FAQ

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) covers a broad range of issues. It's behaviour that causes nuisance, harassment, alarm and distress to individuals and the community. 

Together with our partners we can support you with ASB from:

Drug and alcohol abuse 

This includes irresponsible drinking and drug-related litter such as needles and alcohol cans.

Threatening or abusive behaviour

This is verbal abuse or threatening behaviour that causes nuisance, harassment, alarm or distress.
The behaviour can be deliberate or not.

Vandalism

 This is when someone has damaged or destroyed public or private property on purpose.

Aggressive and persistent begging

This is begging that makes people feel intimidated or hassled to give money.

Encampments

These are tents or temporary shelters put up by individuals and/or groups. If this causes nuisance, alarm and/or distress to other people it can be anti-social behaviour.

Please note that rough sleeping alone is not considered ASB. Visit the helping the homeless page to get more information on how to support a person who is homeless.

Sex working and prostitution

This includes soliciting/prostitution, brothels, kerb crawling, and sex work that causes ASB (e.g. condom littering, screaming or fighting )

Public urination or defecation

This is someone going to the toilet in a public or communal place.

Vehicle related ASB 

This can be nuisance behaviour inside or around a vehicle(s).

Noise nuisance (non-statutory)

This is unreasonable noise that causes nuisance, alarm and distress. 

It can be from:

• unreasonable/avoidable domestic noise
• intentional noise like shouting, arguing, swearing or playing music

What non-statutory noise nuisance can the council deal with?

We can only deal with complaints within:

• privately rented properties
• privately owned properties
• parks and open spaces

What about in social housing or housing association properties?

Please send complaints directly to the organisations in charge.

National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Fund

Supports projects that embed climate action into daily life, especially among groups previously unengaged or facing barriers such as poverty or discrimination.

Eligibility

Charities, voluntary groups, charitable incorporated organisations, schools, universities, statutory bodies, and other not-for-profits, with a focus on formal partnerships between community, voluntary, and public sector organisations.

Funding amount

Grants from £500,000 to £1.5 million, with up to £3 million available for exceptional projects over seven years. Up to 25 projects will be funded.

Closing date

17 December 2025

More information

Please visit The National Lottery Community Fund website for more information.

Veolia Environmental Trust

Veolia Environmental Trust awards grants towards projects that improve community facilities and the natural environment. It looks to fund work that:

• Promotes community action and wellbeing
• Is inclusive and accessible to everyone and anyone to use
• Inspires the creation of a sustainable carbon neutral community space
• Protects and enhances biodiversity and natural habitats.

Eligibility and Funding amount

The Community Grant Scheme is available to constituted not-for-profit organisations. Grants of between £10,000 and £75,000 are available to create or improve buildings or outside spaces for the benefit of the community.

The Habitat and Biodiversity Grant Scheme is available to constituted not-for-profit organisations. Minimum grants of £10,000 are available for improvements to or the creation of natural habitats, creating a healthy environment where native species can thrive.

Closing date

The upcoming closing dates are:

• 8 January 2026 at 12.00pm
• 2 April 2026 at 12.00pm
• 25 June 2026 at 12.00pm.

More information

Visit the Funding - Veolia Environmental trust webpage for more information.

The Green Roots Fund

City Hall’s Green Roots Fund supports projects to create and improve green and blue infrastructure in London. It focuses on making the environment better for all Londoners, while addressing issues such as inequality, climate resilience, biodiversity and protecting against climate change.

The fund aims to:

1. Enhance blue and green spaces in London. This means making London’s neighbourhoods healthier, more nature-rich and climate resilient, so they are higher quality and natural spaces are better connected.
2. Include and involve Londoners in blue and green spaces. This means ensuring access to green and blue infrastructure and its benefits for all Londoners, so they feel welcome and comfortable in green, blue and natural spaces. It also means involving diverse groups in management and decision making.

Eligibility

Formally constituted organisations with an organisational bank account.

Funding amount

Grants of between £10,000 and £500,000 are available over three years.

Closing date

Thursday 22 January 2026 at 2.00pm.

More information

Material Focus - Electricals Recycling Fund (UK)

Material Focus awards funding for projects that make it easier for UK householders to reuse and recycle their electrical goods. Through the Electricals Recycling Fund, grants of up to £100,000 are available for projects seeking to grow or develop existing household waste and recycling collection services for small household electricals, and grants of up to £50,000 for projects that seek to innovate new collection methods.

Eligibility

Any UK registered organisations including local authorities, waste collection authority areas, contractors, reuse organisations, not-for-profits, community sector organisations, producer compliance schemes, retailers and start-ups.

Funding amount

Grants of up to £100,000 are available for projects seeking to grow or develop existing household waste and recycling collection services for small household electricals.

Grants of up to £50,000 are available for projects that seek to innovate new collection methods.

Successful projects can spend funding on:

• the purchase of new bins/collection points (‘bring banks’)
• the adaptation of waste collection vehicles to include cages for kerbside WEEE
• vehicle rental
• installation of bins
• communication and marketing materials
• staffing costs to cover the time spent planning and delivering the project

Closing date

Applications can be submitted at any time.

More information

Please visit the Material Focus website.

Esmée Fairbairn: Our Natural World

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation aims to improve our natural world, secure a fairer future and strengthen the bonds in communities in the UK. It supports people and organisations who are doing everything they can to bring about the change the Foundation wants to see.

The Foundation’s grant funding is focused on work that will deliver long-term impact and create change for the future. This means it makes longer-term grants to organisations, rather than short-term or small-scale grants.

The Foundation’s current priorities under “Our Natural World” are Peat, Space for nature, Freshwater, Nature friendly farming and Fishing in tandem with nature.

Eligibility

Organisations with an annual turnover of more than £100,00.

Funding Amount

Grants valued from £30,000 (no maximum) are available for core or project costs, including staff salaries and overheads. Unrestricted funding for charities is available. The majority of grants are for three to five years.

Closing Date

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

More Information

Please visit Our Natural World priorities | Esmée Fairbairn Foundation for more information.

The NINEVEH Charitable Trust

The NINEVEH Charitable Trust supports a broad range of UK-based projects and activities that promote a better understanding of the environment and countryside, while facilitating improved access, education and research.

Its priorities are:

• The health, welfare and education of the general public
• The study and appreciation of agriculture, silviculture, ecology and land management
• The study and appreciation of land and estate management that encourages conservation of the countryside.

Eligibility

UK registered charities and Community Interest Companies.

Funding amount

Applicants are advised to apply for up to £5,000 per year for up to 3 years.

Closing date

Applications are reviewed and selected on a quarterly basis.

More information

Please visit The Nineveh Charitable Trust website for more information.

Metropolitan Public Gardens Association (MPGA)

The MPGA has been giving small grants to community projects across the 33 London boroughs for over 130 years. Its funding enables Londoners to create better and greener public spaces in their communities. MPGA also gives horticultural advice when appropriate. 

Eligibility

Organisations and groups that maintain and improve public open spaces.

Funding amount

Grants of up to £1,500 are available.

Closing date

Applications are reviewed on a quarterly basis and can be submitted at any time.

More information

Please visit the MPGA website.

Empowering communities

This free course delivered by Open University discusses the most common forms of community empowerment. It explores the barriers to community empowerment and the ways that they can be overcome.

Date

Self-paced

Delivery method

Online

For further details and registration information, please visit the Open University training webpage.

Diversity and inclusion in the workplace

This free course examines the development and support of diverse and inclusive workforces and explores the benefits of diversity for organisational well-being. The course offers practical strategies for recruitment, retention, and cultural integration, and provides examples of successful initiatives.

Date

Self-paced

Delivery method

Online

For further details and registration information, please visit the Open University training webpage.

1. Dog fouling: Dog walkers must immediately remove their dog’s faeces from land within Tower Hamlets that is open and accessible to the public.

2. Dog exclusion order: Dogs must not enter the following areas:

• Gated children’s playgrounds
• Gated sports area such as sports courts, multi-use games areas, tennis courts

These are spaces within a park, open space or housing estate and which are fully or substantially enclosed and set apart for the use by children as a playground or other area for play or for sporting activities.

3. Dogs on leads order: Dogs must be on a lead on:

• Roads
• pavements
• car parks
• estate roads and communal areas on estates 

4. Dogs on leads by direction order: Authorised council officers have the power to request that dogs are put on leads where they are not under the appropriate control of their owner, or where they are causing damage or acting aggressively. 

5. Dog limit: It is an offence for any one person to have more than four dogs under their control at any given time.

Failure to comply with any of these requirements is a criminal offence.

The full dog control PSPO can be found on the council’s website.