Uniting business and philanthropy to tackle poverty at grass-roots level in East London.
On a sweltering July morning, East End Community Foundation donors including Northern Trust, Allied World, Sucden Financial, Rothesay and BPL, chatted with community groups at the Grants Networking Breakfast at the East End Community Foundation’s offices.
Over croissants, fruit and coffee, donors and grantees involved in our Life Chances campaign, met to connect. These events offer are a great opportunity for donors to understand in greater depth, the work they are funding and social issues local residents face.
Focusing on youth groups
“This networking breakfast is for the youth side of the activities we fund,” said Tracey Betts, CEO of the East End Community Foundation. “It’s about everyone coming together so they can get to know each other and share information. It’s an opportunity for our donors to see the groups we are collectively funding and have that real contact.”
It was also a chance for grant recipients such as the Bonny Downs Community Association, Poplar Harca, Fight for Peace, Hackney Shed, Well Grounded, Beckton Skills Centre and the Catalyst Collective Organisation to meet the EECF team and donors to network, find out how they work, and ask advice on funding. This will lead to sharing ideas and groups potentially work together, creating greater community cohesion.
Building confidence through creativity
Vicki Hambley, artistic director of Hackney Shed, is enthusiastic about building confidence through theatre and performance. “We work hard to remove barriers to accessing and trying to create an integrated group of young people from a diverse range of backgrounds, so that they can come together, learn to work together as a team. To build their confidence, increase their tolerance of working with people who are different to them, and have a safe space for them to be creative together. It’s good for their mental health, wellbeing – all the things being cut from school programmes.”
With many East End groups tackling similar issues, the networking breakfast was a space to discuss with each other their challenges, and how they have dealt with them.
Now in year 5 of 6, the Life Chances campaign tackles poverty in East London. It brings together donors and community partners to focus on mental health, skills and employment for young people, digital exclusion for low-income families, and pensioner poverty. Supported by 20+ donors and 30+ delivery partners, it has benefited approximately 10,000 people living in poverty. In 2025, Phase II was launched, to raise £4m and double the impact by 2028.
Unemployment rates are rising, most significantly in London, where 20% of those aged 16-24 are out of work. One in six are experiencing poor mental health. Vulnerable young people lack safe spaces and are at higher risk of engaging in gangs or substance misuse.
Everyone a champion
Sport is a powerful tool to build life skills, develop discipline, as well as physical fitness. “We support young people by giving them free combat sports sessions and a wraparound service of employability support. We help people become champions in the ring and outside the ring,” says Adrian de Leon, Fight for Peace’s Trusts and Foundations Manager.
Looking ahead, Life Chances will deepen its objective of enriching the lives of disadvantaged residents across the East End, focusing on youth employment, digital inclusion and tackling pensioner poverty.
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