The City of London Corporation’s charity, City Bridge Trust has awarded almost £140,000 to Hackney City Farm to boost community understanding of the environment and biodiversity.

The grant will support the charities outreach work in the Hackney communities and increase volunteering activities. Hackney City Farm, which is based by Haggerston Park promotes healthy living and access to green spaces for people who live in highly populated urban environments. It has been well documented that access to the natural environment can improve wellbeing, reduce stress and enhance health benefits.

The support from City Bridge Trust will be focused on the charity’s volunteering outreach with hard to reach groups such as people with mental problems, special educational needs, refugees and children with carers on low incomes. Hackney City Farm has over 30 years’ experience in delivering environmental education and volunteering activities to people in Hackney, through horticultural training, food growing and developing wildlife habitats.

In the past 20 years, The City of London Corporation’s charity, City Bridge Trust, has awarded grants totalling £1/3 billion to charitable organisations tackling disadvantage in Greater London.

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For media enquires please contact Rachel Tooze, media officer at the City of London Corporation.

Tel- 020 7332 1528

Email- rachel.tooze@cityoflondon.gov.uk

About the City of London CorporationThe City of London Corporation, headed by the Lord Mayor, provides local government and policing services for the financial and commercial heart of Britain, the 'Square Mile'. In addition, the City Corporation has three roles: (1) To support and promote the ‘City’ as a world-leading financial and business hub, with outward and inward business delegations, high-profile civic events, research-driven policies all reflecting a long-term approach. See www.cityoflondon.gov.uk for more details. (2) to support London’s communities by working in partnership with neighbouring boroughs on economic regeneration, education and skills projects. In addition, the City of London Corporation’s charity City Bridge Trust aims to address disadvantage across Greater London through quality grant-making and related activities. It makes grants of c £20million per year to charitable projects in London. The Corporation also supports education with three independent schools, three City Academies, a primary school and the world-renowned Guildhall School of Music and Drama. (3) To look after key London heritage and green spaces including Tower Bridge, Museum of London, Barbican Arts Centre, City gardens, Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest, Burnham Beeches, and important ‘commons’ in south London. And – with its heart in London’s Square Mile - we also support and promote the ‘City’ as a world-leading financial and business hub, with outward and inward business delegations, high-profile civic events, research-driven policies and a long-term approach. See www.cityoflondon.gov.uk for much more on our uniquely diverse role, including the City of London Police, etc.