• Community Anchor Network is one of 17 shortlisted projects from 650 nationwide applicants
• Funding will support a year-long programme that strengthens community power for residents in Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest
• Locals will be empowered to influence decisions about the future of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

The Community Anchor Network (CAN) at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has successfully bid for an £80k grant from the National Lottery’s Community Power fund. It was chosen from 650 nationwide applications — 17 of which were shortlisted for funding, including local authorities, housing associations and charities.

Developed in collaboration with London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), the CAN unites community organisations and Park institutions to deliver long-term benefits for east London and beyond. Support is given to communities in Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest so that they can participate as equal and valued partners in decisions about the future of the area. The initiative has been co-designed with community leaders and is led by 15 local organisations including Badu Community CIC, Deep Boroughs Network, Local Champions, Stour Trust and Hackney Quest.

Money from the National Lottery Community Power fund will go towards a year-long programme of activity that bolsters community power at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, working with both institutions and grassroots organisations through direct outreach and engagement.

This will be completed in four phases which will include testing assumptions about community empowerment and implementing an updated model that supports communities using an equitable action learning approach.

Jacquie Holland, Inclusive Growth Manager at LLDC, said: “We’re thrilled to have received this grant from the National Lottery’s Community Power fund which will go a long way towards developing the Community Anchor Network. We’ve taken a very unique approach to establishing community power through the network, and so far lots of great work has been done. With the money from the National Lottery we can continue to build, working collaboratively across grassroots and institutional levels to re-balance power for local people beyond traditional systems.”

The CAN National Lottery Steering Group said: “This funding is a vital step in developing the potential of the Community Anchor Network, giving us the resources to drive genuine systems change and strengthen community power across east London. It will enable us to deepen local relationships, tackle long‑standing inequalities, and ensure that the voices and lived experiences of our communities shape the decisions that affect their lives.”

The CAN is one of many community initiatives established by LLDC at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. These include: the Park’s youth board, Elevate, which connects young people in east London to opportunities at the Park; East Ed, which offers educational opportunities with Park partners including BBC, UCL, UAL’s London College of Fashion, V&A and Sadler’s Wells; and the Women’s Safety Stakeholder Charter.

The CAN is now appointing a local lead to support the programme and deepen its connection to community networks.  Find out more about the opportunity and the CAN here.