Street party for the Coronation of George VI and Elizabeth May 1937, Ratcliffe Cross Street, Stepney. Pic: Tower Hamlets Council
Residents of Patriot Square Estate in Bethnal Green have been awarded a small grant to help with hosting a traditional East End street party to mark the Royal Wedding on Saturday.
They are one of two groups to be awarded a £250 grant from Tower Hamlets council to help with organising Royal Wedding celebrations.
Organiser Kate Eberwein, who has lived on the estate for eight years, read about the grants in the council magazine, Our East End, and quickly filled out an application form. She plans to spend the money on getting lots of decorations and refreshments for the celebrations.
Eberwein said: “Everyone’s really excited. We all get on well and the Royal Wedding is a nice excuse for a party which will be a positive way of bringing those who have lived on the estate for a while, and new residents together.”
Neighbours in Poplar, one of five LinkAge Plus centres funded by the council and Tower Hamlets Clinical Commissioning Group, with the aim of improving the well-being of older residents, will be holding a celebratory event on 25 May at St Matthias Community Centre, 113 Poplar High Street.
Alongside a number of street parties, the rest of Tower Hamlets will be partying alongside the Royal Wedding. Mile End Park will be covered in bunting, and residents of all ages are invited to bring a food and drink for a joint celebration of the Royal Wedding from 12-4pm.
The events will include attractions such as fairground rides, sporting activities, and a bungee run.
Mile End Park Picnic. Pic: Tower Hamlets Council
Judith St John, Divisional Director of Leisure and Culture, said: “All year-round Tower Hamlets events bring our communities together in our parks and open spaces.
“The Royal Wedding is a great chance for residents from all backgrounds to meet others and strengthen our ties by having fun at a street party, a community event or by coming along to the picnic at Mile End Park”.
The picnic in Mile End Park will take place at the events field, Haverfield Road, (off Grove Road) E3 5TW. For further information email Mileendpark@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Public events like these are funded by the council’s Event Fund, which forms part of the Tower Hamlets Mainstream Grants budget.
This exists to provide small grants to community members who wish to organise events and festivals that will benefit local residents.
A spokesperson for Tower Hamlets Council told ELL: “The council’s Event Fund had small grants of up to £250 for people to put on community celebrations to mark the royal wedding on 19 May. Grant requests had to be made by midday on Thursday 5 April using an online form.”
When applying for a grant, organisers must meet a series of council guidelines. This includes explaining how the event will benefit the community, and how involved local communities will be.
If you wish to apply for your grant to help support an event or celebration of your own then head here.
