Deadline looms to apply for first wave of £100m fund

Charities have until the end of the week to express an interest in the first wave of funding from a newly created £100m fund, set up by a raft of funders including the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, to support disadvantaged groups and young people.

Called Propel, the fund is aimed at supporting charities working with young people, women and girls, LGBTQ+ communities, deaf and disabled people as well as those experiencing racial inequality in the capital.

The first grants to be made available will focus on supporting young people and support sustainable advice services, “staffed by people rooted in the communities they serve”.

The deadline for charities to express an interest in this first wave closes this week, on December 9.

📢A REMINDER that the Propel funding programme closes for applications on December 9th!

⭐️(You can express your interest by the deadline & complete the application later)

👉Info: https://t.co/nmFGpySoBr #funding #charity pic.twitter.com/Ede2fWWny9
— London Legal Support Trust (@londonlegal) December 5, 2022

Also involved in the funding collaboration, which has been coordinated by London Funders, is the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF), Bloomberg, City Bridge Trust and London Legal Support Trust.

“I’m delighted to join with organisations across London to create this fund to help tackle inequality in our city, with investment from City Hall being used to support young people,” said Khan.

“This is part of our ongoing work to provide positive opportunities for young Londoners, particularly those at risk of getting caught up in crime. We all have a role to play in building a safer and fairer London for everyone, and by working together we can ensure that this help reaches those who need it the most.”

NLCF chair John Mothersole added: “We’re proud to be working alongside the Propel partners to award this vital funding which will support London’s communities to tackle challenges and make the changes that matter to them.”

Propel’s partners want more funders to take part “to provide communities with the resources and capacity they need to drive long term change”.

“Uniting all the Propel partners is a shared belief that just as during the pandemic, the big issues facing the capital can best be addressed when funders, charities, and community groups come together to pool their resources and experience,” said London Funders’ chief executive James Banks.