A new creative hub, set to be built in Dagenham East, has received £850,000 worth of funding from the Mayor of London’s Good Growth Fund.
The cash injection will go towards the construction of what is set to be the country’s largest community driven initiative.
Located on a 3,000 square metre site, the The Warehouse, as the hub has been christened, will be a melting pot of digital, metal, wood and fabric creation. It will offer free workshop space for anybody looking to sate their creative urges and will include a range of other facilities such as meeting rooms, kitchens and areas for events.
The Good Growth fund was set up by the Mayor of London to support community-based growth and development throughout London.
The funding comes as a result of a bid by the Participatory City Foundation, whose Every One Every Day initiative The Warehouse is set to become a keystone of. This scheme, the first of its kind in the Barking and Dagenham borough, is looking to work with local residents – numbering 25,000 at least – with an aim to kick-starting 250 neighbourhood-led projects. The ambitious project is also hoping to create 100 new businesses over a five year period.
Chief executive of the Participatory City Foundation, Tessy Britton, welcomed the funding, saying: “We are delighted the Mayor of London has recognised the same exciting opportunities that we see in Barking and Dagenham for developing new inclusive growth models in collaboration with residents, the council and local organisations.
“This is a borough full of creativity and The Warehouse will help take the Every One Every Day initiative a step further, providing a long-lasting legacy where local people can nurture their ideas and creativity.”
