As the year comes to an end, we’ve been taking time at Globe Community Project to pause and look back. To think about the people who’ve walked through our doors, the stories we’ve been trusted with, and the small but powerful moments of connection that happen every week.

Our Director Maniprabha shares a few words:

“While the charity environment is tough right now, at GCP we’re holding up well. This year we supported hundreds of local people, received our first ever 5-year grant, and an Improving Quality independent assessment found our governance excellent, noting ‘the enthusiasm, passion and commitment of staff.
“My personal highlight this year was being part of an incredibly warm, creative, diverse and hard-working team. Sometimes, (on days with no grant reports due), I think I have the best job in the world.”

This year has been about steady progress, care, and showing up for one another. We’re proud of what we’ve built alongside our community, volunteers, trustees, partners, and supporters, and we’re deeply grateful for the trust placed in us.

We were pleased to receive new funding this year from the National Lottery, Wakefield & Tetley Trust, London Catalyst, London Community Foundation, Canary Wharf Group, and the Merchant Taylors’ Foundation.

This support has helped us continue offering free wellbeing and community services in Tower Hamlets for people facing loneliness, stress, isolation, and displacement. Because of this funding, people can walk into our spaces knowing they’re welcome, without worrying about cost.

This year, we also reached an important milestone by gaining Improving Quality accreditation. This national scheme looks at every part of a charity’s work to make sure it is accountable, welcoming, effective, and sustainable. Many years ago, GCP nearly achieved a quality mark, but at the time all the relevant documents were kept offline, and got accidentally shredded!

With better technology, stronger systems, and a growing staff team, we’re proud to have finally reached this point. This accreditation reflects our care for the people we support and our commitment to doing our work properly and thoughtfully.

“The enthusiasm, passion and commitment of staff to what they are doing and to the needs of service users was self-evident and is another real strength of the organisation.”

We also want to celebrate Timothy’s successful internship this year. During his time with GCP, Timothy built new skills, confidence, and experience, and we’re proud of what he achieved. Moments like this remind us that when people are supported and believed in, they can grow in ways they may not have imagined.

This year brought change at board level too. We said goodbye to trustees Robert Tame and Ripon Ray, and we thank them sincerely for their time, care, and guidance. We were also pleased to welcome new trustees Ifedayo Adaramola, who joins as Treasurer, alongside Kiki Michaelidou and Funmi Aryorinde. They bring valuable experience and fresh perspectives, helping to guide GCP with care and responsibility.

Keeping our community safe is an important part of our work. This year, we began a new partnership with Queen Mary University of London, who are supporting an IT intern to help us work towards Cyber Essentials certification through the National Cyber Security Centre. This will help us protect our data, our funding, and the trust people place in us.

Responding to need remains at the heart of what we do. This year, we set up a new weekly service for recently arrived asylum-seeker women and children, in partnership with a local asylum hostel. The service includes a homework club for children and offers a safe, welcoming space where families can find routine, support, and connection during a very uncertain time in their lives.

Our volunteers continue to be central to everything we do. This year, we welcomed over 20 volunteers who shared their time, care, and skills to help build friendships and connection across our community. Their presence makes a real difference, and we are deeply thankful for the kindness they bring.

As we move into the new year, we do so with gratitude and hope. Thank you to everyone who has supported us and walked alongside us this year. Together, we continue to create spaces where people feel welcomed, supported, and not alone.

If you’d like to learn more about the difference this work makes, we invite you to read our Impact Report, which shares stories, reflections, and outcomes from across the year.