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Brought to you by the Elephant and Castle Town Centre team, inside the Castle Chronicle you can read all about what’s going on in the local community, including updates on the redevelopment of the town centre.
Let us know what you’d like to see in our next edition by emailing us on info@castlechronicle.co.uk
Download our latest editions here.
In June 2019 the Elephant and Castle Community Hub opened in the shopping centre, offering a popular and well-attended range of fitness and wellbeing classes, arts and crafts workshops running 5 days per week.
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, a virtual Community Hub was launched in March 2020, taking the physical classes and community support initiatives online. The virtual Hub provides everything from arts and crafts classes and baby music sessions, to online quizzes and a weekly community choir practice.
Since its launch, the Hub has welcomed over 18,000 users and over 48,000 views from people benefiting from the variety of free online and in-person activities on offer across different venues in Elephant and Castle. We continue to work with local organisations to provide physical locations for the Community Hub in Elephant and Castle so that the activities can run both in person and online. You can view the timetable of activities here.
Over 18,000 people using the virtual community hub since March 2020
Over 48,000 views on the virtual community hub since its launch in March 2020
“It has an amazing impact. Amazing positive impact, especially now! When we cannot meet. We cannot see each other in person and be a community in that sense. What happens is, the Community Hub is a platform, a place where people can. Even though it’s virtual, they can meet and do something that they are all passionate about.”
Paulina Knapik, Community Hub Choir Director commenting on the Virtual Hub
“It’s been a godsend to the community, it’s really great. Because every day there is a different activity going on.”
Lee Kempster, Community Member
“It brings inclusion, no discrimination. So it’s including old, young, people of different ethnicities, disabilities. It brings together a community. Definitely, no matter what language you speak. Especially with dance, everyone knows how to dance. That’s a language that everyone can interact with.”
Mo Oriogun, Community Member
If interested in joining in the fun, you can find us at
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The Elephant and Castle Town Centre team and Get Living are delighted to have launched a second year of funding for the Inspiring Elephant Community Fund. The £50,000 a year fund provides grants to local groups, supporting short term projects, and contributing to longer term initiatives in the community.
Following a successful inaugural launch in 2022, which saw 12 local community groups receive grants of between £2,500 – £4,950 to help support local initiatives, fight inequality and promote positive ageing in the area, this year’s fund is helping to deliver greater social value for local residents.
In addition to the two year’s of funding to date, over the next three years, the Elephant and Castle Town Centre team will distribute £200,000 to the local community.
Local organisations are able to apply for multi-year grants of up to £5,000 and a panel of local community leaders including members of Southwark Council, Get Living and members of the Community Hub who will consider all applications.
Inspiring Elephant Community Fund Report
The Inspiring Elephant Community Fund is dedicated to uplifting and empowering the local Elephant and Castle community.
Over the next five years, the Fund is committed to distributing annual grants of £50,000 to charities that serve the Elephant and Castle Town Centre and its surrounding areas.
The Fund’s recent social impact report unveiled an incredible response from over the last year, with over 20 applications collectively requesting more than £108,000 in support. This overwhelming demand emphasises the Fund’s central role in bolstering local community groups.
Click: Inspiring Elephant Community Fund – 2022-23 Grants for an in-depth look at the impact achieved.
Together, we’re shaping a brighter future for our local community.
MEET THIS YEAR’S SUCCESFUL APPLICANTS
This year, we were delighted to award 12 successful applicants with grants of between £2,700 – £4,950. This funding supports a wide range of local community initiatives and causes that will help fight inequality and benefit disability groups, senior citizens, and members of the BAME community.
Find out more about some of our winners below.
Disability Sports Coach
An inclusive sports club for disabled people in Southwark.
Blackfriars Settlement
Promoting positive ageing in the area.
Superarts Academy of Performing Arts
Bringing together young children to ‘Dance Together’ with their families.
Southwark Kaleidoscope
Promoting the design, buildings and people of Elephant and Castle.
Fund winners to date
Take a look at the organisations that have been awarded funding to date as part of the Inspiring Elephant Community Fund.
