Civil Society Roots Incubator
About Civil Society Roots Pilot programme
The Mayor of London, in partnership with City Bridge Trust and the National Lottery Community Fund, launched a pilot fund, Civil Society Roots, to support specialist civil society infrastructure in London.
The fund supports five specialist civil society infrastructure organisations through a two-year grant to develop the organisations offer of support for their respective sectors and strengthen London's civil society.
The five grantees are:
To date projects have been able to use the funding to mobilise support for user led organisations in response to COVID-19, including publishing research, delivering capacity building and advocating for the needs of their members to funders and the public sector. The Roots Grantees have played a critical role in ensuring the equity agenda is a priority for strategic bodies operating in London.
Civil Society Roots Incubator programme
Following the success of the pilot programme and to support London’s recovery, the Mayor of London launched the Civil Society Roots Incubator programme offering development support and grants to new and existing partnerships led by and for communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 its structural drivers.
We have awarded 20 early-stage (Micro) and developed (Growth) community-led partnerships that raise the voices of Londoners, increase feelings of belonging and/or increase access to support and services.
Micro Award
We have awarded 11 grants to early-stage partnerships who have identified a gap in community provision and are looking to test their partnership idea to address this gap in support.
Growth Award
We have awarded 9 grants to partnerships which have developed in emergency response to COVID-19 and want to become sustainable.
The Incubator Programme
We have commissioned the Foundation for Social Improvement (FSI) to deliver the incubator programme over 6-months to provide successful partnerships with a curriculum focused on developing their ideas, skills and long-term sustainability.
Food Roots Incubator Programme
Partnerships between local authorities, civil society organisations and businesses have played an integral role throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in helping Londoners experiencing food insecurity to access food.
The Mayor of London is committed to supporting these partnerships and has launched a new Food Roots Incubator programme, offering incubator support and small grants to new and existing strategic food partnerships to help them grow, diversify, become more sustainable and take forward initiatives that address food insecurity.
Applications are now closed.
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