S106 funded cohesion programme (Programme ended 2017-2019)
The Community Cohesion Pilot Programme (CCPP) was an initiative funded through Section 106 contributions from developments in the Mile End and Aldgate East areas.
The programme aimed to increase engagement and interaction between people from different backgrounds in the two areas. This would help better understanding and build positive social connections between them.
As part of this programme two projects were delivered in Mile End and 3 projects in Aldgate East. The projects developed participation in neighbourhood life, brought people together to improve the local area and built community capacity and resilience in a sustainable way.
Delivery partners
Our delivery partners for this programme were four locally-based community organisations:
- Society Links (Aldgate East) delivered the ‘Creative Communities’ project
- Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery park (Aldgate East and Mile End) delivered the Nature & Us projects
- Four Corners (Aldgate East) delivered the Aldgate East My Neighbourhood project
- Toy House (Mile End) delivered the Community Cook & Share Project
The evaluation of the programme was conducted by an independent provider - Carney Green.
Read the executive summary of the evaluation.
Projects
1. Creative communities
Society Links delivered community events to bring people from different backgrounds together. This included the creation of two colourful community mosaics, workshops and family events.
2. Nature & Us
‘Nature & Us’ was a community cohesion project delivered by the Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park.
The project brought the local community together through nature. Creating green spaces for people to enjoy, developing people’s skills in local nature and delivering fun nature-based activities.
Events ranged from planting, minibeast hunts, natural crafts, tree walks, bats walks and wildflower courses.
The success of the project has meant that Nature & Us project has been continuing beyond the funding period.
Visit the Nature & Us webpage to find details of their latest activities .
3. My neighbourhood project
Four Corners delivered this project which included photography walks, creative writing, local history, oral history and film making.
Website: Four Corners Film
Aldgate East Stories film
Aldgate East Stories is a short film exploring Aldgate East past and present, made by local people with Four Corners as part of the S106 funded cohesion project.
Discover lots of different voices, each with a strong connection to the area. Stories range from the president of the only purpose-built Synagogue in the East End, to the food blogger who loves visiting local markets.
Look out for 93-year-old poet, Sally Flood who has lived behind the Royal London Hospital for nearly 70 years!
You can watch the film on the Four corners website.
4. Community Share & Cook
The Toy House Centre delivered a series of six weeks ‘Community Share and Cook” courses that use cooking and food preparation as a special way to get people from different backgrounds to share not only their food, but also their unique stories and cultures too.