Apply now! Over £1 million for community organisations

The funding will focus on reducing inequality in Hackney, with grants available to voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations working to support the Council’s mission and Mayor’s priority to tackle poverty in the borough.

That could include work such as welfare advice or community-based support, with long-term support available for up to five years.

Other grants are available to build the capacity of Black & Global Majority-led groups who can reach communities less likely to be engaged with Council services, short-term projects for smaller organisations to test new ideas, and the Healthier Hackney Fund offers which supports projects that help people in Hackney be more physically active.

The grants programme is a key part of Hackney Council’s new Voluntary and Community Sector Strategy agreed by the Council’s Cabinet last month. Developed through close engagement with VCS organisations, it sets out how the Council and local groups will work more closely together than ever through funding, commissioning, utilising Council property and partnerships.

“Hackney’s voluntary organisations are the lifeblood of the borough, which is why I’m proud to be launching our new grants programme.

“The fund is investing more than £1 million into voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations – so that they can support our ambitions to reverse poverty, tackle inequality and build a better and fairer Hackney.

“Crucially, this fund is part of our new approach to working with Hackney’s voluntary and community sector, putting power and investment in the hands of communities, building effective partnerships and collaborating more closely than ever to ensure we’re providing the most effective support and providing the best services for all of our residents.“

Cllr Joe Walker, Deputy Cabinet member for Strengthening Neighbourhoods

The programme follows the launch of the Hackney Community Fund last month, which has made £650,000 available to support local charities, voluntary groups, community interest companies and social enterprises in delivering projects that use arts, culture and the environment to create lasting benefits for the community.

Find out more about the grants programme and how to apply: hackney.gov.uk/community-grants