BD Giving to Host £250,000 Grant to Launch Havering Together
Barking & Dagenham Giving will act as fiscal host for Havering Together, a new place-based giving scheme, following a £250,000 grant from City Bridge Foundation.
Havering Together has been developed to address long-standing underinvestment in the outer East London borough by creating a platform for funding, collaboration and community-led decision-making. The scheme will bring together residents, businesses and the voluntary sector to direct resources to where they are most needed.
“Like Barking and Dagenham, Havering has long been seen as a funding “cold spot”, so this kind of infrastructure matters. It’s about building something that can bring in sustained investment, not just one-off grants.From our vantage point, it’s genuinely encouraging to see funders leaning further into outer London in this way. I'm really pleased that we at Barking & Dagenham Giving are able to play a part, hosting funds and providing start up support to our neighbours.”
Barking & Dagenham Giving will provide fiscal hosting, governance support and financial stewardship during the set-up phase, helping to establish strong foundations for the initiative. This role builds on BD Giving’s experience supporting place-based giving across London.
The programme is being developed with support from Havering Council, alongside partners including Barking & Dagenham Giving, London’s Giving, London Funders and the Greater London Authority.
Havering Together will focus on three priorities shaped by local insight: strengthening community cohesion; tackling loneliness; and improving opportunities for young people. Early activity will include community engagement, participatory grantmaking and the distribution of micro-grants.
Over its first three years, the initiative aims to grow local fundraising, establish multiple grant rounds each year, and develop long-term partnerships with businesses and funders. It will transition to an independent organisation with its own Board to ensure community leadership and long-term sustainability.
“Havering Together is exactly the kind of locally led, collaborative approach we want to support through our funding.This partnership will put the right infrastructure in place to unlock new investment, strengthen local connections and ensure funding reaches the communities who need it most.By backing Havering Together at this early stage, alongside partners with deep local insight and experience, we are helping to build a sustainable platform for community giving, collaboration and long-term impact.”
Find out more
Visiting Havering borough council’s website to find out more about the startup place-based giving scheme.
