The winning projects included plans to bring swings and sports equipment back to the Horniman Triangle play park, a new shelter and teaching space at the Devonshire Road Nature Reserve, work on an outdoor theatre in Albion Millennium Green and a scheme to reduce isolation of older residents of the ward through a theatre and lunch club.

Those attending the Assembly, held in the main hall of Sydenham School on Dartmouth Road in the ward, got a chance to speak to the organisations promoting the 17 bids for funds in a marketplace-style event where the public went from table to table.

Whilst the votes were being counted, Assembly attendees were entertained by an impromptu comedy performance by Forest Hill & Sydenham Youth Forum co-ordinator Melissa Knight.

ENDS

17 organisations submitted eligible bids to the £45,000 fund; 13 were successful:

1	Safety Rulez – Part II: A Community Cohesion Project working with 12 girls aged 13-15 currently facing difficulties at school – Platform One
2	Wildlife Hedgerow, Fencing and 8 New Fruit Trees for Community Orchard – Friends of Albion Millennium Green
3	Open Air Theatre Millennium Green – Friends of Albion Millennium Green
4	Horniman Theme for Empty Shops – Forest Hill Society
5	Arts Befriending Group and Theatre project-to help isolated older people– Ageing Well in Lewisham
6	Town Centre Planting Scheme – Forest Hill Society
7	Healthy Living Workshops, teaching and encouraging cooking, nutrition and gardening – Centrepoint
8	Youth forum workshops, training young people to fundraise for our organisation– Sydenham and Forest Hill Youth Forum
9	Weatherproof Games in the Park – Forest Hill Society
10	New Green Oak Shelter for the Devonshire Road Nature Reserve – Friends of Devonshire Road Nature Reserve
11	Kirkdale Village Beautification – Kirkdale Village Traders Association
12	Busy Bees – Sessions for under fives and parents, at the Horniman Museum – Horniman Museum
13	Swings for Horniman Triangle – Forest Hill Society