Funding for community projects

Aspers Good Causes Fund

The Aspers Good Causes Fund was set up by Aspers Casino and Newham Council to support community projects which help residents to build confidence and skills and improve community life in Newham.

The fund opened in 2012/13 to any organisation working in the fields of education, art, dance, music, sport and the environment.

This programme goes live in November 2024

We're excited to announce that the Aspers Good Causes Fund is back this year with an even larger grant pot of £60,000. The programme will go live in November 2024 so please visit back then.

The Aspers Good Causes Fund grants programme is open to any not-for-profit organisations including voluntary, community and faith organisation working in Newham that help residents create local communities that are safe, prosperous and healthy. The Good Causes Funds are available to help deliver a huge range of benefits from education, conservation and environmental activities to music, sport or cultural activities, like theatre, dance, arts or science.

Aspers Good Causes Fund Awards 2023/24

Organisation Amount awarded Project theme
Pioneer Theatres Limited £6,271.20 Stratford East Community Programme has been developed with two strands -Monthly Community Socials and Meet Me After The Show workshops. These two projects provide a dedicated space for Newham residents to come together and connect over free, creative activities; with the aim to combat social isolation and demystify theatre. 
Skills Enterprise £5,233.50 Project aims to improve the quality of life for older people (55 years+) by providing a 10 week cycle of 1-to-1 practical sessions and group activities. We will focus on digital skills and bespoke employability support for older people that will strengthen their connection with their wider community and access employment opportunities.
UD Music Foundation £6,750 Black-led music charity supporting underrepresented young people who demonstrate high potential for music making, primarily aged 14 –25. To deliver a Record Label Project in 2 schools that will receive a structured vocational training course over 5 weeks (five full days, with 5 sessions for 5-6 students in each group across a full school day)
P.A.L.A.C.E £5,602.50 Providing training for 10 Newham residents to achieve Sports Leaders UK, Level 2 Qualification in Dance Leadership Award (DLA). The Step Together project meets Aspers’ objectives and criteria in a number of ways; 1.Newham residents to gain the Level 2 Dance Leader qualification increases beneficiaries’ employment and volunteering opportunities 2.Promotes The Arts, i.e., Dance and the participation of regular Physical Activity 3.Improves beneficiaries’ confidence 4.Beneficiaries learn a new skill.
You Press Partnerships £6,750 10 week Public speaking programme for young people, aimed to enhance confidence in their own voices, enhance their confidence in applying for jobs/interviews and going for anything they want in life. Includes two introduction and team building workshops, six core workshops that combine theory and practice, and two final sessions for reflection, celebration and planning for next steps.
Park Village Oasis Community Group £2,241 Our project seeks to provide our community members with opportunities to build skills in identifying, growing and cooking with herbs. We have secured access to a disused piece of land from Newham Council. The land is sandwiched between rows of terraced houses and high rise residential buildings, whose residents do not have access to private gardens. Our project would reclaim this space and increase our community members’ confidence to occupy this space positively and convene as a neighbourhood group. 
Newham Chinese Association (NCA) £4,135.43 LOVE MY HANDS’(LMH) is to support local talents to run activity sessions; to provide a variety of activities to participants to explore how their hands can take them to develop new interests or hobbies. It provides a space and time for participants to meetup, to receive public health information and to share ideas.
Survivors Together £6,750 Survivors Together supports for the development and protection of good mental and emotional health of female survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) sexual violence including recent rape. We run a variety of activities at our sessions, and these are designed to aid our women in building social networks, confidence, skills and reduce isolation.
Carers Community Mental Health Group £1,000 Physical exercise activities for Carers of residents in Newham. A social and fun community; a space for carers to keep active and fit and also a place for them to feel recognise for their hard work.
Ambition Aspire Achieve £4,811.40 Focused on intervening early to support disadvantaged, disabled, vulnerable and at-risk children and young people to overcome their problems, difficulties and challenges. Engaging an average of 20 families per session.