HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh Opens Portal Centre for Social Impact at Poplar Works
05/05/2023
On 25th April, HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh opened The Portal Centre for Social Impact at Poplar Works.
Based in East London, Poplar Works was born from a partnership between Poplar HARCA, London College of Fashion, UAL and The Trampery, with support from the Mayor of London. This unique space dedicated to fashion aims to support the growth of people and businesses within the fashion industry. It features over forty studios across two sites, training spaces, a small production unit and a café. As part of the Leaside Fashion and Creative Cluster, it focuses on bolstering the fashion and creative economy into the Lower Lea Valley.
In addition to celebrating its third birthday this year, Poplar Works launched The Portal Centre for Social Impact back in April. On this occasion, The Duchess of Edinburgh GCVO, Patron of London College of Fashion, UAL, opened this initiative.
Adam Mansell, CEO of UKFT. Poplar Works. April 2023. Credit: Adam Razvi.
A grant of £4 million from The Portal Trust, one of London’s leading educational charities, helped this project come to fruition. The grant supports LCF on two fronts:
- A £2 million 10-year investment in London College of Fashion (LCF), UAL’s work on community engagement and social impact activities, which includes the Making for Change programme
- A £2 million grant to support the development of the new campus of London College of Fashion in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
The Portal Centre for Social Impact aims to be an inclusive, collaborative and innovative space aligned with LCF’s ambition to nurture creative individuals. The initiative will grow in parallel with LCF’s new premises that will open in September 2023 in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Claire Swift, Director of Social Responsibility, London College of Fashion; James Purnell, President and Vice-Chancellor, UAL; Professor Andrew Teverson, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of London College of Fashion, UAL; HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh GCVO; Richard Foley, Chief Executive, The Portal Trust; Sophie Fernandes, Chairman, The Portal Trust; Denise Jones, Deputy Chair and Chair of Grants, The Portal Trust. April 2023. Credit: Adam Razvi.
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