The First Recipients of the Tobacco Dock Community Fund

At Tobacco Dock, our Corporate Social Responsibility programme guides everything from environmental initiatives and charity partnerships to volunteering and local outreach. 

Over the years our team has helped build vegetable beds at local schools, donated computer equipment, served breakfast at the Whitechapel Mission, and donated hundreds of mince pies for the Wapping Christmas Fair. We’re incredibly proud of the impact these small acts have, but we wanted to do more.

This year, we took our commitment a step further by launching the Tobacco Dock Community Fund, created to provide financial support to charitable projects in Wapping and Shadwell. Through the fund, local charities and non-profits can apply for grants of up to £500 to support projects that benefit our area. 

Our first funding window has now closed and we’re proud to share the four initiatives we have chosen to support.

TRAPPED IN ZONE ONE

This creative organisation has a strong community focus and works to improve health and wellbeing by combining art and movement. With the support of the Tobacco Dock Community Fund, they’ll be delivering ‘Move and Sketch in Wapping’, a group-based project that encourages residents to explore local green spaces through walking and drawing. It’s a unique blend of movement and mindfulness aimed at boosting mental health and building connections. 

E1 COMMUNITY GARDENERS

This award-winning group of volunteers works year-round to promote and maintain green spaces across the E1 postcode. Their new project ‘Hermitage Wildlife Corridor’ is set to transform an overlooked piece of land on Vaughn Way into a thriving habitat for plants and wildlife, contributing to biodiversity and offering a calm, green space for the community to enjoy.

ST PAUL’S SHADWELL TOWER TOTS AND BABY BANK

A free stay-and-play group open to families with children aged up to 5, Tower Tots provides a welcoming space for children to play and learn. Their Baby Bank service offers essential items to parents in crisis or need. The Community Funding will go towards purchasing new toys for the play group and supplies for the Baby Bank, helping them to continue their vital work of supporting local families.

These four projects are all rooted in community spirit, care for the environment and grassroots impact (literally in the case of E1 Community Gardeners!). We’re so grateful to them for the positive impact they’re making locally. We’re proud to support their work.

If you have a project or charitable initiative that benefits the Wapping or Shadwell area, we’d love to hear from you. Our next application window runs from 11 August – 3 October 2025, and you can find out more about our criteria and download an application form here. If you have any questions about the fund, please get in touch with our team on residentenquiries@tobaccodocklondon.com