Local Initiatives Fund
This fund supports activities and improvements in our neighbourhoods.
Local ward councillors have an annual budget of £14,000 per ward for small grants that deliver benefit to the residents of their ward (subject to the final agreement of the Voluntary and Community Sector Committee).
They can go towards a variety of locally run activities like:
- sports clubs
- local festivals
- youth activities
- estate community events
- environmental improvements
- education and training classes
- pensioner outings and day trips
How to apply
- Download the application form (this form is updated regularly so please ensure that you download the form each time you apply.)
- Download the guidance notes (read these carefully as they explain the application form structure)
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Download the insurance policy guidance notes
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Download a map of the 16 wards in Islington (for information only)
We strongly advise you to try to contact your local ward councillor(s) and discuss your project before making an application. We would recommend you email all three councillors of the ward you wish to apply to, rather than just one.
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Find out which ward your project is based in or which ward the people to benefit from your project are from (local councillors will be looking to support applications that deliver benefit to the residents of their ward)
If you have received a Local Initiatives Fund award from us previously and the project has finished, please make sure you have sent in all the required monitoring information before making your application. We won't be able to accept your application until we receive all this information.
2019-20 application deadlines
- Thursday 6 February 2020 (final decisions communicated to applicants in late May 2020)
Formal approval by Committee of the councillor funding recommendations for the last round has been delayed by a month. Please email localinitiativesfund@islington.gov.uk if you would like to know how much has been recommended for your project in the meantime. (The final decisions for this round were originally to be communicated to applicants in late April 2020.)
For projects previously awarded funding or recommended for funding, there is a dedicated webpage for the voluntary sector containing guidance on Covid-19.
As funders Islington have signed a commitment to support organisations with any changes or developments relating to funding which may result from the COVID 19 crisis, see here.
Please note that the Local Initiatives Fund normally funds projects in advance of them taking place. It is likely that funding will not be fully confirmed until at least nine weeks after the application deadlines listed above. We would recommend that you apply at least three months before your project takes place if you need the funding before delivering your project.
If your organisation submits an application form after any of the dates above, it will be considered in the next round of applications.
Previous grants
Further information
Email: localinitiativesfund@islington.gov.uk
Please also use the above email address if you have difficulty contacting a councillor.
