Thriving High Streets Fund

The Fund aims to support our high streets to become greener, cleaner, safer and more vibrant places to visit and shop, and places where businesses can rely on sufficient footfall to be successful. 

The council encourages a place-based approach to town centres and high streets which means tailoring projects to the specific needs and strengths of the town centre and working in partnership to address complex challenges found in a specific area. 

Themes

Your project must address 2 of these themes, including Southwark Stands Together, to be successful:

Healthy and safe high streets

Activities that target health inequalities, for example:

• increasing the availability of healthy food
• increasing access to health-promoting services
• creating green recreational spaces
• supporting safety measures that combat violence against women and girls (VAWG)

A greener Southwark

Activities that target the climate crisis, for example:

• reducing emissions
• improving green spaces in the borough
• contributing towards Southwark’s aim to achieve net zero by 2030

Cost of living crisis

Activities that reduce the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on businesses and residents, for example:

• helping businesses to lower energy costs
• sourcing local supplies
• supporting alternative community uses of existing spaces on our high streets

Cultural and community events

Activities that celebrate and acknowledge the diversity and heritage of our town centres and help to foster a sense of social cohesion.

Southwark Stands Together

All applicants must demonstrate how their project will incorporate the ambitions of Southwark Stands Together, our work to increase diversity, reduce inequalities and tackle racism. Activities should address racial injustice and promote equality and diversity, such as: 

• inclusive business support
• supporting town centres and high streets to become more inclusive

Support our town centre action plans

We have published Town Centre Action Plans that aim to improve town centres in Bermondsey, Camberwell, Canada Water, Elephant and Castle and Walworth, and Peckham. 

We welcome applications that support the action plans, but this is not a requirement.