Equality Fund
The Camden Giving Equality Fund 2023 is supporting organisations with flexible funding that will actively bring together people from different backgrounds to create communities in support of good mental health and wellbeing. A panel of 12 Camden residents awarded 2 year grants of £30,000 in June 2022. The panel chose to fund organisations that support people to have the power to make decisions and the power to have their voices heard.
What are the core missions?
Access to food for all
Everyone deserves to eat well, and issues surrounding our food systems are becoming increasingly urgent. Our community panel want to give grants to experimental ideas, new partnerships, entrepreneurial activity and community-led activities responding to food poverty.
Representative leadership
This mission has been developed to support aspiring leaders who otherwise may not have the opportunity to lead community projects within their own communities, whether this is through culturally competent support groups or disability-led social action, if you are applying for projects where relatable lived experience may be the key ingredient to make a difference, please apply under this mission.
Eco-friendly neighbourhoods
Projects that encourage local residents to be eco-friendly in their everyday lives, whether this is growing their own fruit and vegetables, using compost bins, litter picking groups, developing a community garden, recycling, upcycling or clean air initiatives. Projects applying under this mission will be thinking about Camden resident’s role in saving the planet.
Opportunities for children and young people
Camden’s children and young people should have opportunities for education, happiness, health and to contribute to making Camden a better place. Our community panel want to fund projects that are designed with or by children and young people.
What’s been funded so far?
We started funding projects in June 2021 and since then around 3 new projects get going every week. Around half of them are run by Camden residents who aren’t part of a charity, brilliant people cracking on with doing things to make Camden better.
Access to food for all
Keep Healthy is a project run by Camden resident, Selwa Alabadi, who runs health and wellbeing sessions for parents and babies at the Zad cafe in the Amphil Estate.
Diversity in positions of power
The C4WS Women’s Group was set-up with funding from the We Make Camden Kit so that women have a safe space where they can come together and learn from each other.
Sustainable and creative neighbourhoods
Your Bike Project is run by a Camden resident, Raqhib Islam, who turned his love for sustainable transport into a project teaching young people how to mend things.
Opportunities for young people
Futsal Stars Foundation supports the mental wellbeing of young people by facilitating football and futsal coaching camps, leading to a happier and healthier community.
Tell me more
Camden Giving currently have £145k in the pot for this year, meaning that there will be roughly 96 grants that will be awarded. We are now accepting applications and the fund will be stay open on a rolling basis for 1 year.
Decisions on who receives funding and support are made by a panel of Camden residents from across the borough, who have diverse experiences of Camden, with the panel of Camden residents supported by a partnership between Camden Council and Camden Giving. The community panel who award these grants value the experience of people who have faced inequalities in Camden because they have faced them themselves. The community panel encourage applications from those who have faced barriers to receiving funding elsewhere.
Residents can also receive support with insurance, safeguarding and connections to make their ideas a success.
I work for a charity, school or social enterprise, how can I apply?
The fund is open to applications from constituted voluntary and community sector organisations (VCSOs) with an annual income below £250,000. It is also open to schools who are delivering projects that either fall outside of the normal curriculum or are designed and led by students.
In order to receive a grant you’ll need to have a safeguarding policy if you are working with vulnerable people, a bank statement in the name of your organisation, public liability insurance and a governing document.
If you work or volunteer for an organisation who is applying and you’d like a chat or a bit of help, please reach out to our Grants Coordinator, Abukar - abukar@camdengiving.org.uk. He can do face-to-face coffee chats outside, zoom calls or invite you in to the Camden Collective!
You can submit an application by clicking below.
So what does the process look like for me?
Start with an idea to contribute a core Camden mission, it doesn’t have to be perfect!
Next you’ll fill out your application online by clicking the ‘apply here’ button above.
Your application is then reviewed by our panel, this happens every two weeks. The panel decide which applications they want to fund, and if you’re not successful the first time you can chat with Abukar and have another go.
If your application is successful, Abukar will help you prepare for your project. This includes sort out things like public liability insurance for your project, any safeguarding training and DBS checks you might need and figuring out your project plan.
You’ll then be awarded your grant money and can start your project, making Camden a better place!
How long will it take to get funding?
The community panel review applications every 2 weeks, taking a break for Christmas and Ramadan. You can apply at any point and usually receive an outcome within 3 weeks. The link below shows when the panel are meeting. As this is the first time Camden Giving are doing a rolling fund we are continuously learning and trying to improve our services. We encourage feedback on how people are finding the application by emailing admin@camdengiving.org.uk.
We know that a written application isn't best suited for everyone and Camden Giving are willing to be flexible for people who might want to apply in a different.
I hate forms, how else can I apply?
We hear you!
We need some information written down, but we can meet with you and do the typing. It's also great to see a recorded video so our panel can meet you, nothing fancy, just you talking to your phone will do.
If access to technology is an issue, do give us a shout, we’ve got some laptops you can borrow, or we can give you a paper application.
This work is funded by Camden Council, Landsec and Shaftesbury through their continued commitment to supporting the brilliant ideas of local residents. To ensure the longevity of the We Make Camden Kit, Camden Giving continues to seek additional funding from local businesses invested in making Camden a fairer place for everybody.
