Grants & support for London’s charitable sector

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Hear about the latest open funding opportunities and offers of free support for London’s charitable and social enterprise sector.

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The first round of our new funding programme focuses on ​‘led by and for’ organisations delivering free social welfare advice, engaging in social action, and supporting systems change.

With £6.5 million available, we’re seeking to help organisations helping Londoners access their rights and find solutions to everyday problems in areas such as housing, welfare benefits, debt, employment, and immigration. 

Funding will be split between two streams: three‑year Development Grants of £75,000 and five-year Transformation Grants of £200,000, £300,000 or £450,000. 

Application deadline: 12 noon on Wednesday, 7 January 2026.

Learn more: www.citybridgefoundation.org.uk/funding/access-to-justice 

We’re backing this opportunity for charities, not-for-profits, and community organisations which want to start or grow trading (earning income from selling services or products) and building financial resilience.

Applicants need to be London‑based and at least three years old, with £50k+ income, and with little or no trading history (less than 20% of income from trading).

The programme is delivered by School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE). It offers an 18‑month support package, combining two grants with hands‑on learning, mentoring and buyer connections: 

• £4,000–£7,000 Set Up Grant to kickstart trading (pilot costs, staff time, equipment, marketing) 
   
• Up to £12,000 Match Trading grant over 18 months. SSE matches growth in trading income, paid quarterly (up to £2,000 per quarter)
   
• 10 tailored learning days (mix of in‑person & online), 1:1 mentoring, Business Support Panels and Market Making events with buyers 
   
• Inclusive peer support with expert partners (AVOCADO Foundation, Inclusion Unlimited, Consortium)

Online interviews will take place between 2–13 February 2026 and the programme will run between April 2026 and September 2027. 

Apply by 12pm (noon) on Thursday, 18 December 2025. 

Register interest here: www.the-sse.org/london-growth-resilience-programme

Grants of up to £20,000 (for up to 18 months) to support individuals and groups who want to explore ideas for social change. 

This funding from Paul Hamlyn Foundation is for individuals, groups or collectives working together (you don’t need to be a registered organisation), and organisations of any legal structure with a turnover of under £150,000. 

The Foundation want to support individuals or groups aged 18–30* to explore their ideas for social change, with a focus on people who: 

• Have personal experience of the issue they want to work on
• Are ready to take action
• Face barriers in accessing grant funding

*Priority will be given to people aged 18–30, but applications from those aged 30 and over will be considered. 

Funding must be used for a charitable purpose, such as: 

• research and consultation to develop your idea
• gathering evidence for a campaign
• bringing people or communities together to build power
• paying yourself or others to deliver these activities
• costs relating to your safeguarding practice

This list isn’t exhaustive, but it might help you think about what you could use the funding for.

Apply by 1pm on Tuesday, 2 December 2025. 

Learn more: www.phf.org.uk/funding/ideas-and-pioneers

The Fore can offer grants of up to £45,000 (over 1–3 years) and extra support to help you grow, become more resilient or efficient. 

Their next round of funding opens at midday on Wednesday, 26 November, and closes on Wednesday, 3 December 2025. 

This opportunity is available to registered charities, Community Interest Companies (CICs) limited by guarantee, charitable Community Benefit Societies (CBSs) and non-charitable CBSs with an asset lock. Your revenue must be under £500k 

To learn more, join The Fore’s online information session on Wednesday, 26 November from 12pm to 1pm. See www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/question-time-with-the-fore

Registration for this funding only takes a few minutes. The Fore will run a random selection process before letting applicants know who has been invited to apply.

Learn more at www.thefore.org/who-we-fund

The Alliance for Youth Organising is all about shifting power and money to young people, so they can organise together to create change.

On Monday, 1 December 2025 the Alliance for Youth Organising will launch two new funding opportunities: 

• Up to 10 Anchor Grants of £85,000 over two years for organisations supporting the field of youth organising
   
• Five Explore Grants of £15,000 for one-off projects exploring gaps in action or understanding in the youth organising field

Both funding opportunities will open on the Alliance for Youth Organising’s new website (this will go live on Monday, 1 December 2025). This will have more information about the opportunities and include detailed FAQs. Organisations can apply directly through the website. 

The Anchor Fund will close on Monday, 26 January 2026 and the Explore Fund will close on Monday, 16 February 2026. Awards will be made in April 2026. 

In the meantime, you can find out more information about Anchor here and Explore here and begin preparing your application. 

This fund from Rosa offers grants of up to £10,000 over 18 months to women’s and girls’ organisations to support campaigning and influencing work, enabling women and girls to use their voices to achieve change.

Previous rounds of funding have supported women’s and girls’ organisations right across the UK, campaigning on issues such as: 

• elder abuse affecting South Asian women
• the impact of menopause on the workplace
• period poverty
• domestic abuse
• stigma related to child removal
• sexual harassment in higher education spaces
• drink spiking

Their next ​‘How to Apply’ webinar is at 2–3pm on Thursday, 27 November. 

The deadline for applications is 4pm on Tuesday, 9 December 2025.

Learn more: www.rosauk.org/our-programmes

Another round of this £12m fund from the Mayor of London has opened to support local communities, boroughs and organisations with grants ranging from £10,000 to £500,000 over the next three years. 

Whether you’re dreaming of wildflower meadows, cleaner local waterways, or any other project that brings more greenery to your neighbourhood, there’s a chance to get the funding you need. Projects can run for up to two years. 

You will to find match funding of at least 10%, including in-kind (non-monetary contributions eg donated materials, staff or volunteer time)

The next application deadline is 2pm on Thursday, 22 January 2026. Deadlines are expected to happen twice a year.

Learn more: www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies

Closing soon — this programme can support community-led projects that improve the environment and help people connect with and enjoy nature where they live.

Funding can be used to: 

• start a new activity or continue an existing one
• help your organisation adapt to new challenges
• run one-off events that have a clear environmental benefit

They are looking to fund projects that: 

• help people connect with and care for nature in their area
• make a positive difference to the environment

Funding size: £300 to £20,000 for up to two years

Application deadline: Wednesday, 17 December 2025

Learn more: www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding

Two funding streams providing support for core costs and project costs for organisations working with children and young people aged 18 years and under. 

Core Costs support essential organisational and administrative spending. These are the key expenses required to keep your organisation running.

Project Costs support the aims and delivery of a specific piece of work. This work will usually be time-limited, and based on a defined set of activities.

Applicants can apply for grants for up to three years. BBC Children in Need aim to give quicker decisions for grants of £15,000 or less per year.

BBC Children in Need do not make grants of over £120,000 (or £40,000 per year), and most grants are for much less than this.

Applications can be make on an ongoing basis, with no application deadline. 

Learn more: https://www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/grants/apply/

Scops Arts Trust has announced three arts-related grants categories for next year. 

Round one will open in January with a focus on music festivals (children’s performances excluded as are festivals where music is not the focus). 

Round two will open in May with a focus on early-career artists performance programmes focussing on performance opportunities, in the fields of dance, drama and music. 

Round three will open in September with a focus on children’s and young people’s music education (choirs are excluded). 

Most grants are for projects but Scops Arts Trust will consider contributions towards specific core costs of smaller organisations where their funding could make an impact. Grant awards start at a few hundred pounds and very occasionally rise to multi-year grants of up to £15,000 pa.

Learn more: www.scopsartstrust.org.uk

Grant funding to support the feasibility, development and delivery of community energy projects in London.

Phase 8 of the London Community Energy fund is offering up to £630,000 of funding across three streams.

This fund from the Mayor of London’s office will support projects that: 

• reduce greenhouse gas emissions in London
• lead to collective action to reduce, manage and generate energy
• promote community-led development and delivery of energy projects that provide direct benefit to the local community
• increase community awareness and action on clean energy
• increase the resilience of communities vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and high energy costs.

The fund is particularly targeted at small organisations with charitable aims operating in London. Applications are welcome from community groups which have not previously been involved in energy projects. You do not have to be an energy or environmental group. 

Application deadline: 11.59pm on Sunday, 7 December 2025.

Learn more: www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies

Funding to support charitable organisations that are committed to ensuring the rights of people, society and the natural world for current and future generations.

The Foundation supports charitable work that responds to one or more of the following: 

• Tackling the triple planetary crisis by mitigating and adapting to climate impacts, reducing pollution and protecting and restoring nature.
• Reducing polarisation, for example by building greater trust and connection, reducing polarisation within society and increasing the levels of participation and influence in the political process.
• Promoting the development and adoption of economic models and systems that support people and planet and reduce wealth inequalities.
• Advancing equity and justice for marginalised communities impacted by the issues above. 

Multi-year funding is available for core costs. Applications can be up to a maximum of £60k per year, up to a maximum of £180k over up to five years. 

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Learn more: www.ellerman.org.uk 

Every organisation funded by City Bridge Foundation can apply for free, additional support that goes beyond funding. This is our Funder Plus offer.

For instance, we can provide fee support your organisation’s development and governance, fundraising or business planning.

Eligible funded organisation can benefit from free access to training courses, attendance at conferences, and/​or peer-to-peer learning. Many more support options are available. City Bridge Foundation offers all of this at no financial cost to your organisation.

Learn more at www.citybridgefoundation.org.uk/funder-plus

This special Funder Plus offer is for organisations which are or have been funded by City Bridge Foundation. 

Our partner Locality will be delivering a virtual roundtable event, bringing together speakers, brokerage experts and a case study, to help you understand what corporates look for in community partners.

This 90-minute roundtable will enable you to think about your ask and how to position this into an offer. It is aimed at organisations that wish to approach corporates but do not know where to start.

If you have some experience in this topic, you are invited to share your learning with peers at this event.

This event is offered as part of City Bridge Foundation’s Funder Plus programme. Attendees must either be in receipt of a current grant from City Bridge Foundation or receiving our Funder Plus support. Past recipients of our Funder Plus support are also welcome to join this session.

You will gain: 

• An understanding of what corporates look for when seeking a community partner
• Types of support available from corporates
• Insights from a case study partnership
• Tips on what you need to consider when seeking a corporate partner and whether it is right for you

In order to include as many organisations as possible, places will be limited to two people per organisation.

Date: 10.30am — 12pm noon on Tuesday, 9 December 2025. 

To book your place please use this Event booking form. 

Our partners at Superhighways have recently shared their top ten Datawise resources. 

These are resources that can help small charities and community groups with their everyday work.

Check them out at www.superhighways.org.uk/resources

Superhighways also provide a wide range of digital, data and tech skills training. Their practical, interactive training will help you gain the skills and confidence to choose and use free and affordable online digital tools, equipment and apps. 

Many of their events are free, especially for micro-charities and community organisations, and all their training remains at affordable rates for everyone.

Most courses are held online on Zoom.

Learn more at: www.superhighways.org.uk/training-advice-and-technical

Black AI Futures aims to be the strategic bridge between grassroots Black and Global Majority-led community voices and decision-makers shaping AI’s future, to create systemic change. 

They want to amplify community voices, enable organisations, and influence decision-makers to create systemic change, using the power of AI. 

Sign up to their new newsletter to learn more about upcoming events on women in AI, education, Black women’s health, finance, and creativity. They’re also welcoming input, ideas and insights to help shape these sessions.

See www.blackaifutures.org and scroll down to get to the sign-up option. 

Now is the time to stand together, with courage, solidarity, and a shared commitment to real change.

This free resource from Directory of Social Change aims to provide practical actions that charities can take to ensure their own safety and continued operation. 

The guidance has been designed to help charity leaders, trustees and others to re-evaluate their strategic planning, and to join in solidarity with others to push back against racism and bigotry.

Find out more: www.dsc.org.uk/publication/charities-against-hate

Join the Ethical Property Foundation for a free, engaging and practical session designed to strengthen your organisation’s property strategy for the year ahead.

In this one-hour online session, expert surveyors and property advisers will guide you through the essentials of everyday premises management, with a forward look at how to prepare your property strategy for 2026. 

You’ll come away feeling more confident about making informed, cost-effective, and sustainable property decisions.

After the session, you’ll receive a helpful information pack. You’ll also be able to access free follow-up advice through the Foundation’s ​‘Ask a Property Expert’ service.

Date and time: 12–1pm on Thursday, 11 December 2025

Learn more: www.propertyhelp.org/events

This advice work is supported by City Bridge Foundation. 

In this free training, the Politics Project will share games and activities you can use in youth settings to start conversations about politics and democracy. 

Designed for group settings in informal spaces, youth clubs, and classrooms the games help young people explore their power, voice and their ideas for change.

The games specifically support young people to explore their power and agency, their ideas and opinions about local, national and global topics, and their emotions towards and politics and politicians.

This training is ideal for youth practitioners and teachers looking for meaningful, practical, and enjoyable ways to bring politics to life with young people.

Next session: 1pm — 2.30pm on Wednesday, 10 December 2025

Learn more: www.luma.com/2assj2m7 

Struggling with spreadsheets, data visualisation, or analysis? PBE’s volunteer matching service offers quick, easy, expert support. 

Whether you need help drawing out metrics to improve fundraising, support reporting, or make your data more useful, volunteers can help you.

Provided by PBE (Pro Bono Economics) this service can help with: 

• Internal efficiency: Streamlining data for better monitoring, evaluation, and reporting
   
• Service delivery tracking: Organising and analysing what’s already collected to inform decisions
   
• Stakeholder-ready outputs: Drawing out key metrics to demonstrate impact to beneficiaries, funders, and trustees

Find out more: www.pbe.co.uk/our-services/data-first-aid

Govo is a free volunteer management platform, offering a smart, simple way to connect charities, volunteers and businesses, all in one digital space.

Built and shared by Royal Voluntary Service, the Govo service already has 1,700 charities on board, GoVo aims to help rebuild volunteer engagement across the UK – and make it easier than ever to get involved. Here are some of the benefits: 

• Free and easy to use – removing barriers for charities and volunteers alike
• Built with the sector in mind – it is designed based on feedback from charities, volunteers and businesses
• Inclusive and flexible – helping people fit volunteering around busy lifestyles

Learn more: www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/volunteer-revolution

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