In light of these unprecedented times with the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic, we want to update everyone on The London Community Foundation’s response to how we are operating and how we can support our beneficiary organisations and the communities they serve.
We have signed up to the London Funders Funder Statement of Commitments which outlines our commitment to collectively supporting the charitable organisations we are funding. This includes listening to changing needs, how we can support adapting activities and discussing reporting/ monitoring dates for open grants.
We recognise the challenges that London’s charitable organisations, who are providing vital support to their local communities, will be facing around service delivery, fundraising and staffing and want to ensure that we will help and not hinder.
We will continue to stay in touch with organisations, but if you have any urgent concerns or questions, please do contact info@londoncf.org.uk or your Programme Manager. If you currently have any funding with us, please note that we will let you know about your individual programme as soon we can. Please do bear with us as we may not be able to respond immediately to all individual enquiries we receive. We will, however, be in touch as soon as we can and will be updating our website as well.
We are also talking to our donors and partners whose funds we manage and will keep you updated as to these conversations relating to the grant(s) you may have with us.
Please note that our office is now closed but our operations are still up and running as our staff work remotely.
Funding
Funding throughout 2020 was available through the London Community Response portal, coordinated by London Funders. All emergency funds coming to or managed by LCF – including the National Emergencies Trust and our London Communities Coronavirus Appeal – were allocated through this portal. By working with other funders on this portal, we want to support the sector by reducing time spent applying for funds. In total, we have allocated over £13.4m in over 1,000 grants through this portal.
Please note that this portal is now closed for applications.
Resources
We encourage you to visit NCVO and the Small Charities Coalition who have compiled lists of helpful advice and funding opportunities for charitable organisations. Charity Digital also has a list of helpful tools to support you and your organisation's digital systems and Charity Excellence have put together a database of emergency funding across the UK. The Greater London Authority also has a page with volunteering advice and opportunities.
The London Community Foundation does not fund individuals, so do check out Turn2Us, which has advice on their website for individuals.
Please also visit the GOV.UK website for the most up to date information on the pandemic and how to stay healthy.
National Emergencies Trust launch Coronavirus appeal
The National Emergencies Trust launched an appeal to raise funds to help local charities to support those individuals suffering hardship as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. The National Emergencies Trust will distribute money raised through a number of charitable organisations including local Community Foundations, like The London Community Foundation, to ensure it reaches those who need it most.
London Communities Coronavirus appeal
On 25 March we launched an appeal that sat alongside funds received through the NET appeal. The London Communities Coronavirus appeal raised funds towards the Capital's grassroots charities and community groups. Organisations in London were able to apply for funding via the London Community Response portal here.
We will update this page with further updates as they come in. You can also sign up to our ebulletin here and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date.
We wish you all the best during this time. Stay safe.
This page was last updated on 19 May 2021.
