Key Points
- Hackney Council launches a new funding scheme, inviting local organisations to apply for grants up to £120,000 to support projects that aim to make the borough greener, safer, and more cohesive, starting July 2025.
- The scheme is part of the Council’s broader strategy to invest in the voluntary and community sector, even as it faces significant budget pressures and savings targets.
- The programme offers multiple grant strands, including Project Grants up to £20,000 for small and medium-sized organisations, Community Chest grants up to £1,000 for grassroots groups, and larger grants tied to major developments in the borough.
- Priorities include tackling climate change, promoting well-being, encouraging community cohesion, supporting vulnerable groups, and addressing inequalities that have widened since the pandemic.
- Specific initiatives supported by recent and upcoming rounds include: the Community Energy Fund, Windrush Microgrant Scheme, Big Lunch grant, and Community Development Fund, as well as targeted support for energy efficiency and resident engagement.
- The Council’s leadership, including Cllr Chris Kennedy and Mayor Caroline Woodley, emphasise collaboration with charities, resident groups, and public sector partners to reach those most in need.
- Applications are open to a wide variety of non-profit organisations, with a strong focus on ensuring at least 80% of beneficiaries are Hackney residents.
- Panel assessments will focus on value for money, legacy, inclusion, and direct community benefit, with preference for projects that are led by, or in direct partnership with, underrepresented groups in Hackney.
- Applications for most streams will open in summer 2025, with expressions of interest for some (such as the Community Energy Fund) beginning in July and formal applications from September.
Hackney Council has opened its flagship funding scheme for community initiatives, offering charities, resident groups, and local organisations the chance to secure up to £120,000 in grants to improve the borough. The initiative, launching in July 2025, forms part of ongoing efforts to sustain community resilience and cohesion amid continuing public funding pressures.
What Is the New Hackney Council Community Funding Scheme and Who Can Apply?
As reported by Hackney Council News, the local authority’s new funding scheme invites eligible organisations—ranging from registered charities and social enterprises to grassroots resident groups—to bid for grants that address critical themes: social inclusion, sustainability, support for vulnerable residents, and neighbourhood safety. According to the Local Council,
“at least 80% of the people benefiting from the funding request must be Hackney residents,”
ensuring resources are strongly locally targeted.
Organisations must be value-driven and principally reinvest surpluses for social, environmental, or cultural benefit. Private businesses and individuals are not eligible for this round of funding.
How Much Funding Is Available and What Are the Different Grant Strands?
According to the information available from HCVS and Hackney Council, grant pots include:
- Project Grants: Up to £20,000, targeted at supporting small and medium-sized community groups delivering social projects, from support for young people to helping those recovering from trauma or isolation.
- Community Chest Grants: Up to £1,000, dedicated to grassroots groups, facilitating hyper-local initiatives and resident-led activities.
- Community Fund Grants: Up to £120,000 for large-scale, borough-wide community projects. This funding stream uses money collected from new developments in Hackney, channelling it back into the local community.
- Special Purpose Grants: Schemes focusing on energy efficiency (Community Energy Fund), Windrush legacy events (Windrush Microgrant Scheme), and estate-based activities (Big Lunch grant, Community Development Fund).
What Are the Strategic Priorities and Selection Criteria?
As detailed in the Cabinet report by Cllr Chris Kennedy and Cllr Joe Walker, the Council’s funding priorities have evolved post-pandemic to meet rising demands for resident support and to build trust with community partners. Current themes for grant selection include:
- Reducing inequalities and addressing the cost-of-living crisis.
- Developing inclusive opportunities for Hackney’s diverse communities.
- Embedded support for health, well-being, and climate action.
- Fostering collaboration between the Council and voluntary sector.
Grant proposals will be assessed for community impact, legacy (whether project benefits are sustained), accessibility, value for money, and the level of engagement with Hackney’s underrepresented groups. For the Windrush Microgrant Scheme, for instance, a panel evaluates how well projects expand the narrative around Windrush and encourage intergenerational activity, accessibility, and creative legacy.
How Does the Council Justify Continuing Investment Amid Budget Pressures?
As stated by Cllr Chris Kennedy in the Council’s Cabinet papers,
“The Council is facing unprecedented budget pressures, including the need to save £67 million over the next three years. This has forced the Council to make very difficult decisions, which include a reduction to the VCS grants programme.”
However, lessons learned from the pandemic have emphasised the importance of flexibility and co-production with the voluntary sector to ensure vulnerable residents are not left behind.
Mayor Caroline Woodley, as quoted in official Hackney Council press statements, adds:
“In Hackney, we have one of the most ambitious programmes for building new council homes in the country—but we know we need to do more, and have called for help from central government.”
Woodley stresses the connection between social infrastructure investment and targets on climate and poverty.
What Community Projects and Priorities Are Supported?
According to the Council’s grants prospectus and previous funding reports:
- Social Cohesion and Inclusion: Activities promoting togetherness, well-being, and support for the borough’s most marginalised residents—from dementia-friendly tea dances to family support initiatives.
- Climate Action: The Community Energy Fund provides one of the UK’s largest council-led community energy investments, enabling public and charitable organisations to cut energy costs and carbon emissions.
- Heritage and Diversity: Events like Windrush legacy celebrations ensure Hackney’s diverse cultural stories are highlighted and new intergenerational connections formed.
- Estate Engagement: Programmes like the Big Lunch grant encourage resident groups to foster new bonds and celebrate local identity.
- Poverty Reduction: Through funds like the Household Support Fund, Hackney has been able to assist vulnerable families with direct support, including food aid and cost-of-living support.
When and How Can Organisations Apply?
As outlined in the Council’s official guidance, most grant streams for community groups will open for applications in summer 2025. Expressions of interest for the Community Energy Fund will be accepted in July, with formal applications opening in September.
All applicants are advised to review the eligibility documentation, and to prepare detailed, value-driven budgets, specifically showing the longevity and inclusivity of their planned activities. The Council encourages collaborative or partnership applications, especially those bringing together multiple community groups or cross-generational partnerships.
How Does the Funding Scheme Aim to Address Hackney’s Current Social Challenges?
Hackney, like many local authorities, is grappling with national funding constraints and rising costs. The Council’s commitment to continuing—albeit with some reduction in overall budget—strong support for the voluntary and community sector comes after a powerful pandemic response, which demonstrated how charities and resident groups could plug urgent gaps and innovate in resident support.
As Cllr Kennedy explains,
“Crucially, our voluntary and community sector collaborated with the council and public sector partners brilliantly—and we want to work more closely with them to ensure we’re reaching those who really need our help”.
The latest funding programme is positioned as a core tool for addressing widening inequality, promoting sustainability, and building on Hackney’s tradition of grassroots resilience.
