Investing over £230,000 in community ideas and groups:
Wick Award Community Chest

Over the last 10 years we’ve invested £230,000 into supporting local ideas and initiatives through our Community Chest fund.

  • Empowering Local Ideas:
    Residents with great ideas for making good things happen in Hackney Wick have been able to apply for grants of up to £1,000. Alongside funding, our community worker has provided hands-on guidance and encouragement — helping each project address local needs and make the biggest possible impact.

    Many Community Chest grants have gone on to spark projects that have grown into long-term successes. For example, Hackney Wick Football Club received their first grant from Wick Award — and have since gone from strength to strength, reaching the top of their league while changing lives through footie.

  • Investing in Young People:
    We also dedicated £30,000 of Community Chest funding specifically for projects designed and led by young people in Hackney Wick.

    Young residents themselves decided how the money was spent, helping to build confidence, leadership skills, and ownership in their community.

  • Partnership and Local Knowledge:

    The success of the Community Chest has been made possible by our local partnership members, who know their neighbourhoods inside out. Their insight and connections have helped local ideas take flight and make a real difference.

Supporting a whole range of projects and ideas:

  • Lunch clubs at Gascoyne 1, Gascoyne 2, and St Mary of Eton

    Food initiatives like Bags of Taste, Jumping Beans Kitchen, Wentworth Family Cooking Sessions, holiday hunger projects, and local meal deliveries and estate foodbanks

  • Local football, tennis, running, judo, boxing, basketball, and school holiday sports programmes

  • Street markets, park events, celebration meals, seaside trips, and other activities bringing neighbours together

  • Exercise and activity sessions such as yoga, tai chi, Chair-Disco, dance, and sports sessions for different age groups

    Men’s peer support, mindfulness, bouldering, and parenting support workshops

  • Theatre projects in partnership with The Yard Theatre and Immediate Theatre

    Community art projects such as murals, LGBT Seniors art group, life drawing, film projects, and the Herbert Butler Neighbourlies project

    Craft initiatives like quilting and trainer-making

    Music projects including Joy of Sound for residents with learning disabilities and music holiday programmes

  • Tree planting, Re-wrap, Library of Things, and community gardening across Trowbridge, Gascoyne 1 & 2, and Feed Hackney Wick

    Smaller greening initiatives like the window box project

Lasting Impact

Through the Community Chest, Wick Award has supported hundreds of local residents and groups to turn ideas into action — creating a more connected, creative, and caring Hackney Wick.

LGBT Art Class & Supper Club

A group of LGBT seniors came up with a creative idea to tackle isolation and bring people together — launching a fortnightly art group in an under-used community room within a local supported housing scheme.

The sessions offered a free, friendly, and inclusive space where residents could connect, share skills, and learn new artistic techniques. What began as a simple way to meet and make art quickly became a much-loved social event — so much so that regulars went on to start a monthly supper club, extending the friendship and fun beyond the canvas.

“I never thought I could paint! It’s great to get so much encouragement and learn new techniques — and on top of that, I’ve got a new set of pals.”
— Patrick, participant

Care to Share

A group of men in Hackney Wick who first connected through a Healthwatch Hackney project discovered they had a lot in common — and that talking openly really helped.

Recognising a need for a local space where men managing mental health challenges could meet and support one another, they successfully applied for funding to launch their own peer-led project: Care to Share.

Sessions take place in a welcoming community centre and offer a relaxed space to connect and build confidence. Activities have included advocacy, budgeting advice, skills sharing, healthy eating, and, most importantly — good conversation.

“They always said it’s good to talk. Now I really believe it. I’ve made solid friends, got help tackling debt issues, and even lost nearly two stone.”
— Care to Share participant

Gascoyne Lives: A Local History Celebration

The residents of Gascoyne 1 are incredibly proud of their estate's rich history, and they decided to celebrate it! It started with Derek Smith, a dedicated Tenants and Residents Association member, who gathered the stories, photographs, and memories of residents past and present to create a moving film.

The film Gascoyne Lives was a huge success within the community.

The Book: Continuing the Story…..

The film proved so popular that residents secured community chest funding to create a book. Timed to celebrate a special birthday for the estate, the book focuses on the heart of Gascoyne 1: its community.

As one resident put it:

“This book is something for us all to be proud of. It captures the spirit of our residents and the strong sense of community on our estate.”

Sustainable Style: Upcycling Workshop

London Fashion District Workshops teamed up with The Wickers Charity to host an engaging, three-day Sustainable Fashion Project.

This hands-on upcycling program supported local young people by giving them the skills to transform pre-loved clothing into unique, wearable pieces. The project introduced participants to the value of extending the life of garments and the importance of reducing textile waste.

The final results were truly impressive!

The workshops not only sparked creativity but also boosted confidence:

“I never thought I could use a sewing machine, now I’ve made something I’ll actually wear!”

“I enjoyed customising my clothes, it gave me confidence and new ideas.”

Community Closet: Supporting Local Families

It started with a couple of Hackney Wick mums who saw a need and wanted to help. They set up Community Closet to collect essential baby clothes and equipment for local families who were struggling.

The project grew quickly, and space became tight!

A New Chapter

With funding from the Wick Award, Community Closet was able to take its next big steps. This funding allowed the project to successfully register as a charity and secure a new base by covering the rent on their building.

What began as a Hackney Wick start-up is now a core part of a thriving community hub, based in the New Kingshold Community Centre.

Making an Impact

The support has been crucial to their success:

“Wick Award gave Community Closet our first grant - this helped us to build the confidence to launch our project that has helped hundreds of Hackney families,” says Krista, one of the founders.

Hackney Wick Forest School: Adventure in Wick Woods

The Hackney Wick Forest School started simply: local parents who loved getting their children outdoors decided to make it official!

They used their first grant to buy essential gear—a pull-along cart, groundsheets, and fun play equipment—and headed straight for Wick Woods. The sessions were such a hit that the parents set up their own Forest School project.

From Parent to Leader

The project was expertly led by a local childminder, who went on to become a qualified Forest School Leader. She enthusiastically shared her knowledge and skills with the other parents.

With help from a community worker, the group organised and secured Awards for All funding to deliver weekly Forest School sessions specifically for under-fives.

Exploring Nature and Building Confidence

The weekly sessions in Wick Woods have had a wonderful impact on the children and parents alike:

“My toddler was a bit shy at first but loves our Friday mornings in Wick Woods. He’s happiest in wellies and loves a muddy puddle!”

“I’ve learned so much from Dovile and feel confident to encourage my city kid to explore nature.”

Well Street Common Festival

Community lunches - Gascoyne 1 & 2 St Mary of Eton

Build Up

Hackney Wick Town Hall

Red Path

Men’s Shed

And all these regular projects supported over many years …..

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