Thames Futures – a partnership between BRL, The Young Foundation and community members – began in 2019. It has formed Barking Riverside’s bespoke social impact assessment framework.

Central to Thames Futures is the Community Vision, which sets out nine priorities that reflect residents’ concerns and hopes for the future. It also includes over 50 project proposals that will help the Community Vision become a reality.

In January 2022 a team of Community Researchers spoke to over 150 residents about the progress that has been made since the Community Vision was established. This will be repeated every year so that progress can be measured and we ensure that our targets are achieved.

We believe that Thames Futures is a pioneering project, creating an important benchmark for how you can increase transparency and collaboration in areas experiencing growth and transformation.

'Winner of the Community-led Placemaking category at the Planning Awards 2021.'

Fatuma, Lucy, Jacqui and Erica - Community Researchers, Thames Futures 2022

The BRL Community Fund is a new scheme that offers residents grants of up to £1,000 to deliver a project or initiative that will benefit the community.

Applications must address at least one of the nine priorities that have been established by residents in the Thames Futures Community Vision.

Do you have an idea for a project or initiative that will benefit the community? If so, apply for BRL Community Fund to get help to get your idea off the ground.

The first funding round closed in August 2022 and will open again for applications this winter. The BRL Community Fund opens for applications four times a year.

This is the second fund that BRL has opened. In 2020 the Thames Talk Fund was launched to support established groups and organisations, and continues to open twice a year.