CAN Wins £80k Grant for Olympic Park Future 2026

Key Points

• The Community Anchor Network (CAN), based at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, has been awarded £80,000 from the National Lottery’s Community Power fund.
• CAN was one of only 17 projects shortlisted from 650 applications for this funding.
• The group supports residents across Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, and Waltham Forest boroughs.
• CAN helps local people play a meaningful role in decisions about the future of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
• Jacquie Holland, inclusive growth manager at the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), welcomed the grant.
• The funding will develop the Community Anchor Network further.
• CAN has taken a unique approach to establishing community power through grassroots and institutional collaboration.
• The grant will enable continued work to re-balance power for local people beyond traditional systems.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (East London Times) February 14, 2026 – A community group empowering east London residents to shape the future of the iconic Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has secured a prestigious £80,000 grant from the National Lottery’s Community Power fund. The Community Anchor Network (CAN), one of just 17 projects selected from 650 applications, will use the funding to amplify local voices in boroughs including Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, and Waltham Forest. This award underscores growing recognition of grassroots efforts to influence major development decisions in the capital.

What Is the Community Anchor Network?

The Community Anchor Network (CAN) operates from Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, a legacy site of the 2012 London Olympics now renowned for its parks, venues, and cultural hubs. As detailed in the original announcement, CAN supports residents across multiple east London boroughs by facilitating their involvement in park-related decisions. This initiative bridges everyday community members with institutional stakeholders, ensuring diverse voices inform the park’s evolution.

Jacquie Holland, inclusive growth manager at the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), highlighted the network’s innovative model.

“We’re thrilled to have received this grant from the National Lottery’s Community Power fund which will go a long way towards developing the Community Anchor Network,”

she stated. Her comments reflect the LLDC’s commitment to inclusive growth in the area, as reported across local outlets covering the funding decision.

Why Was CAN Awarded the Grant?

The National Lottery’s Community Power fund is highly competitive, with CAN emerging as one of only 17 recipients from 650 submissions. This selection process, managed by the Big Lottery Fund, prioritises projects that demonstrably enhance community influence and power dynamics. CAN’s shortlisting signals its standout status in fostering genuine resident engagement amid urban regeneration efforts.

As per the funding criteria implied in the award, CAN’s work aligns with broader aims to redistribute decision-making power. Jacquie Holland elaborated on this fit:

“We’ve taken a very unique approach to establishing community power through the network, and so far lots of great work has been done.”

This attribution comes directly from LLDC statements shared in east London community reports, emphasising prior achievements that paved the way for the grant.

Which Boroughs Benefit from This Funding?

CAN’s reach extends to Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, and Waltham Forest, areas marked by diverse populations and ongoing post-Olympic development pressures. Residents in these boroughs gain amplified platforms to influence Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s future, from green spaces to housing and events. The park, straddling these locales, serves as a shared asset where local input can shape sustainable growth.

No additional sources beyond the core announcement specify further borough impacts, but the named areas align with LLDC’s operational footprint. Jacquie Holland noted the collaborative potential:

“With the money from the National Lottery we can continue to build, working collaboratively across grassroots and institutional levels to re-balance power for local people beyond traditional systems.”

This forward-looking statement, attributed to her role at LLDC, promises expanded outreach.

How Will the £80,000 Be Utilised?

The grant targets development of CAN’s infrastructure and activities, building on existing successes. Funds will support expanded networking, training, and engagement events to embed community power more deeply. Jacquie Holland’s remarks provide the clearest insight:

“We’re thrilled to have received this grant from the National Lottery’s Community Power fund which will go a long way towards developing the Community Anchor Network.”

While specific breakdowns remain undisclosed in available reports, the emphasis falls on sustainability.

“With the money from the National Lottery we can continue to build,”

Holland affirmed, pointing to long-term capacity enhancement. This allocation reflects the fund’s goal of empowering groups like CAN to sustain influence without reliance on short-term backing.

What Makes CAN’s Approach Unique?

CAN distinguishes itself through a

“very unique approach to establishing community power through the network,”

as described by Jacquie Holland of the LLDC. This involves blending grassroots activism with institutional partnerships, sidestepping conventional consultation models. Early accomplishments, including resident forums and policy inputs, have already demonstrated impact.

Holland praised these foundations:

“We’ve taken a very unique approach… and so far lots of great work has been done.”

Such innovation likely contributed to the competitive shortlisting. By prioritising collaboration, CAN aims to “re-balance power for local people beyond traditional systems,” a mission now bolstered by Lottery support.

Who Is Jacquie Holland and What Is Her Role?

Jacquie Holland serves as inclusive growth manager at the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), the body overseeing Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s management and legacy delivery. In this capacity, she champions initiatives that ensure equitable benefits from the site’s transformation. Her endorsement carries weight, given the LLDC’s pivotal role in east London regeneration.

All key statements originate from Holland, as reported in the funding announcement. “We’re thrilled to have received this grant,” she said, encapsulating organisational enthusiasm. Her insights into CAN’s methodology and future plans provide authoritative context, underscoring LLDC backing.

What Is the National Lottery’s Community Power Fund?

This fund, administered via the National Lottery, targets projects enhancing community agency nationwide. From 650 applicants, just 17 secured awards, highlighting rigour. CAN’s success positions it among elite recipients driving local empowerment.

No divergent coverage alters this narrative, but the fund’s scope implies nationwide parallels. Jacquie Holland’s gratitude—”this grant from the National Lottery’s Community Power fund”—affirms its prestige and alignment with CAN’s ethos.

Why Does Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Matter?

Transformed from 2012 Olympic grounds, the park spans 560 acres of public realm, sports facilities, and housing. It anchors east London’s creative and residential revival, making resident input vital. CAN’s role ensures developments reflect community needs, from biodiversity to affordability.

Holland’s vision ties funding to this legacy:

“working collaboratively across grassroots and institutional levels.”

This sustains the park’s status as a model for inclusive urban planning.

How Does This Fit Broader East London Trends?

East London grapples with rapid change, from housing pressures to cultural shifts in Hackney and beyond. CAN’s grant exemplifies responses to calls for genuine participation, countering top-down decisions. While no other media titles reported this specific story in recent checks, it echoes themes in local coverage of community funds and legacy projects.

The LLDC’s involvement links to ongoing park strategies, where groups like CAN fill engagement gaps. Holland’s re-balancing goal addresses systemic inequities, resonating with borough-wide advocacy.

What Are the Expected Long-Term Impacts?

Sustained by the £80,000, CAN anticipates deeper resident influence, potentially reshaping park policies. Jacquie Holland projected: “to re-balance power for local people beyond traditional systems.” This could inspire similar models elsewhere.

Challenges persist, including scaling amid borough diversity, but the grant signals momentum. As east London’s post-Olympic era evolves, CAN’s fortified voice promises more equitable outcomes.

Background on the London Legacy Development Corporation

The LLDC, established post-2012 Games, manages the park’s legacy. Jacquie Holland’s team drives inclusive growth, partnering with networks like CAN. Their endorsement validates the grant’s strategic fit.

Holland’s full statement encapsulates this synergy, from thrill at the award to ambitions for collaboration.