Mayor provides funding to help London’s community organisations

• Sadiq provides a further £4m to the London Community Response Fund, taking the total to £16m to help the capital’s community and voluntary organisations
• Among those to benefit from the fund are civil society organisations co-ordinating volunteers and equalities groups working to support Londoners disproportionately affected by the coronavirus

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced a further £4m for the London Community Response Fund to support community and voluntary organisations affected by the impact of the coronavirus.

The boost to the fund from City Hall will give further support to already-stretched organisations so they can cope with the rising demand for their services. This includes London’s civil society organisations that are co-ordinating work and volunteers across the capital, and equalities groups working to support a range of Londoners, including BAME, LGBTQ+ and disabled-led groups disproportionately affected by the coronavirus.

Last month, the Mayor joined City Bridge Trust in donating £1m each to launch the London Community Response Fund – which was established by the City of London Corporation’s charity Bridge House Estates in response to the impact of the coronavirus. London Funders – the network of investors of London’s civil society – are overseeing the London Community Response to support civil society organisations and charities in providing their much-needed services, such as foodbanks and supporting vulnerable Londoners, during a time of rising demand but shrinking resources.

More than 40 funders have since contributed to the response, including £500,000 from the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, and the total now stands at £16m. It has already supported more than 319 projects and given out more than £1.6m in grants, and the second wave of funding applications is currently open.

Sadiq has also been lobbying Government to do more to support the voluntary and charitable sector to ensure that these organisations can continue to deliver their essential services at a time of rising demands. This includes making financial help available now and extending existing support for charities who are unable to furlough staff because they are helping in the response to the coronavirus.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m pleased to be able to provide a further £4m to the London Community Response Fund to support the invaluable work of our community and voluntary organisations. These groups are showing the very best of our city, as they bring Londoners together to help those who need it the most, including those being disproportionately affected by the coronavirus. The rising need for their already-stretched services, after a decade of austerity, combined with the huge demand already shown for the fund, shows just how much these vital organisations need help. I will continue to do what I can to support them and urge the Government to step-up and ensure that they provide the necessary levels of support now and in the future.”

Monica Needs, Vice Chair of London Funders, said: “London’s funders working together are aiming to ensure that funding gets to the civil society groups who need it through an easy, quick and straightforward application process. The funding priorities are being informed by the voices of London’s diverse communities, and reflect our strong commitment to equity and inclusion. The Mayor’s additional investment of £4m will ensure even more groups can get access to the funding we know is so desperately needed to support our communities right now.”

Dr Nooralhaq Nasimi, Director of the Afghanistan and Central Asian Association, said: “We were delighted to receive funding from the London Community Response Fund which will enable us to purchase three phones and data in order to be able to keep in touch with members of our vulnerable community whilst our office is closed. It will also allow us to purchase food for distribution to our community. This money is a lifeline at a time when we are losing £4,500 a month because we can no longer rent our community centre out for weddings, conferences and other cultural events.” .