Community grants

Hackney Grants now available through wave 4 of the London Community Response

In May, the Council aligned its repurposed grants programme with the London Community Response (LCR) and has since allocated £200,000 to organisations who applied to Waves 2 and 3 of the fund.

Alongside over 20 other funders, we are aligning up to £50,000 to wave four of the fund to support communities and organisations responding to the challenges facing our residents that have arisen, or been exacerbated by Covid-19.

The Council will be prioritising applications that address food poverty in Hackney. We know that residents are also turning to organisations led by and for marginalised communities and organisations that are local to them. We want to support these organisations to deliver, collaborate and work in partnership to help meet the complexity of residents’ needs.

Key information

What can be funded

We will be prioritising applications under the ‘food’ category made by Hackney-based organisations. Organisations can apply for Small Grants of up to £10,000, but we will only be funding applications up to £5,000. If you apply for more than £5,000 we may consider part-funding your application.

How to apply

Applications are open now. To apply please read the guidance and submit an application through the London Community Response website.

Applications close

The closing date for applications is 5pm on Thursday 3 December 2020.  We expect to notify successful applicants of any decisions made by 18 December 2020.

Frequently asked questions

Does this replace the normal Main Grants from Hackney Council?

No, in light of Covid-19 funding that would have been allocated this year has been repurposed to support the Voluntary and Community Sector during the pandemic. Any updates about the 21/22 grants programme will be posted on this page and via our Community Partnerships newsletter.

How much can I apply for?

Small Grants up to £10,000, although please note that we will only be funding grants up to the value of £5,000. If your application is over £5,000 we may offer part-funding in collaboration with another funder.

Should I apply if I am currently in receipt of a grant from London Borough of Hackney?

Yes, but this will be a consideration when we allocate our funds. Please keep in mind that other funders may still be interested in your application.

We are a mutual-aid group, can we apply for funding?

Yes, but you must partner with an eligible organisation. Please see the London Community Response guidance for detailed information on how to apply as a mutual-aid group.

I have already submitted an application online. Do I need to submit another?

No, you can only apply once per wave. We will have access to all applications from organisations based in, or working in, Hackney that have not already been funded. If you applied in waves 1, 2 or 3, regardless of the outcome you can apply again in wave 4.

I have been told I’m ineligible on the London Community Response Fund portal, what should I do?

Please go to our webpage for information on other funders. The Community Partnerships Team is not involved in the eligibility process.

Will you be looking at every Hackney application?

We will be prioritising organisations that are responding to community needs during Covid-19. Some applications may be picked up by other funders before we make a decision and if this happens, we will not see your application.
Please ensure you tick that you are working in Hackney on your application form otherwise we will not assess it.

Will you be providing feedback for applicants?

As this process is being managed by London Funders, we will not be able to give feedback on individual applications.

You announced you would be funding £370,000 for the sector. How does this £50,000 relate to the funding package?

This £50,000 is in addition to the £200,000 awarded for Wave 2 & 3 applications as part of the immediate crisis response package. Hackney Giving will also receive up to £30,000.

I need more information or help with applying

You will need to contact London Funders for more information or help to apply, as Hackney Council is not responsible for the application process. You can email them at info@londonfunders.org.uk.

All applications for the 2020/21 grants programme are closed. If you’d like to be notified when the next round of grants opens and receive other key updates, please subscribe to our mailing list:

Subscribe

2021/22 grants programme

Each year we launch a grants programme inviting small and large applications from voluntary and community organisations in Hackney.

In light of Covid-19, the grants programme has been paused to increase capacity of staff to deliver a number of emergency grants to the sector.

The Council still intends on delivering grants for activities in 2021/22, however these are likely to be delayed until further notice.

Any updates about the grants programme will be posted on this page and via our community partnerships newsletter.

Coronavirus funding response

The Council supports the voluntary and community sector (VCS) in Hackney every year through a dedicated grants programme. For 2020/21, most of the grants budget had been committed prior to the Covid-19 crisis. We became a signatory of the London Funders pledge and have worked flexibly with our grantee partners to ensure they can do the best to serve their communities throughout this time. This included allowing grantees to change how the funding is used, extending deadlines and reducing the information we collect at reporting.

As part of a package of suppor for VCS organisations, funding that hadn’t been committed in 2020/21 was converted to emergency funding, alongside our small reserves, to support organisations working with communities and people directly impacted by the pandemic. This page provides an overview of the emergency grants awarded to organisations in Hackney during the pandemic so far.

List of grants awarded:

• London Community Response wave 2 – Hackney Council
• London Community Response wave 3 – Hackney Council
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – Covid-19 food and essentials grants