Investing with, and for, the Barking and Dagenham community.
Welcome to the GROW Fund!
For too long the people who are most affected by funding decisions have been excluded from the decision-making process. In Barking and Dagenham, we’re changing that!
What is the GROW Fund?
It was developed by residents of the borough to support entrepreneurs and community leaders in creating stronger communities for people and the planet. We are all working towards a more prosperous borough where the communities most affected by decisions are actively involved in making them.
Are you a resident who likes to have a say in how money moves throughout Barking and Dagenham?
Sign up for our newsletter to be notified about our recruitment.
Funding Opportunities
From now through November, grantees of the GROW Fund’s development fund awarded in May 2023 will be developing their growth plans and community impact with help from our partners at Impact Hub London.
Grants recipients include:
- Barking and Dagenham Youth Dance (BDYD) and Future MOLDS Communities
- The Boathouse Studios
- Company Drinks
- Fruitful Orchard
- Grounded Coffee
- One Room Live and Area44
- Sew London Project
- Ultimate Counselling
Our funding and investment approach looks at the total impact, not just the return. In this way, we aim to support the innovative ideas of local people and organisations and provide them with the funding and training they need for long-term success.
In November 2023, applications will open for repayable finance from the GROW Fund. Subscribe to our Newsletter to learn more about the fund and to be notified when applications open.
Where does the GROW Fund come from?
The GROW Fund is a new blended finance instrument aimed at supporting social purpose businesses and organisations in Barking and Dagenham. It draws on a grant from Lankelly Chase Foundation (for the grant part of the fund), and from BD Giving’s Community Endowment Fund (for the investment part of the fund), in partnership with Barking and Dagenham Council.
The potential of the GROW Fund
The GROW Fund’s goal is to create a sustainable source of income for the community over the next decade.
We plan to achieve this by encouraging additional donations and investments to top up the Fund. Working with the Community Steering Group, we will carefully balance the needs of current and future generations by ensuring that we do not spend all the surplus. We will establish ambitious ethical guidelines to monitor our investments, ensuring that the Fund contributes to building a stronger and more cohesive borough.
We are committed to transparency and inclusivity at every step of our journey. By making opportunities visible, fostering collaborative decision-making, and sharing our progress and learnings, we hope to create meaningful change in our community.
Interested in Learning From Our Community-Led Model?
As a participatory decision-making organisation, we are interested in sharing our learnings and findings.
You can also keep up to date with our work by reading our BD Giving Notes.
Late to the party? Read about the GROW Fund story so far...
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Read More26 April 2022CSG Members ‘Cautiously Empowered’ to Make Decisions on Investment
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Read More21 March 2022Community Steering Group Take the Driving Seat of Investment
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Read More10 February 2022A Bullseye for Barking & Dagenham
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Read More6 December 2021Models of Community Investments
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Read More8 July 2021To find out more contact us here
