London community art project secures Selco backing

​A community art project in south east London that supports social inclusion has received a donation of building materials to help renovate its new building.

This is Arcade CIC has been running a gallery in London and internationally since 2007, most recently on Bellenden Road in Peckham. Since becoming a Community Interest Company in 2021, Arcade has focused increasingly on local, community-led activity.

The organisation has now secured a 10-year lease on a disused building on Hatcham Road, which it plans to transform into a vibrant community gallery and kitchen, with programmes, workshops and accessible facilities.

The project has been boosted by winning £1,000 of building materials through our Community Heroes campaign.

This year we are giving away an incredible £57,500 to good causes across the country through the initiative, including 40 individual prizes of £1,000.

Christian Mooney, This is Arcade CIC founder, said: “We are delighted to have secured this fantastic prize from Selco.

“We’re extremely excited about our new Hatcham Road space, which is due to launch later this year. This will allow us to continue to provide our vital exhibition programme for mid-career and young artists, while also funding community meals and promoting public participation.

“This facility will help to support youths at risk while promoting disability inclusion, food justice and social care.

“We have already crowdfunded £32,000 and these materials from Selco will help us to carry out important renovations to the building’s interior.

“We’ve had so much fantastic support and it’s great to have Selco on board.”

Christian plans to visit our Old Kent Road store to select the materials.

As well as the monthly prizes of £1,000, Community Heroes will also see a top prize of £10,000 in cash awarded to an overall winner, £5,000 for a runner-up and £2,500 for third place.

Any group that supports its local community can enter online.

Simon Humpage, Head of Multi-Channel Marketing, said: “We have already awarded an amazing £25,000 worth of building materials to some tremendous good causes through Community Heroes.

“Choosing our winners is always a mammoth task but This is Arcade CIC stood out because of the wide-ranging services it provides to so many people in the community.

“We have already received hundreds of nominations to Community Heroes this year and the team look forward to reading many more before the campaign closing date.”