local groups awarded for 2025 Grant Fund

As part of its wider commitment to the local community, The Croydon Project celebrated the latest recipients of the Croydon Community Grant Fund – a programme operated in partnership with Croydon Voluntary Action. The programme continues to empower grassroots organisations across the borough, helping them deliver meaningful projects that bring people together, promote wellbeing and celebrate local creativity.

In 2025, the Fund distributed £14,500 to 18 local organisations, chosen from a record 70 applications (an 11% increase on 2024). Funding has been awarded to a diverse range of initiatives, from community gardens and carers’ cafés to youth sports and cultural projects – ensuring meaningful local impact alongside URW’s continued investment in Croydon’s town centre.

Among this year’s recipients was My Child Has a Speech Delay CIC, which ran five inclusive SENDsational events over the summer, creating joyful and supportive spaces for children with special educational needs and their families. More than 150 people attended the sessions, which parents described as “warm, welcoming and uplifting,” helping to strengthen connections and build a sense of community among families.

Also supported was Pamper, Indulge and Give, whose multicultural family cooking sessions encouraged hundreds of local children and parents to learn, cook and share meals together. The workshops celebrated Croydon’s rich diversity and helped families build confidence, learn new skills, and enjoy quality time with one another.

Now in its second phase, the Croydon Community Grant Fund has demonstrated the lasting value of locally led funding. All participating organisations reported greater capacity, new partnerships and an increased ability to sustain their work beyond the grant period.

With over 500 residents engaged in activities throughout the summer, and more than 20 new volunteers recruited across funded groups, the programme continues to strengthen the borough’s community fabric – helping ensure Croydon remains a place where creativity, inclusion and local pride can flourish.

The Croydon Project invites businesses to join this growing movement through donations and support – helping to expand the Fund’s reach, enrich community life and create even more

opportunities for groups and residents across the borough.