Acton First to Try New Community-Led Funding Model
£80,000 allocated by 'Town Team' to support local projects
A resident reviews the funding options for the areas. Picture: Around Ealing
February 17, 2026
Acton has become part of the borough to see projects selected and funded directly by local people, as Ealing Council’s new Your Voice, Your Town programme begins to take shape. The initiative marks a significant shift in how communities influence improvements in their neighbourhoods, replacing the former area forum system with the aim of creating a more participatory approach to local decision-making.
Your Voice, Your Town was launched to bring residents, businesses, faith groups and councillors together in seven areas of the borough, giving communities a stronger role in identifying priorities and shaping investment. The programme draws on the principles of participatory budgeting, where residents help decide how public money is spent, and builds on the legacy of the borough’s area forums, which for many years provided a platform for local discussion and small-scale funding.
The new model aims to broaden participation, create clearer decision-making structures and ensure that funding is tied directly to priorities identified by local people. Each town now has a dedicated “town team” made up of residents and representatives from community organisations, businesses and local councillors. Their role is to turn community ideas into real, visible change.
Acton is the first town to move from planning into delivery. When residents were asked to vote on what mattered most to them, the strongest message was clear: people wanted a cleaner, more pleasant town. In response, the council allocated £80,000 to the Acton town team to support projects that address this priority.
The call for applications attracted a wide range of proposals from residents, schools, community groups and local organisations. The town team selected a series of projects that reflect both community enthusiasm and practical impact.
The funded initiatives include:
- Litter picking and clean-ups, including support for the Acton Litter Collective to expand participation
- Youth-led environmental action, with the 14th Acton Scout Group joining clean-ups, improving their hut surroundings and learning about local stewardship
- Greener streets, including new planters and paving in Mill Hill Terrace to improve an area affected by persistent litter
- Tree planting and nature projects, such as new lime trees to support wildlife and enhance the streetscape
- Small street improvements, including restoring planters in Goldsmith Avenue and creating a rain garden in Noel Road
- Community gardens and family-focused projects, including refreshing a well-used community garden and supporting school-based initiatives like Litter Pick and Love Your Planet
A full list of funded projects is available on the Your Voice, Your Town website.
Peter Truesdale, a member of the Acton town team, said, “I am proud to be part of Acton’s town team and help allocate our community fund to those projects which will have the greatest impact on the Acton community. I look forward to seeing how it makes a real impact on the community. I hope these projects create a greater pride in Acton and a pulling together of all the diverse communities to create a safer, greener and wonderful place to live.”
Councillor Blerina Hashani, cabinet member for thriving communities, praised the collaborative approach, adding, “It’s been inspiring to see town teams across the borough working together to manage this community funding. Each team has used its local knowledge to choose projects that will genuinely support their town’s priority areas. The range of projects being funded in Acton is exciting, and I’m looking forward to seeing them come to fruition over the coming months, helping to create a cleaner and more pleasant town.”
While Acton begins to implement its first round of projects, other towns are close behind. Applications in Ealing, Greenford, Hanwell, Northolt and Perivale are currently being reviewed, and Southall’s funding round remains open until 8 March. Further information on future funding opportunities and how residents can get involved will be shared in the coming weeks.
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