Charities which help some of the most disadvantaged people in London have been given a £1 million Christmas funding boost.
City Bridge Trust, the City of London Corporation’s charity funder, has granted the money to The London Community Foundation for its cost-of-living emergency grants programme, Together for London.
It will provide grants of up to £10,000 each to small charities across the capital providing emergency support this winter, including food and essential supplies, mental health support and financial advice.
Funding will be prioritised to organisations supporting those most affected by the current difficult financial climate, including people with disabilities, homeless people, older people, black and minority ethnic communities and people living in the most deprived London boroughs.
City Bridge Trust Deputy Chairman Paul Martinelli said:
“Demand for support from charities is already extremely high and is only going to increase as the cold weather begins to bite and the effects of the current financial climate take their toll.
“The London Community Foundation has the networks, experience, resources and knowledge to ensure funding is channelled without delay to charities working on the ground with the people who need it most.
“This funding will make a real difference to thousands of vulnerable Londoners, providing them with the support they need to stay safe and well.”
The City Bridge Trust funding brings the total raised by The London Community Foundation for Together for London to £2.2 million.
The London Community Foundation CEO Kate Markey said:
“In a crisis, people turn to those they trust – small, local charities and the community leaders who run them.
“Small charities that have barely taken a breath since the pandemic, are already responding to the needs of their communities this winter – offering warm spaces, hot meals, blankets, advice, often a friendly face and a cup of tea.
“But they are struggling with rising demand for their services and rising costs to keep their organisations open.
“At The London Community Foundation we are proud to partner with City Bridge Trust for our Together for London fund to provide vital support to vulnerable and marginalised communities and the small charities who support them across our capital.”
People can find out more about Together for London and donate to its appeal at https://londoncf.org.uk/together-for-london
