Lewisham Council has allocated £2.9 million to dozens of voluntary organisations and charities including those that support mental health, social cohesion and the council’s pledge to become a sanctuary borough for refugees.

The requests for funding exceeded the budget available by several million, with 92 applications made.

Cabinet member for the community sector Jonathan Slater said there were four new organisations allocated funding.

This includes Lewisham Refugees Welcome, which will support the 100 refugee families the council will settle over the next four years, as well as those already here.

The organisation will get £20,000 a year for three years.

“It is a voluntary-led initiative to promote integration support for the 100 new refugee families coming to the borough as well as those already here,” he explained.

“Overall the project will support over 600 individuals per year.”

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 The council helps families find housing, children settle into new schools and adults find work through a refugee resettlement scheme with support from Lewisham Citizens, local faith groups and the local Amnesty International branch.

The council can also get funding from the Home Office to support extra pressure on schools and healthcare providers.

Cllr Slater said he was working closely with councillors and council staff to ensure support for refugees was coordinated with the Home Office.

The 2000 Community Action Centre was allocated £25,000 per year for three years.

This will see a community-led centre in every ward in the north of the borough to host events like beginners’ computer courses, a nursery and yoga to enhance community cohesion.

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Drop-in cafe for those suffering from loneliness, social isolation and mental health distress, The Front Room club, was allocated £12,715 each year for three years.

Platform Cricket, while helps children from disadvantaged and BAME backgrounds progress in and through cricket, was allocated £25,000 per year for three years.

Cllr Slater said the application process had been “tightened up to ensure that those organisations that we are funding are really delivering what we want.”

He said the council will monitor the organisations that get over £100,000 a year.

Council documents show this will be Lewisham Local, as the group get £212,000 a year.

The other groups are monitored quarterly.

Thirteen previously funded groups did not have their funding renewed.