Funding opportunity: host the Royal Docks Conversation for local people to inform the area's future

Regeneration news

Funding opportunity: host the Royal Docks Conversation for local people to inform the area's future

The Royal Docks summer festival Join the Docks is about to launch with hundreds of events and activities planned, including live performances, music stages and art installations.

As part of the festival, the Royal Docks Team, a joint initiative between the Mayor of London and Mayor of Newham, will be holding a series of pop-up consultation events across the area, talking to people in parks, public spaces, and wherever they are.

The team will be gathering local people’s views and ideas for the future of the Royal Docks to help inform several important plans that will guide the area’s redevelopment, including the Royal Docks and Beckton Opportunity Area Planning Framework.

To ensure we hear a good cross-section of local voices, particularly those who are seldom heard in consultation processes, small grants of up to £2000 are being offered to local grassroots organisations and individuals who have good reach into the community.

The grants can be used to fund activities that inspire and encourage as many residents as possible to get involved in the future of the Royal Docks.

A wide range of activities will be supported from more formal exercises such as facilitated workshops and focus groups to more informal, creative methods such as a community picnic, vox pops or photography competition, and so on.

This is the start of a long-term process of engagement with local people. The Royal Docks is at the beginning of exciting change and regeneration and there will be a wide range of opportunities for people to get involved in the months and years ahead.

Through this fund, however, the team want to start a community conversation about initial plans for the area with local projects that can be delivered throughout August and September prioritised for funding. After the summer, we will bring all the views and ideas together and hold four area workshops to share findings and draft strategies.

You may have an existing event or project that you can tailor, to help us ensure local people’s voices are heard.

Who can apply?

Applications are open to individuals or groups who are based within the Royal Docks OAPF area and who can deliver their activities between August and September 2019.

Find out more

Information about the funding opportunity is available in our guidance notes. This explains what the funding is for, who can apply, and what activities we will support. We are also producing some consultation tools that can be used to help engage local people.

If you are interested please complete our application form and return to us by Monday 22nd July 2019. If you have any queries please contact the team.

Good luck with your application!