Seventeen youth-led projects in Hackney have been awarded funding by Young Hackney, a council service for people aged 6 to 19.
The community projects, ranging from football training sessions for girls to a club for young people with diabetes, will be given grants of between £500 and £5,000.
Youth groups in Hackney can apply for the funding if they meet Young Hackney’s criteria, which require that the proposed project aligns with values such as “preparing young people for future success” and “community cohesion”.
The awardees were announced last Thursday. One successful applicant was the 14th Hackney Scout Group, who will use their £500 funding to offer members a free cinema screening detailing the life of the new Chief Scout, Dwayne Fields.
John Riddick, Chair of 14th Hackney Scouts, said: “It’s great. We’re always really hand-to-mouth, always fundraising. To offer a free event means nobody’s ruled out.”
The screening will help members “get to know a little bit more about our Chief Scout”, Mr Riddick added. The hired cinema is “fully booked” and will bring together other Scout groups from across Hackney.
Dwayne Fields, who took over the top job in the Scouts Association from Bear Grylls in 2024, is a Hackney local, having grown up in Stoke Newington after his family moved from Jamaica.
As well as funding youth projects, Young Hackney runs clubs, apprenticeships, and educational opportunities for young people in the borough.
Jake is a student journalist studying for an MA at City St George's.