Finchley Road’s O2 Centre is continuing to invest in the community and support local people as it opens its applications for grants for local not-for-profit organisations.
The Landsec Futures Community Grant Scheme provides funding with grants between £1,000 and £3,000 to support local voluntary groups and not-for-profit organisations in the community which are already creating value in the places they know best.
To be eligible, applicants must be a registered charity or not-for-profit organisation with a charitable purpose that benefits the community in the region of North West London. A shortlist will be created by the Charities Aid Foundation and reviewed by community grants panels built from local community members to determine successful projects that will have the greatest impact in the area.
The O2 Centre has already awarded a total of £8,000 in grants to local community groups through the three previous funding rounds, empowering the local area to make future-forward decisions. To date, grants have been awarded to food support groups and community play projects.
The grants initiative is part of a national commitment Landsec is making to maximise the potential of people, places, and the communities it works with through a £20m social impact investment. Combined, Landsec Futures will deliver £200 million worth of social value by 2030 and support at least 30,000 people from underrepresented socio-economic backgrounds towards long-term employment. The O2 Centre has created more than £400,000 in social value since 2019 for the local community and supported 60 local residents through education and employment programmes.
Rebecca Ruddle, Centre Director of Landsec-owned O2 Centre, commented: “Retail has always been at the centre of communities, with shopping destinations acting as hubs that bring local people together while creating important value for local economies.
“As part of our long-term investment locally, our community grants programme ensures we can continue to support organisations that know their places best to effectively address the most pressing social and economic challenges our communities face.”
Applications are open for the Landsec Futures Community Grant scheme until February 19, 2024, at 5.30pm with grants anticipated to be made by the end of April 2024. To apply and for more details, visit www.landsec.com/futures under the Community Grants tab.
