Exclusive | Grenfell remembrance festival faces axe amid £50,000 funding crisis
Organisers of a key Grenfell remembrance festival warn the event could disappear without urgent support
Nine years after the Grenfell Tower fire claimed at least 72 lives, a popular community remembrance festival created in the tragedy’s aftermath is fighting for survival, Black Current News has learned.
The One Heart Festival, a free annual event held in North Kensington, is facing a £50,000 funding shortfall that organisers say could force its cancellation for a second consecutive year.
Tania Moore, chief executive of Youth Action Alliance (YAA), warned the event’s future is now uncertain.
“It’s a safe space for people to come together,” she told Black Current News.
“People missed it last year. They said there was a gap.”
The funding concerns come just days after the Metropolitan Police confirmed that up to 57 individuals and 20 companies could face criminal charges linked to the Grenfell fire, nearly a decade after the tragedy devastated west London.
Potential offences under consideration include gross negligence manslaughter, fraud and health and safety breaches.
Families and survivors have continued to voice frustration over the pace of justice, with some warning there has been a “complete breakdown in trust and confidence” in institutions responsible for accountability.
Against that backdrop, Ms Moore said the annual festival had become an important space for remembrance, healing and community connection.
The event, formerly known as the North Kensington Youth & Community Festival, was launched in 2017 after two young members of Youth Action Alliance lost their lives in the Grenfell fire.
“The annual festival brings people together for all ages to honour the memories of the Grenfell people that passed away and celebrate one community,” she explained.
“It’s a space to celebrate what the community means to each other.”
The event was first launched in the aftermath of the tragedy and has since evolved into a large-scale community gathering featuring football tournaments, youth performances, wellbeing activities, free food, creative workshops and support services.
Organisers say at least 2,500 people attend each year.
Previous partners and contributors have included the London Fire Brigade, museums, theatres and local businesses offering activities and services free of charge.
But Ms Moore said the funding landscape had become increasingly difficult.
“For the first few years, the National Lottery actually supported the festival,” the chief executive explained.
“However, they said they were no longer able to support it continuously after six years because it’s a local festival and should be supported by the council and local organisations.”
According to Moore, funding support has not been available this year amid wider financial pressures.
Earlier this year, Kensington and Chelsea Council announced plans to save £108 million over the next three years.
Black Current News approached the local authority for comment.
The festival was unable to run last year due to similar difficulties with funding, organisers highlighted.
Ms Moore stressed that while some survivors may want quieter commemorations this year, the festival also exists for the wider North Kensington community who are still living with the emotional fallout of Grenfell.
“We are all doing this festival for the community aspects as well, not just the survivors,” she said.
“Over the years, people have come up to us and said this is a great time for us to get together.”
The festival includes dedicated spaces for children, young people and elders, including bingo sessions, afternoon tea and hopes for the return of an intergenerational dominoes competition this year.
Importantly, organisers insist everything remains free for attendees.
“You don’t want parents to have to go home to feed their children,” Ms Moore said. “You want them to stay and enjoy.”
She added, “Food brings people together as well.”
Ms Moore argued that community spaces were especially important during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
“Sometimes people living in the cost-of-living crisis are down already. They don’t need to stay down,” she said.
“Bringing people together, reducing isolation and helping people find support is what One Heart Community is about.”
Organisers are now appealing for urgent donations, volunteers and corporate sponsorship to help secure the festival’s future.
“If someone with resources reads this article, we need cash sponsorship, in-kind support, volunteers and corporate partnerships,” Ms Moore said.
“The community will just be thankful for having a day of celebration for themselves and what they’ve gone through over the last nine years.”
The One Heart Festival crowdfunder is currently live.
Got a news tip or story idea? Submit it via this form. Reader feedback and corrections are welcomed separately here.
