£266,000 awarded to local Edmonton projects from Meridian Water’s Community Chest

Enfield Council has celebrated the latest round of Community Chest funding, bringing together community groups, partners and residents to recognise the 34 local projects being supported by the Meridian Water project.

The Community Chest puts money directly into the hands of local people. This funding will support projects that create opportunities, improve wellbeing and help people build skills and confidence close to home.

This round of the Community Chest includes support for:

• London DJ & MC Academy CIC – helping young people build confidence and positive futures through music.
• No1 Fitness Education Academy CIC – running knife crime prevention sessions and healthy lifestyle activities.
• Career Quest – helping residents gain skills and find work.
• 1159 (Edmonton) Squadron RAF Air Cadets – supporting youth and cadet activities.
• MHA Communities and Expressions Through Art – running creative and wellbeing workshops.
• Middlesex Association for the Blind – providing inclusive support projects.

Together, these projects will support hundreds of people in Edmonton. They will offer practical help, creative activities and safe spaces where people can learn and socialise.

The event also launched Enfield Council’s new social value policy. This policy explains how the Council will use its spending and decisions to bring the greatest benefit to local people. The Community Chest is a strong example of social value in action.

The Leader of Enfield Council, Cllr Ergin Erbil, attended the event and congratulated the successful groups before launching the new social value policy. He said:

“I’m proud of all our community and voluntary groups in Edmonton. I’m proud that we are able to support them. Our Meridian Water Community Chest is here to support people in and around Edmonton and make sure local people benefit from investment in the area.

“Our new social value policy means we can do even more with the money we receive from big projects like Meridian Water. Whether that’s creating jobs, providing free and low cost courses to young people, funding local community groups and protecting our environment. We want to build strong communities, support good jobs, and achieve a cleaner greener Edmonton. Funding like the Community Chest is vital because it helps local people and local ideas directly. These projects show how local groups can make a real and lasting difference and create social value for residents.”

Support from Meridian Water’s partners, including Vistry, has been important in keeping the Community Chest running. Their support, along with the Council’s, helps local groups get the funding they need to deliver projects that strengthen the community.

Dan King, Executive Chair, Vistry London Division, said: “We are delighted to support Enfield Council and these fantastic projects which will make such a positive impact to the local community. We take great pride in our ongoing partnership with the Council as we continue to deliver much needed affordable homes at Meridian Water whilst providing new employment opportunities and supporting investment into community led initiatives.”

Residents can look out for activities in their area and get involved where opportunities are open to the community.

For more information about the Community Chest, visit the Community Chest webpage.

The new social value policy is available on the Enfield Council website.