Boris Johnson visited Shadwell yesterday to praise an East End charity project and pledge his support for similar groups across the capital.
The London mayor was joined by Daily Express editor Richard Desmond in his visit to the Shadwell Community Project in Glamis Road on January 15.
Mr Desmond used the trip to announce £10million of funding from his group The Health Lottery to support London community heath charities by 2016.
The Shadwell Community Project, a local health charity that runs an outdoor adventure playground and allotments, recently received £25,000 from The Health Lottery.
The Trust encourages single parents, families with disabled children, and children with very limited play opportunities to take advantage of its allotment plots, playground, bike loan facilities and organised activity sessions.
Mr Johnson said: “Local initiatives like Shadwell Community Project are at the heart of what makes London a great city.
“The Health Lottery has already supported a huge variety of excellent schemes across the capital and the pledge to reach £10 million by 2016 means hundreds more schemes like this one will help Londoners live healthier, and ultimately happier lives.”
Mr Desmond, who also runs Channel 5, said: “I’m delighted to announce that The Health Lottery is pledged to raise £10million for London by 2016.”
The media mogul, whose Trust funds more than 150 health charities in London, praised The Shadwell Community Project’s “life-changing” work providing a safe place for children to play and for the community to grow fruit and vegetables.
Mark Halden, project coordinator for Shadwell Community Project, said: “For many of the kids round here, this is the only outdoor space they have, apart from the streets.
“This project is vital for the kids wellbeing. That means funding is also absolutely vital. We rely on donations and grants like this to keep the project open and it is tougher than ever to secure such funding.”
For more information visit: www.shadwellcommunityproject.org.
For more photos click on the picture gallery.
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