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Imagine Fund 2023

The Imagine Fund is back!

The Imagine Fund is aimed to support local people and Unincorporated Associations in the City of London to create projects that will bring people together, kickstart a new idea or have a go at something they’ve always wanted to try.

In 2021/22, we delivered our second round of the Imagine Fund – an opportunity for 10 people, based in the City of London to get funding for ideas they were interested in for the local community. The grants were allocated by a panel of local community members who worked together to design the process and make decisions.

This year we administered two rounds in February and May, awarding 22 more grants to local people to run projects. We’ve funded a wide range of projects from local family friendly events, a local gardening project, craft workshops, to educational projects such as a Chinese reading group and creative workshops for diaspora from the Global South around climate awareness raising.

Welcome to the Imagine Fund

Check out this video to find out more about the Imagine Fund.

Funds

Seed Funds

These are £500 grants to test an idea in your community. Always wanted to start a book group? Or have a go at a gardening club? This is the fund for you! There are no set outcomes here, this is all about trying something. 

To learn more about how to apply for a Seed Fund:

Download the full application guidelines here 

Download the easy read application guidelines here 

Listen to an audio - description of the guidelines here.

Watch the step-by-step video on how to apply here.

Applications open on Fri 15 Dec.

Project Grants

These are bigger grants of £2,000, available to deliver a community or cultural project in the local area which needs more time and support to make happen. 
 

To learn more about how to apply for a Project Grant:

Download the full application guidelines here 

Download the easy read application guidelines here 

Listen to an audio - description of the guidelines here.

Watch the step-by-step video on how to apply here.

Applications open on Fri 15 Dec.

Who can apply?

FAQs

If you need additional support to make an application, from covering childcare costs to borrowing a laptop, or simply want to drop us a question, please get in touch at  [email protected]  and we’ll do our best to help.
 

The fund is primarily to support the development of new ideas, so will prioritise projects which will benefit the most from the funds.

The Imagine Panel is made up of a group of local stakeholders who are invested in the area and cover a broad range of communities and areas of interest.

“Rolling” refers to the fact that applicants can apply at any point in the year from the application opening date (Monday 28 November 2022) up until the final submission deadline (Friday 15 September 2023). 
The Imagine Fund panel will meet at three points across the year and will shortlist and collectively decide on applications.

Please note - if you submit your application past Friday 15 September 2023, your application will be held and rolled over for the following year as we wrap up for the year.

Grants will be paid to successful applicants once we’ve confirmed that their application has been successful.

Where possible we will support you to deliver your project in a COVID-secure way, and we remain flexible about outcomes.

As much time as is needed to develop your idea and stay in communication with us. For the Seed Fund, please remember that this is a micro grant, so do not put unnecessary pressure on yourself. If you think your project could benefit from more budget, you can apply for the Project Grant which is a larger amount and will need more time from your side.

If your applications is successful, we will contact you to arrange a catch up with our team and send you the grant agreement. Once you have had a look at this and signed, you will be advised on how to access your fund. We’ll talk through the various options with successful applicants to see what works best for them.