Lewisham Local

Charity Number: 1101616

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M
Geographic Focus: Lewisham

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Grant Distribution: £153,000 (combined recent programs)
  • Success Rate: 57% (Essentials Grant program)
  • Decision Time: 2 weeks
  • Grant Range: £500 - £10,000
  • Geographic Focus: London Borough of Lewisham only

Contact Details

Website: www.lewishamlocal.com

Email: gulen@lewishamlocal.com

Phone: 020 8488 9224

Chief Executive: Dr. Gulen Petty

Overview

Lewisham Local (registered charity 1101616) became a local funder in 2020, launching grant programs that attracted new individuals and organizations to grant funding. Founded as a community development organization, the charity uses an asset-based approach to facilitate collaboration between voluntary, statutory, education, and business sectors to alleviate poverty and reduce social isolation. With 18 staff, 6 trustees, and 500 volunteers, Lewisham Local administers grant programs funded through partnerships with Lewisham Council. Total organizational income for 2023-2024 was £1,218,803, primarily from charitable activities and government contracts. Recent grant programs include the Lewisham Local Essentials Grant (£40,000) and Food Justice Community Grants Fund (£113,000).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Lewisham Local Essentials Grant (2022-2023, now closed)

  • 8 grants of £5,000 each to organizations
  • Organizations distributed up to £500 per individual to residents
  • Total: £40,000
  • Application method: Online application form

Food Justice Community Grants Fund (2023, now closed)

  • 21 grants up to £3,000 for existing community food projects
  • 5 grants up to £10,000 for developing additional capacity
  • Total: £113,000
  • Application method: Online application form
  • Decision timeline: Applications notified within 2 weeks of deadline

Priority Areas

  • Food insecurity and food justice initiatives
  • Essential support for vulnerable residents (individuals facing multiple deprivation, refugees and asylum seekers, people with disabilities, young adults 18-24)
  • Community cohesion and volunteering initiatives
  • Poverty alleviation projects
  • Support during cost-of-living crisis

What They Don't Fund

  • Already completed activities
  • Profit-making projects
  • Religious or political activities
  • Fundraising events
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • Roy Witter - Chair, background in renewable energy and engineering
  • Jonathan Prince MBE - Vice-Chair, former Management Consultant
  • Dr. Allison Streetly OBE - Public health advisor for NHS England
  • Gemma Juma - CEO of Jack Petchey Foundation, 20+ years in voluntary sector
  • Mary Pickles - Chief of Staff for EY UK, expertise in HR and CSR
  • Pete Webb - Time Bank member with 8+ years experience, CIC Director
  • Joyce Jones - Project management background in government and private sectors
  • Safiyyah Gareeboo and Tina Price-Johnson

Senior Staff:

  • Dr. Gulen Petty - Chief Executive, 18 years charity sector experience
  • Ron Bourne - Voluntary Sector Programme Manager, 25+ years supporting community organizations
  • Simone Riddle - Food Justice Programme Manager
  • Jennifer Brown - Finance & Office Coordinator

No trustees receive remuneration from the charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Grant programs are administered through online application forms when funding rounds are open. Lewisham Local runs time-limited grant programs funded through partnerships with Lewisham Council rather than maintaining continuously open funding streams.

Eligibility Requirements (based on Food Justice program):

  • Voluntary, community, or faith organization based in Lewisham
  • Formal constitution
  • Bank account with multiple signatories
  • Public liability insurance
  • Safeguarding policy
  • Health and safety policy

Decision Timeline

Food Justice Community Grants: Applications notified within 2 weeks of deadline (applications closed March 13, 2023; applicants notified by March 27, 2023)

Success Rates

Lewisham Local Essentials Grant: 14 applications received, 8 funded = 57% success rate

Reapplication Policy

Information not publicly available. Contact Dr. Gulen Petty for specific guidance on future funding rounds.

Application Success Factors

Lewisham Local provides extensive guidance for grant applicants through their website resources:

Critical Success Factors:

  1. Read funding guidance carefully - “Take time to read the funding guidance carefully, as the funder has often gone to great lengths to tell you exactly what they are looking for in each question”
  1. First impressions count - "Sum up what you're going to do and achieve in just a few lines"
  1. Be specific about outcomes - Avoid vague language and unsubstantiated claims; demonstrate exactly what your project will achieve
  1. Demonstrate community involvement - Show thorough research into community needs and how your project addresses them
  1. Highlight your unique selling point - Explain what makes your project unique and necessary
  1. Never submit late - "If you can't demonstrate you can stick to a deadline, a funder will be a lot less likely to fund you"
  1. Proofread thoroughly - Have another person review your application
  1. Avoid jargon and repetitive language - Use clear, concise language
  1. Budget details matter - Provide thorough, accurate budget information
  1. Stay within word limits

Funded Projects Examples (Essentials Grant):

  • Community Advice Works
  • Bold Vision
  • Chinbrook Action Residents Association
  • St Mary's School PTA
  • LRMN
  • Coco Collective
  • MammaKind
  • AFRIL

Common Funded Items: White goods, beds, school uniforms, laptops, cooking equipment, home improvements, ID documentation, cold weather appliances

Impact Quote: “The project has very significantly met the needs of the people accessing our service, by tackling the issues they face and offering a direct and practical response.”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Lewisham-focused only: All programs exclusively serve organizations and residents within the London Borough of Lewisham
  • Partnership model: Lewisham Local administers grant programs funded by Lewisham Council rather than distributing from their own endowment
  • Time-limited programs: Watch for announcements of new funding rounds rather than expecting continuously open applications
  • Strong application discipline required: Late submissions are not considered; attention to detail and following instructions precisely is essential
  • Support available: Lewisham Local employs Community Fundraisers to support organizations with grant applications and runs the Friday Fundraising Club (1-2pm weekly)
  • Asset-based approach valued: Projects that involve collaboration across sectors and leverage community assets align with Lewisham Local's philosophy
  • High success rate for quality applications: 57% success rate on Essentials Grant suggests well-prepared applications have good chances

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