About Join the Docks

The Royal Dock’s annual celebration of culture and creativity – Join the Docks – is currently closed for submissions.

Join the Docks is a creative and cultural programme exploring and celebrating East London’s Royal Docks, developed by the Royal Docks Team,  a joint initiative between the Mayor of London and the Mayor of Newham.

Together with arts and community groups, we want to unlock the creative spirit of the Royal Docks. We have big plans to demonstrate the area’s diversity, vibrant history, its people, and its identity as a place of opportunity, ideas and innovation.

We’re inviting applications to deliver innovative and exciting creative, cultural or leisure projects during the Join the Docks Autumn Programme (14th September – 15th December 2020).

When completing your application we want you to think about how you’ll use the Royal Docks as your creative playground and to connect with local people as audiences or participants. Small and medium grants are available to support your work, plus we’re offering funding for six research and development projects. We particularly want to support projects created by local organisations or individuals based in the Royal Docks / London Borough of Newham, or those with a strong connection to the Royal Docks and its communities.

What funding is available?

Join the Docks has three types of funding opportunities available (detailed below) which individuals and organisations can apply for to realise projects that work within current Government Covid-19 social distancing guidance. Projects must take place between 14th September – 15th December 2020, this should include enough time for marketing before session delivery.

You can apply for all three strands but you will only be awarded funding through a maximum of ONE strand:

Small Grants £500 – £5000

Open to: Individuals and organisations

Medium Grants £5000 – £14000

Open to:

  • Organisations with a bank account.
  • Individuals/organisations without a bank account if partnered with an organisation with a bank account.

Research and Development commissions: £5000 – £14000

Open to:

  • Organisations with a bank account.
  • Individuals/organisations without a bank account if partnered with an organisation with a bank account.
Who can Apply

A range of organisation types can apply for funding

  • Community Interest Company (CIC)
  • Registered Charity
  • Educational Establishment
  • Local Authority
  • Religious Organisation
  • Voluntary/Community Group
  • Community Sports Club
  • Professional Sports Club Community Scheme
  • Social Enterprise
  • Company Limited by Guarantee
  • Informal or un-constituted group
  • Individual
  • Other
How to apply

First, please read the prospectus, FAQs and example application forms found here:

Join the Docks Prospectus

FAQs

Example Small Grant Application

Example Medium Grant Application

Example Research & Development Grant Application

Then apply for a grant using our online application form. You will be taken through a quick eligibility checker which will lead you to our online grant making account. You will need to create a login with your email and password, please ensure you keep a record of this as if successful you will need these login details to accept your grant offer.

This grant is no longer receiving applications.

We actively encourage applicants to contact Groundwork via phone or email if you have any questions about any stage of your application process. Use the contact details below to get in touch.

More about Royal Docks

The Royal Docks is undergoing really exciting change. Find out more about the area’s transformation and the role of culture at the centre of its plans here.

More about Royal Docks

Visit the Royal Docks homepage and scroll down to the bottom to sign up to the Royal Docks newsletter

Sign up to the newsletter

Contact

020 7239 1286

Email: jointhedocks@groundwork.org.uk

Groundwork is managing the grant application process on behalf of the Royal Docks.