Communities Leading Climate & Environmental Justice — new funding opens soon

Climate change and environmental harm are already affecting daily life in London — from homes that are too hot in summer and too cold in winter, to polluted air on the walk to school, to rising costs putting pressure on food, energy and wellbeing. 

This is not only an environmental issue. It is also a social justice and human rights issue, shaped by wider inequalities linked to race, income, disability, migration status, age, health, and housing.

But these impacts are not shared equally. The people and communities facing the greatest risks are often those who have contributed least to the crisis, yet face the greatest barriers to influencing the decisions that shape their lives.

Communities are not just affected by these challenges — they are already leading responses and driving change in their neighbourhoods. Across London, communities are improving local environments, pushing for change and developing solutions rooted in lived experience. This programme is about backing that work to grow, so communities most affected have more power and influence over the decisions that shape their lives.

Our aim is to support a more just, healthy and sustainable London, where people closest to the issues are leading change. We will support work through three approaches: place-based resilience, community organising and influence, and storytelling and narrative change.

If you are considering applying, book a place on the webinar to find out more about the programme, eligibility and application process. 

Tuesday 16 June
Webinar bookings open 

Monday 29 June
Full programme information goes live, including priorities, funding guidance, eligibility criteria, eligibility checker and sample application form 

Tuesday 30 June 
Live webinar and Q&A with our funding team, 11am to 12.30pm

Monday 6 July
Applications open through our application portal. Organisations can also book a pre-application phone call (available from Tuesday 14 July) 

Tuesday 8 September
Applications close

The webinar will take place from 11am to 12.30pm on Tuesday 30 June 2026.

The session will:

• introduce the programme
• outline the eligibility criteria
• explain the application process
• give attendees an opportunity to ask questions

A recording, slides, and Q&A responses will be made available on our website after the event.

We encourage anyone considering applying to attend the webinar or watch the recording before starting an application.

This programme is for community-led organisations working with Londoners most affected by climate and environmental injustice. It will support action now, while strengthening communities’ ability to influence the systems, decisions, and narratives that drive inequality.

We are interested in work that:

• is rooted in communities most affected by climate and environmental injustice, including low-income communities and communities facing wider forms of inequality 
• responds to climate and environment-related harms, including heat, damp, flooding and pollution
• demonstrates an established and ongoing commitment to climate and environmental justice
• strengthens community leadership and uses lived experience to influence longer-term change

In this first round, there is £5.6 million available. We will offer five years of core and flexible funding to small and medium-sized organisations with an annual income under £1.5 million.

More detail on grant amounts, eligibility and how to apply will be available from Monday 29 June 2026. 

To be eligible, organisations must support communities in one or more of the 32 London boroughs and/​or the City of London. 

We cannot fund work delivered outside London or for people living elsewhere. 

Climate and Environmental Justice is the second programme to launch under Standing with Londoners 2025–2035. Further funding opportunities will be introduced over the coming months, including Economic Justice launching in September.

If you are currently receiving a grant from City Bridge Foundation, you may still apply for this round. However, we may prioritise organisations that are new to us, or that we have not funded recently. We can accept only one funding application per organisation for this funding round. 

If you are unsure whether this programme is the right fit, please attend the webinar or watch the recording. You will also be able to book a pre-application call from Tuesday 14 July 2026.