The Our Space Award is open for its third round, helping local London communities to unite in creating sustainable open spaces.

The Our Space Award is a grant scheme which was launched by charity Groundwork London back in the spring of 2018, and aims to encourage communities to take ownership and pride in their local spaces.

The scheme is sponsored by a private funder and administered by the social and environmental regeneration charity, Groundwork London. The award aims to help Londoners green their city through projects which promote active community engagement and participation.

Now in the scheme’s third round, community groups based in London can apply for a grant between £500 and £5,000 to either create or improve an open space; whether that is a park, housing estate, town centre, woodland, school grounds etc.

So far the Our Space Award has supported 45 London projects with c.£105,000 to improve community spaces. One example is the ‘Friends of Bridgehouse Pond’ in Feltham. The group were awarded funding to create a community garden and reinstall Feltham’s lost identity as a market garden town.

Richard Clark, the project, said: “seeing the difference we have made is really satisfying, especially how celebrating local heritage has connected with people’s memories of the area and brought the community together.”

Martin Petry from Groundwork London said: “The Our Space Award was very successful last year, and we are excited to see the scheme continue in 2019 with hopefully even more applications from a diverse range of London communities. These grants have provided the opportunity for communities to come together and make the places they live in more enjoyable. It increases the sense of pride in those spaces, an increased sense of ownership and new places for people to meet.”

The award will support Londoners of all ages and backgrounds, communities and schools in creating and improving sustainable community spaces; making them inclusive places for all to enjoy.

Applications for the third round of the Our Space Award will close at 5pm on Monday 25th March. To apply visit www.groundwork.org.uk/our-space-award For any application queries contact: Hannah.standen@groundwork.org.uk

ENDS
Press contact: Rebecca Moir Groundwork London Communications and PR Officer Rebecca.moir@groundwork.org.uk 020 7922 1230.

NOTES FOR EDITORS
About Groundwork London
Groundwork London is a social and environmental regeneration charity. For almost 20 years we’ve been at the forefront of environmental and social regeneration in London; changing places and lives for the better, in some of the capital’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods. In today’s challenging social and economic climate the work we do has never been more important. Our three over-arching objectives are:
 Creating better places – supporting people to work collectively to make their surroundings greener, safer and healthier and be actively involved in the way decisions are made about services in their area.  Promoting greener living and working – helping people and businesses learn more about their environmental impact and act responsibly to reduce natural resource use and improve their health.  Improving people’s prospects – delivering support to increase the confidence, skills, well-being and employability of those furthest removed from the labour market, in particular young people.
For more information visit www.groundwork.org.uk/london or follow us on Twitter @GroundworkLON or on Facebook www.facebook.com/GroundworkLondon
Groundwork London is a registered charity - No. 1121105