Grenfell: Charity urges government to ‘step up’ support five years on from tragedy
Fiona Simpson
Tuesday, June 14, 2022
A charity supporting vulnerable children and families five years on from Grenfell Tower fire is calling on the government to “step up” investment in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
The John Lyon's Charity (JLC), a London based grant-giving funder, has invested £4.4m since June 2017 into the borough to help support the community following the tragedy which claimed the lives of 72 people.
In the first days and weeks following the fire, JLC worked with other funding organisations and London funders to create an emergency response strategy to support the communities living in the area that had been affected.
In July 2017, more £1.1m was distributed through the fund to 100 local community groups, faith groups, schools and residents associations for extra equipment, food and essential supplies to support the local communities.
One charity to benefit from emergency funding was the London Sports Trust.
Ulick Tarabanov, the organisation chief executive, said the Grenfell Tower fire “still remains at the forefront of resident's minds”.
“The London Sports Trust supported children and families who lived in Grenfell over the last 20 years, so it was heartbreaking to see some of those amazing young people perish in tragedy. The emergency funding from John Lyon’s Charity enabled us to provide additional support and sessions specifically for children and families affected by the tragedy, giving them a safe space to take part in activities or just be together. We continue to run sports and outdoor adventure activities as well as family baking programmes for families around North Kensington affected by the Grenfell Tower Tragedy,” he said.
Tina Mayers, chief executive of Shepherd’s Bush Families Project and Children's Centre added: “We still see the effects of the Grenfell Tragedy on families' emotional wellbeing and we support families with childcare whilst parents attend counselling and therapy groups away from the project.
“We have seen many different communities come together to support each other over the last five years and many come to our centre to seek solace and be with friends and family. “We are grateful to funders like John Lyon’s Charity but more needs to be done to help this community heal.”
On the five year anniversary of the fire (14 June), JLC is warning that more needs to be done to support the poorer areas of what is considered one of London’s most affluent boroughs.
“Traditionally, Kensington and Chelsea as a local authority area, is often overlooked for funding and support from outside agencies. Parts of the borough are the most affluent in the country, if not in Europe. However, in pockets such as North Kensington, levels of deprivation and need are incredibly high, Lynne Guyton, chief executive of JLC said.
While the charity is “still doing all we can to help and want to remind organisations that operate in and around the area that we are committed to investing in the borough long term” the government needs to “step up” and do more to support a community still struggling with “shockwaves” of the disaster.
