The Lewisham Local Essentials Grants Round 4 Fund is a programme developed and run by Lewisham Local in partnership with local organisations to provide small grants to purchase essential items for local residents. It is funded by Lewisham Council. This fund has been launched to help groups support their members/clients in financial hardship to purchase essential items or services that support the individual to make a real difference in their lives, which they do not have the means to fund themselves.
Aims
The aim of this fund is to support charities and registered community groups to purchase essential items that the individual would otherwise not be able to buy that have the potential to make a real difference in the person’s life.
We also aim to learn more from the groups we fund to develop a Lewisham perspective relating to essentials needed, the communities that are most affected, emerging issues and other indirect impacts of the cost-of-living crisis experienced by beneficiaries. This could include for example mental health, physical health, debt, housing issues to inform our future grant making.
Who we aim to support
We continually strive to be a fair, equitable and accessible funder. We will support charities and registered community groups to provide small one-off grants to members and services for essential items who work with communities already experiencing inequity and are most affected by the cost-of-living crisis, according to research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation which are:
· Children and young people
· Communities facing racial inequity
· Disabled people
· People who are economically or educationally disadvantaged
· Women and girls
· Migrants
· Carers
Preference will be given to organisations that:
· Work with multiple groups that already experiencing inequity and are most affected by the cost-of-living crisis
· Provide services in geographical areas of need with a good geographical spread around the borough
· Can demonstrate that they have established processes identifying clients and administering purchases
What grants are available?
There is a total pot of £117,300
Funding Stream – £3000 to organisations who are already providing cost of living related support to communities most affected by the cost-of-living crisis. Funds will need to be spent by 1st March 2026.
Application Timeline
Thursday, 14 August 2025 – Applications Live
Thursday, 18 September 2025 – Deadline for Applications
Monday, 6th October 2025 – Applicants Notified
Essentials Grants Funding Guideline
Essentials Grants Application Form
Essentials Grants Monitoring Form
How to apply?
Please click this link to apply online.