Havering London is excited to announce the diverse range of community and cultural organisations who form the Community Venue Network are set to benefit from new capital investment, funded through the Community Infrastructure Levy.
The Community Venue Network (CVN) is a partnership of 13 community venues across Havering that aims to strengthen culture, creativity, and community by supporting local spaces and expanding cultural opportunities. Most recently, the CVN staged A Good Life Day, a free day of arts, culture and wellbeing activity across Havering this March 2026.
Designed to transform local spaces and increase access for residents, this new capital funding will enable these community and cultural venues to upgrade facilities, improve accessibility and develop exciting new programmes. Together, these awardees show the strength of Havering’s cultural sector, and a commitment to creating welcoming, vibrant places where everyone can take part.
Ahava Community (Hope Cafe) – £11,932.93
Hope Cafe is looking forward to an amazing upgrade over the next six months, enabling the Cafe to hold events and art shows for itself, the Community Venue Network and anyone wishing to use the space. The upgrades will include lighting, a sound system, projection equipment and improved catering equipment enabling the Cafe to host events that will add to the cultural environment of Havering.
The Appleby Gallery – £9,981
Capital funding will help transform the gallery and museum experience at The Appleby Gallery. The investment will support essential upgrades including improved framing and lighting, interactive digital technology, museum-grade artwork protection, and immersive projection and sound equipment. These improvements will allow the Gallery to showcase art to a higher standard, create engaging multi-media and sensory-friendly experiences, and welcome more schools, families and visitors – making the Gallery more accessible, dynamic and inspiring for everyone.
Fairkytes Arts Centre – £10,052
Fairkytes Arts Centre will upgrade its light and sound systems removing the technical barriers limiting Fairkytes’ venue potential, restoring the venue to full functionality and enabling a wider range of performances. This will help rebuild a thriving grassroots music programme, giving merging artists access to a professional environment to develop their craft and perform with confidence. The upgrades would also make the venue viable for external hirers, supporting community groups and cultural organisations. These improvements will unlock capacity to strengthen local cultural life, increase participation, and ensure Fairkytes remains a sustainable community resource for Havering.
Havering Asian Social and Welfare Association – £11,513.20
HASWA (is a recognised community organisation delivering important support and services to those in need. Its work improves the physical and mental wellbeing of individuals as well as community cohesion and understanding through activities including Chair Yoga, Bollywood Dancing and the Golden Oldies Singing Group. Upgrading sound and lighting systems will enable HASWA to offer high-quality facilities to community users and continue delivering vibrant, accessible activities and events for the local community.
Lumiere – £4,000
Thanks to funding from Havering London, a new stage will be installed in Screen 8, transforming the space into a flexible venue for live performance, cabaret, awards ceremonies, dance, performative art and conferences. This exciting addition will create a unique and much-needed space in the heart of Romford, opening up new possibilities for the local arts scene and community alike.
MyPlace – £12,000
With funding, the technical capability of the performance hall will be improved, with new lighting, an upgraded projector and wireless mics and speakers. These upgrades will help us build on MyPlace’s success as a community venue, allowing it to support the local and national groups that use MyPlace to put on bigger and better shows and projects benefiting the community further. MyPlace will also use the venue as a training ground for young people to become experienced technicians, who can hopefully go on to work in the arts industry.
ROYALS Youth Centre – £11,252.60
ROYALS Youth Centre will invest in equipment and a redesigned website to improve both its facilities and its digital presence. These upgrades will help the Centre to welcome larger groups, provide a safe and accessible environment for creative and movement-based activities, and make it easier for young people and families to discover and access our programmes. By removing practical barriers, the Centre can host a wider variety of cultural programmes, attract more young people, and continue growing as a vibrant and accessible hub for the community.
Sapphire Jubilee Community Centre – £11,507
These improvements will enhance the Centre’s cultural offer and be used to create a welcoming, inclusive and accessible space for all residents. Clear signage and bespoke joinery will make the space easy to navigate, including for those with accessibility needs. Upgraded finishes and flexible, comfortable, furniture will support a range of activities and encourage regular use by different groups. Co-design sessions will empower residents to shape the space, strengthening community ownership and inclusion.
St Mary Magdalene Church – £6,666
St Mary Magdalene Church, at the centre of the rural village of North Ockendon, sits on Havering’s last remnants of the east London fenland. The church and other listed buildings tell the story of rural life in this part of the Essex/London borders from the time of Domesday. Capital investment will provide a complete AV system for community and hire use, supporting church, club and hiring activities. The venue will be able to offer greater opportunities to a wider number of people to explore the history and development of this hidden part of Havering and its unique natural and agricultural landscape.
The Appleby Gallery
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