Havering Together, a new borough-wide giving initiative, has secured a £250,000 grant from the City Bridge Foundation, London’s largest independent charity and owner of five Thames bridges. The programme aims to unlock funding, strengthen community collaboration, and support grassroots initiatives across Havering, an area historically underserved by external funding. Havering Council has strongly supported the project from its inception, while Barking and Dagenham Giving is providing practical start-up assistance.
The initiative will connect residents, businesses, and voluntary organisations, directing resources to communities most in need. Developed with guidance from London’s Giving, London Funders, and the GLA, Havering Together focuses on three priorities shaped by local insight: fostering community cohesion through volunteering and youth engagement, tackling loneliness via tailored activities and mentoring, and creating youth opportunities by partnering with local employers to enhance skills, employment pathways, and inclusive economic growth.
To support these goals, Havering Together will establish essential infrastructure, including a dedicated Director, office space, community engagement activities, and a participatory grantmaking model that empowers residents to help guide investment. Barking and Dagenham Giving will provide fiscal hosting and professional advice during the set-up phase, ensuring governance and financial stewardship.
In its first year, the programme will begin awarding micro-grants, building local fundraising, and hosting outreach events across priority wards. By its third year, Havering Together aims to run three full grant rounds annually, establish a thematic community fund, expand corporate social responsibility partnerships, and secure a sustainable long-term income base. The initiative will operate independently with its own legal entity and Board, ensuring transparency, community representation, and stability.
Councillor Gillian Ford, Deputy Leader of Havering Council, welcomed the funding as a vital boost for the borough’s communities, highlighting Havering’s historical underfunding and the opportunity to attract further support. Sacha Rose, Chief Funding Director at City Bridge Foundation, emphasized that the partnership represents a locally led, collaborative approach to unlock new investment, strengthen connections, and create a sustainable platform for community giving and long-term impact.
