ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´

3rd Beeston Brownies

3rd Beeston Brownies is a Girglguiding unit for girls aged 7-10 years in Beeston, Nottingham. It offers a variety of activities including outdoor adventures, cooking and learning new skills, with the aim of fostering personal development and community involvement. Brownies are full of firsts, where the child can explore their creative side, get out into the great outdoors, learn how to look after themselves and others.

With support from the Community Chest fund, the 3rd Beeston Brownies were able to subsidise trips, events, and uniforms for families facing financial hardship, enabling their daughters to participate. Additionally, the fund covered Girlguiding subscription fees for the Brownies.

"I like Brownies because I get to earn my badges and my gold award"

"Brownies is fun because I can see my friends who don’t go to the same school as me"

"I liked when we got to decorate mirrors and give them as a gift to my mummy"

- Testimonials from the recent spy themed Brownie sleepover

Community Chest funding, 2025: £250

Nottingham Inclusive Recovery City

"On 18th May 2025, with the support of the Community Chest Fund grant, people from across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire gathered in unity and celebration for the first ever Notts Recovery Walk and Family Fun Day, marking a vibrant milestone in the local Inclusive Recovery Cities (IRC) initiative. The event, held during Mental Health Awareness Month and Nottingham Walking Week, brought families, volunteers, and partner organisations together to highlight the strength, joy, and community spirit that fuels local recovery efforts.

Led by people with lived experience of recovery from addiction and supported by a growing network of community partners, the day featured a peaceful and positive walk through the city, followed by live music, games and family friendly activities at The Arboretum. But beyond the bunting and balloons, this event represented something much deeper: a visible commitment to building a city where recovery is supported and valued, stigma is challenged, and everyone has a role to play.

[...] Only with the support, collaboration and trust of local organisations such as the Community Engagement team (ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´) – are the IRC able to continue the needed work of community building and the forging of connections across our region. All of the team at the Inclusive Recovery Nottingham and Double Impact as a whole, would like to thank the Community Engagement team for awarding the IRC their much valued trust award fund."

- Testimony from Nottingham Inclusive Recovery City (Double Impact)

Community Chest funding, 2025: £510.86

Lenton Fun Day 

'[...] when it was announced there would be no Lenton Festival this year, Holy Trinity Lenton decided to galvanise the community to run a Lenton Fun Day themselves. The aim of this was to bless Lenton with a free event, as well as unite students, families, local businesses and community groups together as one. The day included bouncy castles, sumo wrestling, a fire engine and police van, live music and performances, face painting, balloon modelling, crafts, sports, games, ice cream and lots of food!

The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ Community Chest provided £500 towards this which covered hire of a bouncy castle and bouncy slide and face painting supplies. All which were a huge hit!' 

- Testimony from Holy Trinity Church Lenton

Community Chest funding, 2024: £500

Canning Christmas Lights Switch-on, Canning Circus

As the meeting point of Dunkirk and Lenton, Radford and Park, and the City Centre, Canning Circus is a very busy thoroughfare for students and residents.

One of the highlights of the Christmas season is the annual switch-on of the Canning contemporary tree, which is highly anticipated by the surrounding community. Local school children, choirs and university music groups perform festive favourites to get everyone in the mood, while mulled wine, mince pies and cakes from CakeSoc have all been enjoyed at recent events.

The ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ and Nottingham Trent University jointly funded this event with £250 from each institution. 

Community Chest funding, 2023: £250 

ONE Kegworth - Welcome Fair Sutton Bonington

Being situated so close to University Park Campus, Dunkirk is home to hundreds of students, as well as long-term residents. The local community centre holds an open tea afternoon every year where the whole community is invited to sample food from around the globe.

Malaysian Soc and Cake Soc have previously provided free food samples, while Sustainability Soc have delivered a craft workshop for kids. Musicality Soc have even performed songs from their shows to keep everyone entertained, and the SU Volunteer Centre has supported the event by recruiting general helpers to serve the tea and coffee.

This event is always well attended and loved by students and the wider community every year.

Community Chest Funding, 2023: £315

Building a community - Charles, Lawley and Varden Avenues

The student and non-student residents of Charles, Lawley and Varden Avenues in Lenton Abbey have enjoyed the support of Community Chest funding from the ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ for a number of years. The Neighbourhood Watch group is led by local resident Steve Hadfield, now in his 29th year as coordinator, who supports residents against becoming victims of crime and reckons the best way to do this is by working together as a community.

As soon as new residents move in, the group post a welcome letter through the letterbox. This contains helpful information about wheelie bins, buses, post boxes and parking. It also contains contact details for someone they can approach for help if they need it.

Not content with just being a useful point of contact, Steve organises popular community events such as Halloween parties, scarecrow day, quiz nights and street parties. The group has had 60 people attend the Halloween event, with some Chinese students bringing homemade food which was a real talking point. All events have involved students and have helped them feel that they belong to a community.

Community Chest Funding, 2020: £300