Lewisham Council announces £2.5 million NCIL funding boost for 82 community projects
Projects were chosen through a community consultation and review process. From July to September 2024, residents voted and gave feedback on proposed projects. Over 1,900 people participated, casting nearly 12,000 votes. The final selection considered community needs, alignment with council priorities, impact on vulnerable groups, and value for money. The borough-wide NCIL pot was oversubscribed with 93 applications received for £5,679,335 against available funding of £621,732.
This funding will be spread across the borough, helping a wide range of community organisations and residents. This round of funding builds on the success of the last round which supported recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
This funding comes from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) which the Council charges on new developments in Lewisham. Neighbourhood CIL (NCIL) is used to invest in community projects in the local areas, helping to address the impact of new developments on local residents.
Community groups that will be funded by the ward-based NCIL fund include:
Greening Evelyn
This project aims to create a climate-resilient, play area in Evelyn Ward, enhancing accessibility and promoting biodiversity through landscape improvements, planting, and play features.
Lewisham Changemakers
A training program and network that equips local people to bring their ideas for positive social change to life, supporting social entrepreneurs and strengthening the local economy.
The Parent Empowerment Project
Designed to support and empower parents and carers, particularly from Black communities, to advocate for their children's education and well-being, reducing school exclusions and improving educational outcomes.
Spontaneous Productions’ Refugee and Migrant Writing and Performance Project
A project that invites refugees and migrants to share their stories through writing and performance workshops, fostering community cohesion and celebrating diversity.
Lewisham Sight Support Service by BlindAid
Providing practical and emotional support to blind and visually impaired residents, reducing isolation, building confidence, and empowering independence.
A full list of the 82 projects receiving NCIL ward funding can be found here.
Cllr Sakina Sheikh, Cabinet Member for Communities, Refugees, Safer Lewisham and Equalities said:
“It’s really exciting to be announcing funding for so many fantastic local projects that will see long term benefits for our Lewisham communities. This NCIL funding will empower our residents to shape their communities and make long-term improvements to their local facilities. We hope the projects funded can enhance the quality of life for residents and enable civic pride in our environment.
NICL finding ensures that new developments have a positive impact on the surrounding community by addressing infrastructure needs and community priorities. It was fantastic to see nearly 12,000 indicative votes cast for various projects during the consultation period last year. It demonstrates
Lewisham residents have actively engaged in shaping this programme and I’m sure we’ll all looking forward to seeing the benefits in our communities soon.
Hear from our round one recipients about the impact of NCIL funding on their organisations and the communities they support.
Simone Riddle, Food Justice Programme Manager at Lewisham Local said:
“NCIL funding was vital in helping us sustain and grow Lewisham Local’s project, FoodCycle Lewisham, while providing a valuable platform to further develop the programme and strengthen our work with other local food groups. The funding helped us to open our doors every Saturday at Lewisham Irish Community Centre (LICC) for a three-course lunch, welcoming up to 80 people every week, providing 8,195 community meals, and saving more than 12,474 KG in surplus food destined for landfill over the two year project.
In a survey of our service users, we found that three quarters feel more like a part of the community by attending the meals, while more than eight in ten said it made a meaningful difference towards paying their bills and having an extra meal each week.
Since receiving this funding, we have been able to pilot opening a second midweek meal. After the success of this pilot, we plan to sustain this moving forward, working more closely with our partner LICC to provide the advice and support our guests need. We wouldn’t have had scope to develop a second meal had we not secured NCIL funding to support our Saturday meal.”
Winnie Carlson, Programme Manager at Ageing Well in Lewisham said:
“NCIL funding allowed the continuation of our three weekly groups for older people. Our regular attendance numbers doubled, and participant surveys show increased well-being across the board. We’ve also been able to connect with more people of all ages in the community through different projects, performances and collaborations.
Over the past two years, people have formed new friendships in our groups. This is great as it means that our groups are a springboard for older people to establish new social outlets. We also have really enjoyed pursuing collaborative work with other local organisations, projects and schools. Working with other groups roots us more in the local community as an organisation and gives our participants a greater sense of belonging in the community.”