FAQ

Data Protection: Idea Store Membership

Your personal details are required for the creation of a library account. This information is held on a common database shared by the London Libraries Consortium [LLC] authority members. It is password protected and only accessible to Idea Store and LLC staff. Details of all completed transactions i.e. items borrowed and returned, are kept within the system for two years and details of non-completed transactions i.e. items borrowed and not returned are kept for six years. 

You can sign-in to our online catalogue to view the last 18 months of your borrowing history.

We collect and use depersonalised details, which do not identify you as a named individual for statistical analysis of our services, such as Idea Store Online usage and the number and type of library items borrowed. This allows us to review and provide better services.

When you register for a library account:

• We will need to collect your email address. This is so that we can send you pre-overdue, overdue and reservation notifications;

• You can choose to opt-in or opt-out to receive marketing emails that alert our members to new services and Idea Store courses that may be of interest. You can opt-out of receiving marketing communications at any time by using the ‘Unsubscribe’ link at the bottom of the marketing emails.

Idea Store Learning: How We Use Your Personal Information 

The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is registered with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) under the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1988.  We will keep your data for a maximum of 6 years in line with our retention schedule and to meet the requirements of our funding providers, The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).

Idea Store Learning: Health Screening Questionnaire Privacy Notice
It is necessary for us to process your name and health information, disclosed on the Health Screening questionnaire, to ensure that you complete Health, Fitness & Wellbeing, Technical Education and Visual Arts class activities / exercises safely.

We keep your data for a maximum of 6 years in line with our retention schedule and to meet the requirements of our funding providers and the Department for Education.

Idea Store Website Data Protection

We respect and protect the privacy of everyone who visits this website.  This website does not store or capture personal information, but merely logs the customer's IP address that is automatically recognised by the web server.  The IP address is not linked to anything that identifies an individual and therefore your user session will remain anonymous to Tower Hamlets Council.  We do not use cookies for collecting user information from the site and we will not collect any information about you except that required for system administration of the web server.

Consent for the Use of Images

If you attend an Idea Store activity, event or course you may be asked to consent to having your photograph taken, as an individual or as part of a group, for promotional purposes only. These images may appear in our printed publications, such as the course guide, on our website or other marketing materials or media. The images are only used to promote Idea Store. We do not use the images taken, or the information you provide on the consent form, for any other purpose. We do not include personal details in our printed publications or on our website. We retain a copy of the image and the related consent form on the council’s secure network.  If we have taken your photograph you may withdraw your consent for use at any time.

Tower Hamlets Council Data Protection and Freedom of Information 

You can find out more about your rights on the Data Protection and Freedom of Information page, and this includes details of your rights about automated decisions, such as the ranking of Housing Applications, and how to complain to the Information Commissioner.  

Contact Idea Store

If you have any concerns or questions regarding the use of your Idea Store membership or learning data, please contact the ideastore@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

We work closely with a variety of landlords in the borough. If the matter you wish to report is not one that requires an immediate call to the police and concerns an issue where you live, please report this directly to your housing provider in the first instance. Our main providers in the borough include:

• A2 Dominion
• Clarion Housing (formerly Old Ford Housing)
• EastendHomes
• East Thames Group (now part of London & Quadrant)
• Family Mosaic
• Gateway HA
• Genesis Housing Group
• Guinness Partnership
• Karin Housing Association
• London & Quadrant
• LookAhead
• Metropolitan Housing Trust
• Network Homes
• Notting Hill Housing Trust
• One Housing Group
• Peabody
• Poplar HARCA
• Providence Row HA
• Salvation Army Homes
• Southern Housing Group
• Spitalfields HA
• Swan HA
• Tower Hamlets Community Housing

First Kicks sports Winter Camp 2025

Club location:
St Agnes Catholic Primary school Rainhill Way, Bow London EN3 3ER

Dates of operation:
22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31 December 2025 and 2 January 2025

Times of operation:
9.30am to 3pm

Age range (years):
5 to 12 years old

SEND focused:
Yes

Booking information:
Email firstkickssportscamp@hotmail.com or visit First Kicks Sports website  

SOUL Winter Fun Camps

Club location:
Collingwood Community Centre, Barnsley Street, London, E1 5RB

Dates of operation:
22, 23, 24, 27, 29, 31 December 2025 and 2 January 2026

Times of Operation:
10am to 2pm

Age Range (years):
6 to 16 years old

SEND Focused:
Yes

Booking information:
Website: www.souluk.co.uk
Telephone: 020 7646 2320 / 020 8064 1351
Email: info@souluk.co.uk
Registration: souluk.online

Sportscool East London

Club location:
Bonner Primary School – Mile End Site, 2c Ropery St, London E3 4QE

Dates of operation:
22, 23, 24, 27, 29, 30, 31 December 2025 and 3 January 2026

Times of operation:
10am to 2pm

Age range (years):
4 to 11 years old

SEND focused:
Yes

Booking information:
Website: https://bit.ly/Bonner-HAF25
Email: eastlondon@sportscool.org
Telephone: 07707 861 027

Tower Hamlets Youth League United Winter HAF Camp

Club location:
Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, Bethnal Green, London, E2 6HG
Mile End Leisure Centre, 190 Burdett Road, Mile End, E3 4HL

Dates of operation:
22, 23, 24, 27, 29, 30, 31 December 2025 and 4 January 2026

Times of operation:
11.30am to 4pm

Age range (years):
5 to 16 years old

SEND focused:
Yes

Booking information:
Telephone: 07399 111 435
Email: thylunited@hotmail.com
Website: www.thylunited.com

UDICHI Winter Holiday Arts Workshop for Children and Young People

Club location:
Idea Store, Whitechapel
321 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1BU

Dates of operation:
22, 23, 24, 27, 29, 30, 31 December 2025

Times of operation:
11am to 3pm

Age range (years):
5 to 16 years old

SEND Focused:
Yes

Booking information:
Email: info@udichiuk.org
Telephone: 07950 792 156 / 07932 539 241
Website: www.udichiuk.org

Let’s Get Active Winter 2025

Club location:
Hason Raja Centre, 117 Vallance Road, London, E1 5BW

Dates of operation:
21, 22, 28, 29 December 2025

Times of operation:
11am to 3pm

Age range (years):
6 to 14 years old

SEND Focused:
Yes

Booking information:
Telephone: 07961 483 199 / 020 7247 6957
Email: iqbal.hussain@vallancecsa.org.uk / info@vallancecasa.org.uk

London City Airport Community Fund

He London City Airport Fund supports charities and not-for-profit organisations that improve quality of life in local communities by:

• building stronger, safer and healthier communities
• creating more sustainable and greener communities
• raising aspirations of East Londoners creating pathways into employment

Eligibility

Voluntary and community organisations based in:

• Barking & Dagenham, Bexley, Epping Forest District Council 
• Greenwich, Hackney, Havering, Newham, Lambeth, Lewisham 
• Redbridge, Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest 

Funding amount

Between £300 and £3,000

Closing date

Upcoming submission deadlines are:

• 2 January 2026 (5pm)
• 26 June 2026 (5pm)

More information

For full details and to apply visit the London City Airport Community Fund website.

MOPAC Girls and Young Women Local Groups Fund

The Girls and Young Women Local Groups Fund is a London-wide initiative by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC). This fund supports local organisations to deliver work that creates safe, supportive spaces for girls and women across London.

Funding is for London-based community groups already working with women and girls impacted by gangs, violence, and exploitation, to strengthen both direct support and the evidence base on what works.

The Fund focuses on achieving outcomes across two key priorities:

• Delivering gender-responsive support for girls and young women
• Building a network of practice for grantees

Alongside funding to deliver group work and enable girls and young women to co-produce recommendations for improving the sector, this grant programme offers structured development activities to support grantees and build a network of providers.

Local groups funded through this programme will have four main roles:

1. To create safe spaces for girls and young women to take part in group sessions, where they can connect with others and offer each other support
2. To involve girls and young women in co-design and co-production activities – helping shape services and build a better understanding of what support should look like
3. To engage with development support and capacity-building, including learning sessions and networking with other grant-funded groups
4. To engage with the Fund’s monitoring and learning activities to help us learn from the group work

Eligibility

Organisations and groups working in London that already support girls and young women affected by gangs, violence, or exploitation, can apply, including:

• Registered UK charities.
• Charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs).
• Companies that are limited by guarantee.
• Not-for-profit community interest companies (CICs).
• Constituted community groups.
• Voluntary sector organisations.

Funding amount

Grants will range from £25,000 to £80,000, for delivery between 22 June 2026 to 18 June 2027.

Closing date

Friday 6 February 2026 at 9.00am

More information

Please read the Fund Prospectus and visit the grant information webpage for more details and to apply.

North London Forensic Collaborative Small Grants (NLFC)

NLFC is offering a small grant programme to voluntary sector, faith, and grassroot organisations as part of its aspiration to build relationships and work together to tackle inequalities and improve quality outcomes for forensic service users.

The term “forensic service users” is used to describe people who access adult forensic mental health services, as an inpatient in an adult secure service, or in the community under the care of a specialist community forensic team. 

Eligibility

Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise organisations based in North London that currently operate within one of the Integrated Care System regions (North East London, North West London, North Central London).

Funding Amount

Grants range from £500 to £4,999. For projects supporting employment pathways, including work-based placements or training leading to jobs, larger grants of up to £9,999 are available.

Closing Date

Applications are welcome until March 2026, or until all funds are spent.

More Information

Please visit the North London NHS Foundation Trust website for more information.

The Garfield Weston Foundation - Projects/Specific activity grant

The Garfield Weston Foundation is a charitable grant-making foundation. Grants can be used for running costs, for a specific activity, or for capital projects. The Foundation is flexible and funds what charities need the most.

Eligibility

UK registered charities and CIOs (Charitable Incorporated Organisations).

Funding amount

£1,000 to several million pounds, depending on the size and scope of the work.

Closing date

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

For information

Please visit the Garfield Weston Foundation website.

Arnold Clark Community Fund

Grants of up to £2,500 are available to UK charities, community and voluntary organisations and CICs whose work directly supports those most affected by the cost-of-living crisis.

Applications are particularly welcome from smaller voluntary and community organisations who are working with those most affected by and vulnerable to the increased cost of living. 

Eligibility

Registered UK charities and community groups that are within a 50-mile radius of an Arnold Clark branch.

Funding amount

The following grants are available:

• Community Support grants up to £1,000
• Cost of living grants up to £2,500

Closing date

Applications are accepted on a rolling monthly basis, but may be paused due to high demand. Because of this, early applications are recommended.

More information

For full details and to apply, visit the Arnold Clark Community Fund page

AB Charitable Trust Open Programme

The AB Charitable Trust (ABCT) supports work that promotes human dignity and defends the human rights of the most marginalised and excluded people. Organisations can apply under the following priorities:

• The Human Rights Framework
• Access to Justice
• The Criminal Legal System
• Migrants and Refugees

Eligibility

UK registered charities with annual income between £150,000 and £1.5 million

Funding amount

Open Programme grants are usually between £10,000 to £30,000 per year and are awarded from one to three years.

Closing date

Upcoming closing dates are:

• 30 January 2026
• 24 April 2026

For information

Please visit the ABCT Open Programme webpage.

Matthew Good Foundation – Grants for Good

Grants for Good is funded by the John Good Group and is designed to direct funding only to small and growing local charities, voluntary groups or social enterprises that are making a big impact on communities, people or the environment.

This programme offers unrestricted funds that can be used for any costs, including core running costs.

Eligibility

UK-based local community groups, charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises with income under £50,000.Applicants must have a bank account in the organisation’s name.

Funding amount

£15,000 is shared between five shortlisted projects each quarter.

Closing date

Quarterly application windows.

More information

Visit the Grants for Good webpage for more information.

Esmée Fairbairn: Creative, Confident Communities

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 they want to see.

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

The Foundation’s  current priorities under “A Fairer Future” are:

• Communities working together for change
• Community driven enterprise and regeneration
• Community-led art and creativity.

Eligibility

Organisations with an annual turnover of more than £100,000.

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 Creative, Confident Communities priorities | Esmée Fairbairn Foundation for more information.

Sanctuary Housing Community Investment Fund

The Community Investment Fund aims to develop successful and sustainable communities in the areas where Sanctuary Housing operates.

The Fund’s current funding priorities are:

• ‎Employment, education, skills and training‎
• Health and Wellbeing‎
• Community safety and Infrastructure‎
• Environment‎
• Financial inclusion.

Eligibility

Charities, community groups, residents’ associations and voluntary organisations operating in areas where Sanctuary Housing works are welcome to make an enquiry. Please note, match funding requirements apply.

Closing Date

Enquiries are currently welcome, with no closing date stated.

More Information

Please visit the Sanctuary Housing website for more information.

The Cooks Charity – Elizabeth Fund

The aim of the Elizabeth Fund is to provide small, one-off grants to deserving food-related and/or cooking projects or good causes, which would not otherwise be supported by the Cooks Charity’s normal annual grant-giving.

Eligibility

Qualifying projects are to be connected with the City of London, to include the City Fringe boroughs of Camden, Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Southwark and the City of Westminster in some way.

Funding amount

Up to £1,000.

Closing date

N/A

More information

Visit The Elizabeth Fund webpage for more information.

 Shanly Foundation – Core Grants

The Shanly Foundation aims to support causes that help individuals and benefit the local community, including support for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, the homeless, those with mental health issues and people with physical disabilities, injury or life-limiting illness.

Eligibility

• Registered charities, CICs, CIOs, and organisations exempt or excepted under Charity Commission guidance.
• Funding supports core costs and unrestricted activity for groups assisting disabled individuals, the elderly, and disadvantaged communities.
• Organisations focused on rehabilitation, homelessness, local sports and social clubs, Scouts and Guides, youth outdoor centres

Funding amount

The foundation typically awards core grants ranging from £1,000 to £25,000.

Closing date

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

More information

Please visit the Shanly Foundation website.

Trust for London

Trust for London, established in 1891, is the largest independent charity focused on poverty and inequality in London.

The Trust funds organisations and projects working towards Social Justice and/or Economic Justice. Click here for details about the priority areas of work that sit under each of these strategic aims.

Trust for London provides both project funding and unrestricted funding.

Eligibility

The Trust funds:

• Registered Charities
• Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIO)
• Community Interest Companies (CIC)
• Companies Limited by Guarantee (CLG)
• Trusts
• Unincorporated Associations
• Cooperative Societies
• Trade unions

£500 Access Payments are available to those requiring accessibility-related support to apply.

Funding amount

Grants range from £40,000 to £80,000 per year, for up to 5 years.

Closing date

Applications can be submitted at any time.

More information

Please read the Trust’s funding guidelines, then visit the Trust for London website.

Morrisons Foundation

The newly established Morrisons Foundation is looking to award approximately £2 million a year for community projects that improve people’s lives. Funding objectives of this fund are:

• Tackling poverty and social deprivation.
• Enhancing Community Spaces, facilities and services.
• Improving Health & wellbeing.

Eligibility

Registered charities with an income of less than £1m .

Funding amount

Grants are available for up to £10,000 for capital spend or direct project delivery

Closing date

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

More information

Please visit the Morrisons Foundation website.

 The National Lottery Awards for All England

The funding supports new activities, ongoing ones, or organisational adaptations.

Projects must do at least one of these things:

• bring people together to build strong relationships in and across communities.
• improve the places and spaces that matter to communities.
• help more people to reach their potential, by supporting them at the earliest possible stage
• support people, communities and organisations facing more demands and challenges because of the cost-of-living crisis.

Eligibility

Applications are accepted from:

• constituted voluntary or community organisation
• constituted group or club
• registered charities
• Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
• Not-For-Profit companies
• Community Interest Companies (CIC)
• school (if your project benefits and involves the communities around the school)
• statutory bodies (including local authorities, town, parish and community council)
• community benefit societies.

Funding amount

£300 to £20,000 for up to two years.

Closing date

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

More information

Please visit the National Lottery Awards for All England website.

The National Lottery UK Fund

The fund is for organisations wanting to help communities connect better. Organisations  are encouraged to apply for funding for projects that:

• strengthen relationships between people whose experiences of life have not been the same. For example, relationships between people of different ethnic backgrounds, generations, occupations, or geographies
• create connections between online and offline worlds
• help make sure people from all backgrounds can shape the future of their communities.

Eligibility

Applications are accepted from:

• constituted voluntary or community organisation
• constituted group or club
• registered charities
• Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
• Not-For-Profit companies
• Community Interest Companies (CIC)
• school (if your project benefits and involves the communities around the school)
• statutory bodies (including local authorities, town, parish, and community council)
• community benefit societies

Funding amount

This UK-wide funding offers £500,000 to £5 million for projects tackling national issues over 2-10 years.

Closing date

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

More information

Please visit the The UK Fund website.

The National Lottery Reaching Communities England

This funding supports projects and groups improving their community. The National Lottery defines community as people in the same area or with similar interests or experiences.

Projects or organisations applying for funding must do at least one of these things:

• bring people together to build strong relationships in and across communities
• improve the places and spaces that matter to communities
• help more people to reach their potential, by supporting them at the earliest possible stage.

This fund is flexible and can respond to your community’s needs, therefore the following funding options are available:

• for the long or short term
• for a specific activity, or for broader costs to help your organisation or community
• for one organisation or to bring organisations together
• to support people, communities, and organisations most affected by the cost-of-living crisis
• to help organisations address the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on how they work, now and in the future.

Eligibility

Applications are accepted from:

• constituted voluntary or community organisation
• constituted group or club
• registered charities
• Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
• Not-For-Profit companies
• Community Interest Companies (CIC)
• school (if your project benefits and involves the communities around the school)
• statutory bodies (including local authorities, town, parish, and community council)
• community benefit societies.

Funding amount

£20,001 or more, for up to five years.

Closing date

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

More information

Please visit the Reaching Communities England website.

The National Lottery Partnerships

This funding is for organisations working together in partnership to help their community. The National Lottery defines community as people in one area or with similar interests or experiences.

Eligibility

Applications are accepted from:

• constituted voluntary or community organisation
• constituted group or club
• registered charities
• Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
• Not-For-Profit companies
• Community Interest Companies (CIC)
• school (if your project benefits and involves the communities around the school)
• statutory bodies (including local authorities, town, parish, and community council)
• community benefit societies.

Funding amount

£20,001 or more, for up to five years.

Closing date

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

More information

Please visit the National Lottery Partnerships Fund website.