Derwent London Plc Community Fund

Charity Number: CUSTOM_1FFE8A8B

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

Stay updated on changes from Derwent London Plc Community Fund and other funders

Get daily notifications about new funding opportunities, deadline changes, and programme updates from UK funders.

Free Email Updates

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £150,000 (Community Fund 2025-2027) + £300,000+ (total charitable donations)
  • Success Rate: Competitive (Helen Joscelyne noted “overwhelmed by the number and quality” in 2024)
  • Decision Time: Approximately 6-8 weeks from deadline to announcement
  • Grant Range: £0 - £5,000 (registered charities up to £5,000; non-registered groups/businesses up to £2,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Central London (Fitzrovia & West End, and Tech Belt: King's Cross to Whitechapel, EC1 and E1)

Contact Details

Main Contact:

  • Email: community@derwentlondon.com
  • Phone: 020 7659 3000
  • Website: www.derwentlondon.com/community-fund
  • Community & Social Value Manager: Helen Joscelyne

For queries about the Community Fund or to be added to the launch notification mailing list for Community Fund West or Community Fund East, contact Helen Joscelyne at the email above.

Overview

Derwent London PLC is a FTSE 250-listed real estate investment trust (REIT) and the largest London-focused property investment and development company. In 2013, the company launched the Derwent London Community Fund in Fitzrovia, extending it to the Tech Belt area in 2016. Over ten years, Derwent London has invested over £1.2 million in grassroots projects across central London, supporting more than 180 community projects. For 2025-2027, £150,000 is available annually through the voluntary Community Fund, divided equally between Community Fund West (Fitzrovia & West End) and Community Fund East (Tech Belt). Beyond the dedicated Community Fund, Derwent London donated over £300,000 in the past year, with an additional £15,000 to employee-nominated charities. The company has received recognition for its commitment to social responsibility, achieving the National Equality Standard in 2022 and 2024, and being named to the Sunday Times Best Places to Work List 2023. In July 2020, Derwent London published its pathway to becoming a net zero carbon business by 2030, and in 2019 became the first UK REIT to sign a Green Revolving Credit Facility.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Fund West (Fitzrovia & West End)

  • Amount: £75,000 annually
  • Application method: Online via SurveyMonkey, with fixed deadlines
  • Multi-year funding: Available for certain groups from 2025
  • Geographic coverage: Fitzrovia and West End areas of central London

Community Fund East (Tech Belt)

  • Amount: £75,000 annually
  • Application method: Online via SurveyMonkey, with fixed deadlines
  • Application timeline: Typically September launch, October deadline, December announcement
  • Multi-year funding: Available for certain groups from 2025
  • Geographic coverage: King's Cross to Whitechapel, largely covering EC1 and E1 postcodes

Grant Amounts by Organization Type:

  • Registered charities: Up to £5,000
  • Non-registered groups, businesses, and individual applicants: Up to £2,000

Priority Areas

Based on recent funded projects and stated priorities, the Community Fund supports:

  • Mental health and wellbeing (stated priority in recent years)
  • Homelessness and housing insecurity (stated priority in recent years)
  • Social and community engagement activities
  • Cultural and arts projects for local communities
  • Health and wellbeing initiatives
  • Core funding for grassroots organizations
  • Education and youth development (STEAM education, career mentoring, youth drop-ins)
  • Community meals and food security
  • Cultural celebrations and festivals

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are detailed in the fund guidelines available on request. The fund is additional to required community contributions from planning agreements, indicating a focus on voluntary community benefit beyond statutory requirements.

Helpful Hinchilla

Ready to write a winning application for Derwent London Plc Community Fund?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

Paul Williams - Chief Executive Officer

Paul Williams has been CEO since 2019 and has been with Derwent since its inception. He has overall responsibility for leadership of the Group and its overall strategy, and has been part of the core team to develop Derwent's distinctive brand of buildings. Under his leadership, Derwent London has maintained its commitment to sustainability and community engagement.

Helen Joscelyne - Community & Social Value Manager

Helen Joscelyne oversees the Community Fund and is the primary contact for applicants. She has built relationships with local organizations over many years and brings innovative approaches to integrating social values into corporate strategy.

Quote from Helen Joscelyne (2024 Tech Belt Community Fund):

"We are pleased to announce the successful recipients of 2024's Tech Belt Community Fund. We were overwhelmed by the number and quality of recipients this year, making the decision process extremely tough."

Quote from Helen Joscelyne (2024 Fitzrovia & West End Community Fund):

“All the selected projects speak to the importance of community engagement and will support people by inviting them to come together and get involved in a range of activities.”

Assessment Panel:

Applications are considered by a community panel including representatives from Derwent London, local authorities, and an independent communities consultant, ensuring diverse perspectives in decision-making.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted online via SurveyMonkey forms. The fund operates on a fixed deadline schedule with separate application rounds for Community Fund East and Community Fund West.

To prepare your application:

  • Review the guidance notes provided for each fund
  • Contact community@derwentlondon.com with queries
  • Join the mailing list to receive notification when applications open

Accessibility features:

To ensure wider accessibility, diversity, and inclusion, Derwent London consulted with Chickenshed (an inclusive theatre group) on the scope and processes of the fund and adapted the application process to reflect their input.

Decision Timeline

Community Fund East (Tech Belt) - Typical Timeline:

  • Mid-September: Application details released
  • Late October: Deadline for submissions
  • Early December: Winners announced and notified

Community Fund West (Fitzrovia & West End):

  • Spring application cycle
  • Separate timeline from Community Fund East

Time from application deadline to decision announcement: 6-8 weeks

Success Rates

Helen Joscelyne described being “overwhelmed by the number and quality of recipients” in 2024, indicating a competitive application process. Specific success rate percentages are not published, but the competitive nature and quality of applications suggests applicants should submit strong, well-prepared proposals.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations can apply in multiple rounds. Several organizations have received support in multiple years, including The Spitz Charitable Trust, Fitzrovia Youth in Action, and others, suggesting that previous recipients can reapply for new projects or continued support.

Application Success Factors

Recent Funded Projects (2024)

Tech Belt Community Fund Recipients:

  • The Spitz Charitable Trust - Live music for wellbeing
  • SoapBox Old Street - STEAM Online
  • Finsbury and Clerkenwell Volunteers/FCV Dorcas - Core funding
  • Hoxton Hall - Strictly Hoxton
  • Urban MBA - Core funding
  • Bounce Legacy CIC - Bounce Film School
  • Streets of Growth - Pathfinder Career Mentoring
  • Arts for All - The Rainbow Club

Fitzrovia & West End Community Fund Recipients:

  • All Souls Serve The City - Senior Care
  • Dende Collective - The Church Street Masquerade
  • Volta International Festival - Bright Lights London
  • Foodcycle Marylebone - Community Meals
  • Fitzrovia Youth in Action - Sunday Sport Drop-ins at The Warren
  • Fitz Music - FitzFest
  • Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association - Healthy Minds Through Art & Crafts for Women
  • Georges Sokol - Piano Festival

Selection Criteria

Projects are selected because they “offer positive benefits – social, cultural, arts and health – to their local communities.” Successful applications demonstrate:

  1. Clear community benefit: Projects that bring people together and support community engagement
  2. Geographic relevance: Strong connection to Fitzrovia, West End, or Tech Belt areas
  3. Alignment with priority areas: Mental health, homelessness, social engagement, cultural activities, or health and wellbeing
  4. Inclusive approach: Projects that reflect diversity and accessibility values
  5. Practical implementation: Both specific project funding and core funding requests are considered

Advice for Applicants

  • Emphasize community engagement: Highlight how your project invites people to come together and get involved
  • Demonstrate local impact: Show clear benefits to communities in the specific geographic areas covered
  • Align with priorities: Connect your work to mental health, homelessness, or other stated priority areas if relevant
  • Consider core funding requests: The fund supports both specific projects and core operational funding
  • Be specific about outcomes: Articulate the positive social, cultural, arts, or health benefits your project will deliver
  • Leverage the accessible application: The application process has been designed with accessibility in mind following consultation with Chickenshed

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic specificity is crucial: Your project must serve communities in Fitzrovia & West End OR the Tech Belt (King's Cross to Whitechapel, EC1/E1). Demonstrate clear local connection and benefit.
  • Multi-year funding is now available: From 2025, certain groups can secure funding beyond single annual grants, providing opportunity for sustained support. Inquire about eligibility when applying.
  • Competition is high: The Community & Social Value Manager noted being “overwhelmed” by application quality in 2024. Submit polished, well-considered applications that clearly demonstrate community benefit.
  • Know your grant ceiling: Registered charities can request up to £5,000; non-registered groups, businesses, and individuals are capped at £2,000. Structure your budget accordingly.
  • Align with demonstrated priorities: Mental health, homelessness support, community engagement, and cultural/arts activities feature prominently in funded projects. Frame your work in these terms if relevant.
  • Build relationships early: Contact Helen Joscelyne at community@derwentlondon.com with questions, join mailing lists for application notifications, and engage before application deadlines to ensure you're prepared.
  • Inclusive practice matters: The fund partnered with Chickenshed to improve accessibility and values diversity. Demonstrate how your project serves diverse communities and promotes inclusion.

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Get Beta Access NowLearn More

References