London Projects

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Over the past five years of the People’s Millions competition we have seen some great projects in the region. Previous winners include a specialised playground, a sailing project, creation of new children’s play areas and many more.

Windmill Park Community Centre

The Windmill Park Community Centre is the thriving heart of the Windmill Park estate, but it is not used to its full potential. If successful, the money will be used to transform a disused room that currently serves as storage space into a sparkly new media and arts room, with an IT suite and recording studio. This addition to the centre will have a huge impact across the neighbourhood, opening up opportunities to learn everything from basic computer skills to how to design a website or to unleash their creative side in the recording studio and arts area. The extra space will mean more groups will be able to use the centre, whether through attending a training course, developing business ideas or just to let off some steam. The new facilities will help the estate to combat problems of unemployment and anti-social behavior by opening up new training opportunities to get people back into work and a space for young people to spend their time.

Kick Start for Life

The project will develop programmes of activities for children and young people with Down's Syndrome newly named as the Charlton Upbeats and will develop a band of volunteers and peer mentors to help the children with a range of activities. The Charlton Athletic Community Trust trust will deliver the activities at the Charlton Athletic training ground and The Valley, which is the clubs home ground. The programmes will include football, dance, drama, art, music, speech therapy and four environmental projects. The aim of the project is to provide community activities and make the young people feel part of their local community.

Give the Band a Home

-- About the Project -- The project will renovate and refurbish a building, which is located in the local community, to make it fit for purpose as the bands headquarters. The band will use this headquarters as a base to practice at and meet for community and other projects. Having a permanant home will allow the band to continue to build upon it's excellent foundations and strengthen it's position at the heart of the local community. The facility will also be made available to other groups in the area who struggle to find a place to meet. Many community groups in this heavily developed region struggle to find an affordable place to operate from. The aim of the project is to secure the bands future by providing a permanent home, after being part of the community for over 50 years a permanant home really isn't such a big ask! -- About The Band -- The Romford Drum & Trumpet Corps is a youth military style band, based in the London Borough of Havering. As one of the oldest independent youth marching bands in the country (formed in 1957), it has a proud history, with performances throughout the UK. In recent years the band has travelled further and performed in France, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Gibraltar and the USA. Its uniforms, instrumentation and style is closely based upon that of the Armed Forces British Military Bands. The band has performed at prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Wembley Stadium, St Paul's Cathedral, Horseguards Parade and The London Palladium. It has also had the honour of performing in the presence of every member of the Royal Family including a performance at Buckingham Palace.As a registered charity, the band has for over fifty years provided the young people of Romford with a rewarding activity. Despite the band receiving no funding, as an organisation, it manages to give a good foundation to youngsters and has continued the ethos of its founder where membership to the band is free of charge. The band has been recognised for its contribution to the young people of Havering with awards such as "The Mayors Civic Award" "The Havering Business Award for Community Projects" and is one of only a few youth groups nationally to achieve a Gold status kite mark from the Assured Quality Youth Project. On the competition field the Romford Drum & Trumpet Corps has an impressive record of success. It has won the National Championships on seven occasions, including a hat-trick from 1987-89. In November 2003 & 2004 the band achieved the "Double" as the National Champions and National Class League Winners. It remains undefeated in marching competitions since then. In 2006 & 2008 the band entered European competitions and on both occasion were triple gold medallist in both marching and concert performance. The band has become increasingly more diverse and has attracted numerous high profile engagements. In recent years the band has performed the National Anthem at Twickenham for an England Rugby international, recorded a charity single with Roger Daltrey from THE WHO, and appeared on TV for the MTV awards. It was also invited to produce a "Band in the Stand" at rugby internationals to get the crowd singing. If you are interested in finding out more about the band follow the link to our website. "RDTC":http://www.rdtc.org

Cultivating Quality

The project for disabled people is called “Cultivating Quality” and is run by the leading disability charity Papworth Trust. The Essex-based project, “Cultivating Quality” involves developing a community garden in the midst of urban Basildon. This will be accessible to people with limited mobility and to gardeners of all ages, with raised beds for people that find bending difficult. It will include a sensory garden for people with hearing or sight impairments, and a wildlife area with a pond to improve the local ecology. The project will enable people with disabilities in the community to develop a range of work and life skills, while improving and sustaining the natural environment. The team will also work with volunteers, local schools and a group of students from Basildon Adult Community College. Clients at the centre in Basildon said; “I will be able to use my wheelchair to access the whole garden and not get stuck in the wet grass” Karen Lees “We will be able to learn how to grow fruit, look after it and eat it” Gill Penning “It will give us an interest and save us money by learning how to grow our own fruit and vegetables” Pat Humphreys “We will be able to develop the garden and feel proud of our efforts” Kerry Woolley

Paradise Sounds Project

PARADISE SOUNDS - The project will build on the organisation's current relationships with young people and their referring agencies by converting a vehicle into a mobile recording studio/training facility to take to schools, community groups, youth clubs and other charities, with a particular focus on children and young people who are facing barriers to education. The SOUNDBUS will also enable travel to specific pockets of deprivation within the locality to engage young people who would not otherwise have the opportunity to be involved in music and performing. Volunteers and sessional trainers will train them whilst a local annual charity music festival will be used to demonstrate their new talents to build their confidence. The organisation will involve young people in the decoration of the van so that it appeals to them. This is a new and exciting area of work for the charity which is needed in the area and will provide free facilities - studio time and equipment is costly which prevents many young people/children exploring their talents.

The Golden Jubilee Project

The project will renovate a care home for older people, specifically targeting those of BME groups, which in the past has run activities including keep fit classes in the small gym, walks, arts and crafts, as well as sing alongs. In addition, the new improved facilities will provide computer classes and set up a historical and social archive, which entails the local group developing, producing and showcasing short video files of anything of interest. The project will improve users physical health through fitness classes and shape up classes where they learn to eat properly. It will also improve their mental health by running and belonging to their own group, as well as socialising together.