The Old Kent Road Neighbourhood Community Meeting approved funding for several local projects through the Cleaner Greener Safer programme, the Devolved Highways Budget, and the Neighbourhoods Fund. A total of £64,300 was allocated for Cleaner Greener Safer projects, £38,095 for Devolved Highways projects, and £30,000 for Neighbourhoods Fund initiatives.

Cleaner Greener Safer Funding Allocation

The meeting approved the reallocation of £64,300 to the 2026-27 Cleaner Greener Safer (CGS) budget for the Old Kent Road Neighbourhood area. This funding, comprising underspent funds from previous years, current programme underspend, and project cancellations, will support a range of local improvement projects.

The following projects received funding:

• Upgrade of Common Area Lighting continuation (Caroline Gardens Estate) by Mr Bryan Emery: £5,000
• Football cage revamped by Bonamy and Bramcote TRAù: £15,000
• Picnic tables by Bonamy and Bramcote TRAù: £7,000
• Friary estate community garden by Southwark - Community Gardening team: £22,000
• Living in Harmony by ASRA: £10,000
• Pat Hickson Garden Improvements Additional funding by Grow London CIC: £2,250
• Alley to Northfield House Spruce Up by Northfield House TRA: £1,000

The Cleaner, Greener, Safer (CGS) programme, running since 2003, funds capital improvements that make an area cleaner, greener, or safer. Funding is allocated to neighbourhood areas based on a per-councillor calculation.¹

Devolved Highways Budget Allocation

A total of £38,095 was approved for the 2026-27 Devolved Highways Budget (DHB) programme in the Old Kent Road Neighbourhood area. This funding comes from the programmed capital expenditure for highway renewal and maintenance.

The approved allocations are:

• Rolls Rd Pollinator Pathway SE1 5HA/HB by an individual applicant: £5,000
• Commercial Way – improving safety and traffic calming measures by Councillor proposal: £33,095

The DHB programme allows neighbourhood areas to spend funds on their priorities for highway improvements that may not be prioritised in the borough-wide programme.²

Neighbourhoods Fund Grants

The meeting allocated £30,000 from the Neighbourhoods Fund 2026-27 for various community projects in the Old Kent Road area. The Neighbourhoods Fund is a revenue fund designed to support small-scale, community-led activities.³

The following projects received funding:

• The John Keats Whole School Wellbeing Days by Nexus Education Schools Trust: £2,000
• Sewing Academy Technique by Faiths Women Community UK: £500
• Seasoned Souls by St Philip's Church: £900
• Caroline Gardens 200th Years Anniversary by Caroline Gardens TRA: £3,000
• Speech Bubbles in Haymerle School by London Bubble Theatre Company: £2,000
• Gentle Exercise, Harry Lamborn House by Link Age Southwark: £3,000
• Peckham & Nunhead Free Film Festival by Peckham and Nunhead Free Film Festival: £2,000
• Digital Future Makers – Young Women's Tech Hub by Proud To Be Me: £2,000
• Science, Creative Health & Menopause Support Workshop and Lunch by Miss Kathryn McGuinness: £2,000
• Young Creative and empowered Activities by Parent Skills 2go: £1,000
• Family Fund Day by Astley & Cooper TRA: £2,000
• Rotating Mini Pocket events by Bonamy and Bramcote TRA: £2,000
• Picnic on the Green by ASRA: £1,800
• Educating our community by Unwin and Friary TRA: £1,800
• STEM CLUB by Bizzie Bodies CIC: £1,800

The Neighbourhoods Fund aims to give local areas decision-making powers over funding to meet locally determined priorities.⁴