Grants for London schools: John Lyon's Charity increases funding

New opportunities for schools in north and west London to get grants for cultural, trips and holiday enrichment

As the cost of living crisis continues to impact Children and Young People (CYP), one of London’s largest grant funders for the sector is making its grants more accessible to those in need.

The John Lyon’s Charity has developed a five-year strategy to makes its reach more educational in focus. It has also streamlined programme areas and simplified the grant-making process so that schools and charitable organisations can more easily apply for funds.

The charity will now provide larger grants over a longer time period, meaning that schools can spend less time on funding applications and more on the vital work they do to support children and young people. The website at www.jlc.london now has a dedicated space for schools in North and West London (covering the boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster, City of London) to apply for funding. Simply click on the grants tab (home page) and then click on schools in the drop down menu to find details of the following three funding streams. The Schools in Partnership Fund is open to groups and clusters of schools for projects related to access and progression, emotional wellbeing, arts & culture and SEND enrichment (for Special Schools only).

The Cultural Capital Fund is designed to ensure access to high quality arts activities, delivered as face-to-face experiences.

The School Holiday Activity Fund (SHAF) is designed to enable organisations to deliver fun and accessible activities for children and young people during school holidays.

John Lyon’s CEO Dr. Lynne Guyton said: ‘There has been a succession of one financial travesty after another for the sector – from austerity to Covid to cost of living – and the reality is we cannot fund every charity. However, our new strategy will help us focus our funds where they can have the most impact. It will mean organisations can request larger grants for longer periods of time to help alleviate the financial pressures and worries of the current climate. We hope that this new focus will help the CYP sector rebuild and be strong.’

  • For details on the John Lyon’s Charity Cultural Capital Fund, click here.

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