The Old Kent Road Neighbourhood Community Meeting was scheduled to discuss the allocation of funds for local improvement projects. Key items on the agenda included the Devolved Highways Budget, the Cleaner Greener Safer programme, and the Neighbourhoods Fund, which would see significant sums allocated to community-led initiatives.

Devolved Highways Budget 2026-27: Capital Funding Allocation (Old Kent Road Neighbourhood)

The meeting was scheduled to consider the allocation of £38,095 for the 2026-27 Devolved Highways Budget (DHB) programme. This funding is intended for projects within the Old Kent Road Neighbourhood that address highway renewal and maintenance priorities. The DHB programme allows for a range of minor traffic and highway capital schemes, including footway and carriageway resurfacing, traffic calming measures, localised repairs, and accessibility improvements. The report indicated that the funding is aligned with the council's policies on sustainability, regeneration, and community engagement, supporting active travel and road safety. It was noted that there was no additional funding available from previous years' underspends for reallocation. The report also highlighted that the allocation of funds for the DHB programme was not considered to have any adverse effects on those with protected characteristics at this stage, with equalities impacts to be considered as projects progress.

Cleaner Greener Safer 2026-27: Capital Funding Allocation (Old Kent Road Neighbourhood)

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the allocation of funds for the Cleaner Greener Safer (CGS) capital programme. A total of £64,300 was available for the 2026-27 CGS programme in the Old Kent Road Neighbourhood. This included £63,900 for new projects and £400 reallocated from previous years' underspends and project cancellations. The CGS programme, running since 2003, funds project ideas from local organisations and individuals that aim to improve their local area, focusing on capital improvements that make an area cleaner, greener, or safer. The report detailed that eligible proposals must bring about permanent improvement and that revenue costs, such as salaries or event costs, are not eligible for CGS funding. The programme is aligned with the council's policies on sustainability, regeneration, and community engagement, supporting initiatives like new playgrounds, cycle parking, green spaces, and improved lighting. The report also noted that potential carbon impacts are considered as part of the allocation process.

Allocation of Neighbourhood Grants 2026-27 (Neighbourhoods Fund)

The meeting was also scheduled to approve the allocation of £30,000 from the Neighbourhoods Fund (NsF) for 2026-27. The NsF is the revenue element of Southwark Council's Neighbourhoods Programme, designed to support small-scale, community-led activities such as events, workshops, training, and outreach. The fund aims to give local communities more direct influence over funding and decision-making, supporting activities that benefit local communities, strengthen neighbourhood identity, and encourage participation and cohesion. The allocation is based on £10,000 per Councillor for each ward, with unallocated funds from previous years to be carried forward. The report outlined criteria for allocation, including fostering community cohesion, encouraging respect and consideration, promoting resident responsibility, and enhancing the neighbourhood environment. A significant portion of the report detailed numerous applications for this fund, covering a wide range of community projects.

These applications included:

• The Arts Yard by Miss Kathryn McGuinness, seeking £3,239 for a creative health hub offering graffiti workshops, an artist's edible garden, and creative health workshops.
• The John Keats Whole School Wellbeing Days by Nexus Education Schools Trust, requesting £10,250 for termly wellbeing days for pupils, focusing on themes such as Black Culture and History, farm life, and seaside experiences.
• Sewing Academy Technique by FAITHS WOMEN COMMUNITY UK, requesting £1,500 for a skills development initiative in tailoring and garment making.
• Growing Together by Glengall Wharf Garden, seeking £8,350 for a year-long programme to help residents create and care for shared edible and ornamental growing spaces.
• Seasoned Souls by St Philip's Church, requesting £1,800 for a community initiative offering gentle chair exercises and discussions on mental health and well-being for older adults.
• Dancing Therapy Keeping Fitness by FAITHS WOMEN COMMUNITY UK, requesting £8,500 for dance sessions promoting physical health, mental well-being, and social connection.
• Ta' Nights by Ta' Nights, seeking £23,000 for a cultural wellbeing project combining Semba and Kizomba dances, African percussion, storytelling, and language learning.
• Caroline Gardens 200th Years Anniversary by Caroline Gardens TRA, requesting £8,750 for a celebration event to bring residents together and foster community spirit.
• The John Keats Primary School Diversity Reading Drive by Nexus Education Schools Trust, requesting £2,250 to update the school's book corners with diverse texts and refresh reading spaces.
• Rhythm in Motion by COVO CONNECTING VOICES, seeking £5,000 for creative wellbeing workshops combining music-making and gentle movement for elderly and vulnerable individuals.
• Speech Bubbles in Haymerle School by London Bubble Theatre Company, requesting £3,088 for a drama-based intervention to support children with speech, language, and communication difficulties.
• Gentle Exercise, Harry Lamborn House by LINK AGE SOUTHWARK, seeking £3,200 for weekly gentle exercise sessions for older adults, focusing on physical health, social connection, and dementia inclusivity.
• Verney Road Voices: Community Co-Design for Linear Park Regeneration by Studio 94 Limited, requesting £12,500 for a community-led co-design project to shape the regeneration of Verney Road linear park, involving young people and adult residents.
• A CLIMATE STORY: Creative Climate Action through Participatory Theatre and Game Based Learning by 492 Korna Klub, seeking £6,000 for a theatre project engaging young people in conversations about climate change and community resilience.
• Cultural Foodbank in Southwark by ESTEEM FOUNDATION, requesting £2,500 to continue providing culturally appropriate food parcels and essentials to local beneficiaries.
• Spring into Summer Wellbeing by Maintaining Health Partners Limited, seeking £6,000 for holistic therapies and activities in community spaces, focusing on mental and physical well-being for various community groups.
• Peckham & Nunhead Free Film Festival by Peckham and Nunhead Free Film Festival, requesting £11,600 for a free community film festival across SE15 wards, aiming to combat isolation and foster community connection.
• FWCUK Education Empower System for Talking Therapy and Mental Health Awareness by FAITHS WOMEN COMMUNITY UK, requesting £5,000 for workshops promoting mental health awareness and emotional well-being.
• Digital Future Makers – Young Women's Tech Hub by Proud To Be Me CIC, seeking £17,000 to establish a hub empowering young women with digital skills, career development, and community building.
• Science, Creative Health & Menopause Support Workshop and Lunch by Miss Kathryn McGuinness, requesting £7,960 for workshops combining science-based education, yoga, art, reiki, and nutrition for women experiencing menopause.
• Live Positive, Life Safe - Youth anti- knife Graffiti Workshop by Miss Kathryn McGuinness, seeking £7,350 for graffiti workshops aimed at educating and deterring young people from knife crime.
• The Culture Project by Ignite the community cic, requesting £15,470 for a cultural enrichment agency promoting arts, culture, heritage, and community building through curated events and workshops.
• Young Creative and empowered Activities by Parent Skills 2go, seeking £8,000 for physical and digital creative activities for young people aged 8-16, focusing on storytelling and digital production.
• From me to you by Sandra Stephenson, requesting £5,000 for arts and craft workshops focused on upcycling household items.
• Learning Space: reading circle & Homework Support by Family Space, requesting £4,025 for weekly programmes supporting primary school children aged 5-13 with reading, phonics, comprehension, and homework.
• FAMILY FUN DAY by Astley and Cooper TRA, requesting £3,350 for an event to bring the diverse community of Avondale Estate and surrounding estates together.
• Rotating Mini Pocket events by Bonamy and Bramcote TRA, seeking £1,800 for events such as crafts, storytelling, gardening, and sports to take place around the estate.
• summer away day for the families by Bonamy and Bramcote TRA, requesting £1,000 for a seaside trip for families from the estate.
• spring steps & scones by Bonamy and Bramcote TRA, seeking £1,800 for a tea dance for residents aged 55+.
• LevelUP - E-Lish Pathway by The CSHEN Project CIC, requesting £1,800 for a programme providing GCSE English support, mentoring, and pastoral care for young people.
• Picnic on the Green by ASRA, seeking £1,800 for an event to bring the diverse community of Avondale Estate together through shared food and intergenerational activities.
• Educating our community by Michael Orey, requesting £1,800 to re-establish an after-school tutoring club for primary school children.
• STEAM CLUB by Bizzie Bodies CIC, seeking £1,800 for weekly STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) learning sessions for young people aged 7-16.

The meeting was also scheduled to include standard procedural items such as apologies, notification of urgent business, and disclosure of interests. The report pack indicated that the meeting had an information status of PENDINGCOUNCILPUBLICATION, meaning that while the agenda and supporting documents were available, information about what was actually discussed or decided was not yet public.