Mayor's Small Grants Programme
What is the Mayor's Small Grants Programme?
Our vision is to support and invest in a thriving and diverse voluntary and community sector to help it improve the lives of residents.
To support this vision, the council launched the Mayor’s Small Grants Programme on Monday 11 December 2023.
The programme will provide £800,000 of annual grant funding between November 2023 and March 2027.
The Small Grants programme is for small organisations with a maximum annual income of £150,000. This is to ensure a wide range of organisations can access council funding and ensure all sections of the community benefit.
See awarded projects from previous round.
What projects will we fund?
The grants programme consists of five themes:
Funded project
| Funding themes | Annual budget | Amount per award | Number of awards per financial year |
|---|
|
Community Events
The Community Events theme aims to support events that bring communities together and celebrate our diversity, as well as national and regional celebrations.
|
£100,000
|
£2,500
|
1
|
|
Capacity Building
The Capacity Building theme aims to provide funding for VCS organisations to access capacity building support so you can strengthen your ability to deliver high quality services to residents.
|
£100,000
|
£2,500
|
1
|
|
Community Chest
The Community Chest theme is a generic funding theme that aims to provide small grants to support a wide range of activities, projects, events, and workshops.
|
£100,000
|
£500
|
2
|
|
Youth Empowerment Fund (YEF)
The YEF aims to support projects that involve young people in the decision making processes and enables them to design, deliver, and evaluate projects that supports their peers.
|
£250,000
|
£3,500
|
1
|
|
Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP)
The PAYP funding theme aims to support wide-ranging activities for young people held the during school holiday periods.
|
£250,000
|
£6,000
|
1
|
| |
£800,000 |
|
|
How do I apply?
Organisations must apply for funding using our online portal (Blackbaud Grant Management) which can be accessed through the following theme pages.
Each theme page covers
- the eligibility criteria
- how much funding is available
- what the funding can be used for
- the grant application portal link
What are the key timelines?
The key dates for round 1 of the 2025/26 financial year are as follows.
Application Rounds
| Rounds 2025/26 | Application open date | Deadline for submission | Award notifications | Project delivery from |
|---|
| Round 1 |
Tuesday 22 April 2025
|
Sunday 1 June 2025
|
July 2025
|
August 2025
|
|---|
| Round 2* |
TBC
|
TBC
|
TBC
|
TBC
|
|---|
| Round 3* |
TBC
|
TBC
|
TBC
|
TBC
|
|---|
*In the review stage
We are currently reviewing the Mayor’s Small Grants Programme and in consultation with voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations, along with other key stakeholders. This review is part of our commitment to making sure the programme continues to meet the needs of small, not-for-profit groups and organisations.
Following this consultation, we aim to introduce new and improved changes by June 2025. These updates will help ensure our funding remains relevant, accessible and impactful. This will support the vital work of grassroots organisations across our communities.
What support is available for interested organisations?
During the bidding process the council will deliver a series of information events focusing on:
- eligibility criteria
- theme priorities
- the application forms (for each theme) and scoring criteria
- navigating our online grants portal
Events
| Date | Time | Location |
|---|
| Thursday 8 May 2025 |
5.30 to 7pm
|
Tower Hamlets Council Town Hall 160 Whitechapel Road London E1 1BJ
|
| Thursday 15 May 2025 |
1 to 2.30pm
|
Online
|
Get in touch
If you have any questions about our eligibility criteria, need assistance with applying, or would like to discuss your project proposal, please contact the Voluntary and Community Sector Grants Team at vcs@towerhamlets.gov.uk.