There are a range of funding opportunities and funding support available for Voluntary and community sector organisations in Camden. VCS organisations may also be commissioned to deliver services for local residents.
Camden Council Grants
Camden Council runs a number of different grant programmes for VCS organisations working in the borough.
Open funding programmes
Cost of Living Community Response Fund
Camden’s voluntary and community sector has played a critical and ongoing role in supporting residents most impacted by the rising cost of living.
Last winter organisations came together in responsive and collaborative ways, to support residents most impacted by the rising cost of living.
We are entering the second winter of the cost-of-living crisis. Although energy costs have reduced slightly and inflation is coming down, the cost of essentials – including food, clothing, housing and bills – remains very high.
Many people have been struggling to pay for essentials for at least the past year and may have got into debt and/or be relying on credit as a result.
We are organising a series of community workshops to develop Camden’s Cost of Living Community Response for winter 2023/24. These workshops aim to identify ways in which voluntary sector organisations, community and faith groups, public services (council, health and schools) and active citizens can work together to provide support to those who need it most.
We will be making small grants of between £5,000 and £25,000 available to organisations to develop long-term partnerships that support and improve outcomes for those most impacted by poverty and economic exclusion.
Cost of Living Community workshops will take place on the following dates:
- Monday 4 December – 4-6pm at Highgate Library, NW3
- Tuesday 5 December – 4-6pm at The Greenwood Centre NW5
- Wednesday 6 December – 4-6pm at Holborn House, WC1
- Thursday 7 December – 4-6pm at Castlehaven Community Association, NW1
- Tuesday 12 December – 4-6pm at Sidings Community Association, NW6
- Wednesday 13 December – 4-6pm – St Pancras Community Association, NW1
To continue to be a part of these conversations, get involved in Camden’s Cost of Living Community Response and find out more about the Cost of Living Fund, please register your interest and sign up to a conversation here.
We make Camden Kit
This programme provides small grants of up to £2,000 to resident led social action.
The We Make Camden Kit is a partnership between Camden Citizens, Camden Council, Camden Giving, and Camden businesses. We're funding and supporting great ideas that will make Camden a better place. The goal is to help achieve Camden’s Core Missions by 2030; everyone eats well every day, young people have great opportunities, there’s diversity amongst people in power and we’re living in sustainable neighbourhoods.
There is a rolling deadline and applications are reviewed every two weeks. You can apply at any point and will usually receive an outcome within 3 weeks.
Find out more about We Make Camden Kit including how to access support to develop your idea.
Community Climate Action Grant
Community Climate Action Grant is to help enable communities to kickstart local climate action, the Camden Climate Fund is offering up to £5,000 for projects that can demonstrate carbon savings and community benefit. Examples of projects may include a tree planting scheme or a local communications campaign focused on behavioural change. Apply for the Community Climate Action Grant
Closed funding programmes
Active for Life VCS fund
The aim of this fund is to boost initiatives that support the overall aims of the “Active for Life” campaign. “Active for Life” aims to encourage Camden’s inactive residents aged 60 and over to become and remain physically active in the long term. This fund invites VCS organisations to work in collaboration with us to increase the reach and impact of the campaign.
Four organisations and partnerships have been awarded funding for community outreach proposals to reach residents aged 60 and over to promote the offer and help them find a suitable physical activity opportunity. There is a particular focus on proactive work in reaching people who may not be sufficiently active.
The campaign is scheduled to begin in March 2024.
The grant awards are as follows:
| Holborn Community Association in partnership with King’s Cross Brunswick Neighbourhood Association, Third Age Project, YMCA and Dragon Hall Trust) |
£9601 |
| Abbey Community Association |
£9955 |
| Castlehaven Community Centre |
£8827 |
| Hopscotch Women’s Centre |
£9331 |
Strategic Partnership Fund
Camden’s Strategic Partnership Fund 2017-2024 provides £1.67 million per annum, in core grants funding to Camden’s VCS, including multi-use community centres and organisations that deliver community-based services for our diverse communities. The funding enables these organisations to respond to changing patterns of need across the borough. Find out more about Strategic Partnership Fund
Infrastructure Alliance funding
A £150,000 per annum fund for organisations that provide capacity building support and networking opportunities to Camden’s VCS.
Advice Grant Fund
Camden’s Advice Grants Fund 2020-2027 provides £1 million per annum in core grant programme to establish a comprehensive, independent community advice offer for residents on issues such as welfare benefits, debt, housing and immigration. Find out more about Advice Grant Fund
Camden Community Impacts Resilience Fund
Camden’s Community Impacts Fund 2021-2023 is a £1.92m unrestricted grants programme designed to support VCS organisations to recover from the impact of COVID-19. The programme opened in November 2021 and is open for two years (2022/23-2023/24). Applications to the second year of the programme is now open with a deadline of 31st January 2023 at 12 noon. Apply for the Community Impacts Resilience Fund 2022/23
Camden Community Impact Phase 1
We’ve invested up to £1.6 million and worked with local voluntary and community organisations to tackle some of the most complex issues in Camden. The Camden Community Impacts scheme focused on youth offending, rough sleeping, emotional health and wellbeing, and supporting people with social care needs in the community.
Edward Harvist Fund
A on-off small grants programme totalling £125,000 restricted to develop or extend a sustainable model for food distribution, meeting the needs of groups at highest risk of food poverty as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.
Other ongoing restricted funding opportunities and financial support
Local Community Infrastructure Levy fund (LCIL)
25 per cent of the Camden Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is allocated locally by ward councillors. Allocations of CIL are guided by a Local CIL priority list for each ward. These have been developed by ward councillors in consultation with local residents. Details of LCIL availability and the priorities for your area can be found here. Find out more about LCIL
Registered charities are entitled to an 80% reduction in their business rates. Details of the Mandatory Rate Relief can be found here. Find out more about the Mandatory Rate Relief
Discretionary Rate Relief
Charities in receipt of mandatory charity relief and non-profit-making organisations can apply for a further 20% discretionary discount on their rates, up to the value of £2000. You must be in receipt of Mandatory rate relief to apply for discretionary rate relief. Check your organisation’s eligibility here
Local Funding
Camden Giving
Camden Giving runs three grants programmes for VCS organisations in Camden, the Equality Fund, We Make Camden Kit and Future Change Makers programmes. Their grants programmes are based on participatory grant giving, meaning that if you receive funding from Camden Giving, it will always be given by a panel of local people, who receive money and training to make decisions. Details of their funding programmes
Young Camden Foundation
Is a local organisation set up to address the growing uncertainty of long-term investment in the children and young people sector in Camden. Their yearly featured small grants are the Summer Opportunities Fund and the Holiday Hunger Fund. Details of their funding programmes
Hampstead Wells and Campden
Hampstead Wells and Campden provide grants to organisations, individuals and families. The principal objectives of The Hampstead Wells and Campden Trust are the alleviation of poverty and the advancement of health. Their area of benefit is north and west Camden, though organisations serving a wider area, but whose activities can be shown to benefit residents in our area of benefit, among others, may also apply for help. Find out more about Hampstead Wells and Campden
Commissioning
Camden are committed to supporting local small and medium sized enterprises and voluntary and community organisations to tender for private and public sector contracts. Go to Business with Camden to find out more. To view all available council contracts worth between £5,000 to £100,000 sign up to the London-wide portal Compete For
Other funding support
There is a range of other funding support for Voluntary and Community Sector organisations in Camden.
Funding database
Camden 4 Community funding kit
Camden Council has set up the Camden 4 Community funding Kit, a database of local, regional, national and international funding opportunities. You can register for access to the fully searchable database and to set up a regular bulletin, personalised to relevant search criteria. Find out more about Camden 4 Community
Fundraising support
Voluntary Action Camden
Voluntary Action Camden, provide expert advice and direct support to community groups needing help with fundraising and income generation. Find out more about Voluntary Action Camden
NCVO funding section
Wealth of information on grants, fundraising and public services. Find out more about NCVO
One Camden
OneCamden is a portal by VAC to help you access Voluntary and Community Sector support in Camden. Find out more about One Camden
Data and Evidence for funding applications
Camden renewal Commission
The Camden Renewal Commision was set up by Camden Council and UCL’s Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP) to develop practical solutions to help achieve a fair, sustainable economy and address inequalities in the borough. The renewal commission website contains information and insights gathered through community engagement.
Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA)
The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) is a process by which local authorities and Clinical Commissioning Groups assess the current and future health, care and wellbeing needs of the local community to inform local decision making.
Camden Open data portal
Open Data Camden is the place for the public, researchers and developers to access, analyse and share information about the borough.
