Brent Cross Town tackles local skills gap by awarding £50,000 Community Fund to local organisations

Brent Cross Town, the 180-acre mixed-use park town for London being delivered in partnership by Related Argent and Barnet Council, has today announced the recipients of its 2024 Community Fund which aims to support new and established initiatives that benefit the local community.

Five projects operating in the London Borough of Barnet have now received vital funding, with individual grant amounts ranging from £3,000 to £10,000. Brent Cross Town, in partnership with Barnet Council, has made available a total of £50,000 for 2024, matching the total for 2023.

For the first time, Barnet residents and the local community voted directly for all the winning recipients through an online poll managed by engagement and fundraising platform ActionFunder. Last year, the Fund gave the local community the opportunity to partially vote for their priority projects. The introduction of the new system increased voting by 40% this year, with almost 1,400 votes cast.

The 2024 Fund’s focus is on projects and initiatives that contribute to skills development, employment, and education outcomes. It recognises the significant skills gap that exists in London and across the UK and aligns with the Government’s priorities to bring together the fractured skills landscape and create a shared national ambition to boost skills country-wide.

Morwenna Hall, Executive Director and COO at Related Argent, said: "We take great pride in supporting and empowering our local communities at Brent Cross and we’re delighted to be able to allocate grants to five more organisations. As the new year begins, it is imperative that we recognise the significant skills gap that exists in London and across UK and take strides towards bridging the gap identified in our local communities first. We are looking forward to seeing the incredible impact that these organisations will have.”

Barnet Council Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure, Arts & Sports, and Cricklewood Ward Member, Councillor Anne Clarke, said: “I was delighted to join the judging panel for this year’s Brent Cross Town Community Fund. We received over 50 applications, so thank you to everyone who shared a proposal. The public have now voted for five brilliant projects that focus on delivering skills, employment and training. Thank you to everyone who voted and made a difference.”

The 5 projects that have been granted funding for 2025 are:

• Brighter Futures for Young People by Pro Touch: A youth unemployment project offering young people aged 16+ the opportunity to complete youth work and sport qualifications which will enable them to work in the industry. 12 individuals will be trained and qualified and will in turn support 60 local young people each through a community sports project and mentorship.
• The Arts Café by We Restart: The Art Café addresses the urgent need for skills development and employment readiness among asylum seekers residing in the Brent Cross area. These individuals face language barriers, social isolation, and lack of pathways into creative sectors, limiting their ability to integrate and find work. The Art Café bridges this gap through weekly workshops focused on Art, English, and British Culture. Participants gain practical skills, build confidence, and enhance employability, preparing them for future roles in creative industries while fostering community connection and cultural integration.
• Employment Support for People with Learning Disabilities and Autistic People by Barnet Mencap: A programme that offers training, coaching, mentoring and job support for those with autism and learning disabilities. The programme will assist clients into employment to provide a sense of purpose and achievement as well as supporting them financially.
• The Lab Records by Art Against Knives: Art Against Knives intervene early to prevent young people from becoming victims or perpetrators of violent crime by embedding creative spaces in London’s most isolated communities, co-designed with young people, that build on their strengths and create opportunity. The programme includes youth work, mentoring and employability support, tackling those at risk of exposure to gangs and criminality through interventions enabling employment.
• Sustainable Barnet by Motivezcic: Sustainable Barnet is a 3-month programme that targets young people that are disproportionately affected by pollution and climate change. A hackathon-style competition will take place to develop STEM-based solutions to mitigate local pollution issues. Through 20+ fun activities, industry and neighbourhood visits, fireside chats, intimate workshops and mentoring led by relatable and inspirational STEM professionals, the young people will increase their awareness and knowledge of how to solve these issues using STEM.