New City College celebrates £1m Arts Council grant for community project

New City College is celebrating the fantastic news that Havering Changing – the community arts programme it proudly supports as a consortium partner – has received a £1 million grant from Arts Council England to expand its transformative creative work across the borough.

The funding forms part of the national Creative People and Places portfolio, which supports grassroots-led arts projects in areas where involvement in cultural activity is below the national average. Between 2026 and 2029, Havering Changing will use this investment to empower residents to create, lead and take part in creative experiences that reflect Havering’s diverse communities and stories.

As one of the key consortium partners, New City College – alongside the Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Clarion Futures, HASWA, Havering Volunteer Centre, Havering Youth Services & myplace, Kaleidoscope and The Mercury Shopping Centre – plays a vital role in connecting students and local people through creativity and community engagement.

Andy Greaves, Deputy Group Curriculum Director for the Creative Arts at New City College, said: “The extension and increased funding for Havering Changing’s Creative People and Places programme is fantastic news for the borough.

“As a proud consortium partner, New City College remains committed to supporting creative opportunities for local people – empowering our students and communities to connect, collaborate and express themselves through the arts. This continued investment will play a vital role in nurturing local talent and strengthening Havering’s creative identity.”

Since its launch in 2019, Havering Changing has supported more than 600 community-led arts projects, involving over 17,000 participants and reaching nearly 80,000 residents. From transforming markets and parks into vibrant creative spaces to bringing storytelling, performance and art into local neighbourhoods, the initiative has helped make culture a part of everyday life in Havering.

The new phase of Havering Changing will see the introduction of On Your Doorstep cultural programmes, Creativity Hubs in local venues, and a Storytelling Co-operative to help residents share their experiences in their own voices.

The initiative will continue to focus on communities closely linked to New City College’s Havering campuses – Havering Sixth Form, Ardleigh Green and Rainham Construction and Engineering Centre – and students.

This latest investment not only supports the borough’s creative growth but also strengthens the partnership between education and the arts — ensuring that Havering’s next generation of artists, designers, performers and creatives have every opportunity to flourish.

Find out more about the Havering Changing programme and how to get involved here.

Apply for an Art and Design course or a Media, Film & TV or Games Development course at New City College!

Photo Credits: Hannah Davis (main picture), Christine Santa Ana (middle picture)