REPORT FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2022-2023
Action for Bow was established as a registered charity (1104269) in 2004 by the former Tower Hamlets Housing Action Trust to support community activities in Bow East and West Wards including education, training and employment opportunities; healthy living, sports and cultural activities; environmental and regeneration issues.
2022-23 saw a full return to normal activities following the pandemic period and, with the new continuing grants to the food bank and legal advice services, the Trust spent £309,864 – the highest amount for several years.
At the year end the Trust’s reserves totalled £731,758 and with similar future expenditure, the Trust anticipates that its funds will be fully spent within two years. All grant recipients should be aware of the need to seek alternative funding from April 2025 at the latest.
During this financial year the Trust made grants totalling £290,064 to 24 organisations. The largest two were £39,864 for the provision of legal advice services and £30,000 for the Bow Food Bank – both of which reflected current major needs of residents. Eleven organisations received a total of £123,063 for projects for young people; £35,607 was granted to provide services specifically for older people and the remainder of £61,530 was for more general community benefit.
Grants for Projects made in 2022-2023
| Project Provision | Provider | Grant |
| Legal Advice | Legal Advice Centre | £39,864 |
| Food Bank | The Bow Food Bank | £30,000 |
| Young People’s Activities at Caxton Hall | Ocean Youth Connexions | £28,019 |
| Young People’s Creative Curriculum | Artburst Ltd | £20,018 |
| Community Activities | Tredegar & Sabella Association | £15,500 |
| Dance Festival and Classes | Chisenhale Dance | £15,499 |
| Young People’s Outreach Workshops | Young Urban Arts Foundation | £15,000 |
| Older People’s Mental Health Support | Working Well Trust | £14,494 |
| Young People’s Drama After School | Half Moon Theatre | £12,322 |
| Young Person’s Drama Club | Purple Moon Drama | £10,670 |
| Tackling Loneliness in the Community | East London Cares | £10,166 |
| School’s Counselling | Chisenhale Primary School | £10,000 |
| Young People’s Educational Support | Access Higher Education | £9,512 |
| Young People’s Film Workshop | Space Studios | £8,690 |
| Disabled People’s Fitness | Ability Bow | £7,838 |
| Older People’s Activities | The Geezers Club | £7,237 |
| Older People’s Wellbeing | Age UK East London | £7,000 |
| Older People’s Healthy Living and Fitness | Bow Bengali Forum | £6,876 |
| Young People’s Summer Activities | Bow Bengali Forum | £5,000 |
| Training for Fashion Industry | British Bangladeshi Fashion Council | £5,000 |
| Heritage Trail in Bow | Roman Road Trust | £5,000 |
| Choral Music Free Concerts | The Crofton Singers | £2,527 |
| Young People’s Sports | Acorn Football Club | £1,957 |
| Young People’s Mock Interviews | Tower Hamlets Education Business Partnership | £1,875 |
| Total Grant Expenditure | £290,064 |
Trustees: grants are allocated up to three times a year by the voluntary Trustees, who in 2022-23 were Sheila Drew Smith (Chair), Jackie Odunoye, Janet Ludlow and Councillor Marc Francis who was succeeded during the year by Councillor Abdul Mannan.
Potential new trustees are always warmly invited to make contact with the Trust via Ahmed Hussain at the Bromley by Bow Centre.
Grant Enquiries and Applications: Please contact Ahmed Hussain at the Bromley by Bow Centre, St Leonard’s Street, London, E3 3BT. Telephone: 020 8709 9700 Email: ahmed.hussain@bbbc.org.uk