What priority area will you focus on for infrastructure and/or capacity building support in Lewisham? *(required)
- Black Led voluntary and community sector (VCS)
- Digital inclusion
- Arts organisations and freelance artists
- Lewisham's Cultural Strategy
- Sports
- Adults with learning disabilities
- LGBTQ+
- Sanctuary seekers (refugees, asylum seekers, vulnerable migrants)
Please see the fund criteria above (page 6) for more information on each priority area. If you would like to apply for more than one priority area you will need to submit a separate application for each.
Please summarise your project, keeping it clear and concise (100-150 words) *(required)
Focus on the key objectives, target audience, and expected outcomes. Highlight the unique aspects of your project, making sure to use clear and straightforward language. Remember, this summary will be used to describe your project on our website if it is successful, so it should be engaging and easy to understand.
Are you applying on behalf of a formal partnership or as a single organisation? *(required)
If you are applying as a formal partnership, then it is the lead partner which should complete the application form. If you are applying to deliver the project without any formal partners, then select single organisation. Remember that the applicant organisation will need to hold the funds and take the lead on reporting.
Please confirm you are the main partner who will be holding the funds and leading on this project.
This question appears if you have confirmed you are submitting a partnership application. Only the lead partner should answer 'Yes'. This organisation will be responsible for managing the grant.
Please list your FORMAL delivery partners and describe their roles and expertise in terms of project delivery.
Formal Partner Organisation
Role and expertise in partnership
Please confirm that all of the formal partners listed here are aware of this application. You will also need to send us a partnership agreement for each formal partnership if your application is successful.
This question appears if you have confirmed you are submitting a partnership application. Only the lead partner should answer 'Yes'. This organisation will be responsible for managing the grant.
Support for Black led VCS
Approach and track record
What do you think are the needs of the Black led VCS in Lewisham? Please consider intersectional needs of the communities served, for example those who are also LGBTQ+, disabled, older, or sanctuary seekers. (up to 300 words) *(required)
Identify the key challenges faced by the Black led VCS in Lewisham. Your response should address areas such as funding, capacity building, community engagement, and access to resources.
What is your experience in providing support for the Black led VCS in Lewisham? What successful initiatives have you led on or supported when working with the Black led VCS in the borough? Please give examples including projects and who you have worked with. (up to 400 words) *(required)
Outline your organisations background and experience in supporting the Black led Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in Lewisham. Include details about the duration of your involvement, the types of organisations you have worked with, and the nature of the support you have provided.
How will you support the efforts of the Black led VCS across Lewisham? Describe your strategy and the types of support activities you will undertake. You will have the opportunity to list your activities and outcomes below. (up to 400 words) *(required)
Explain your strategy for supporting the Black led VCS in Lewisham. Detail the types of support activities you will undertake, such as capacity building, advocacy, and collaboration. Provide examples of how these activities will benefit the organisations and the community.
How are Black community members involved in the design, delivery or governance of your project? (up to 300 words)
Highlight the specific measures you will take to involve those with lived experience in your project.
How will you work to ensure that you're effectively networked and ensure voice and representation of the Black led VCS? (up to 300 words) *(required)
Outline your approach to networking and ensuring the voice and representation of the Black led VCS. Describe the methods you will use to build and maintain connections, such as organising networking events, establishing advisory boards, and creating communication channels. Emphasise the importance of inclusive and participatory processes.
Borough Wide Digital inclusion
Approach and track record
What do you think are the needs in relation to borough-wide digital inclusion? Please consider intersectional needs of the communities served, for example those who are also Black, LGBTQ+, disabled, older, or sanctuary seekers (up to 300 words) *(required)
Identify the key barriers to digital inclusion in the borough, such as lack of access to devices, internet connectivity, digital skills, and support. Highlight the specific needs of different communities and how addressing these needs can improve overall digital inclusion.
What experience do you have in delivering Digital Inclusion services? (up to 300 words) *(required)
Include any relevant projects, partnerships, and outcomes. Highlight your expertise in addressing digital barriers and supporting diverse communities.
Please describe your approach to delivering borough wide Digital Inclusion services for residents and to build the capacity of organisations. You will have the opportunity to list your activities and outcomes later in the application. (up to 400 words) *(required)
Outline your strategy for delivering digital inclusion services across the borough. Describe the key activities, target audiences, and expected outcomes. Explain how you will collaborate with local organisations, engage with the community, and ensure sustainability. Provide examples of successful initiatives and how you plan to build on them.
Borough wide capacity building support for Arts organisations and freelancers
Approach and track record
What do you think are the needs of arts organisations and freelance artists in Lewisham? (up to 300 words) *(required)
Identify the key challenges faced by arts organisations and freelance artists in Lewisham, such as funding, access to spaces, networking opportunities, and professional development.
What is your experience in providing support for arts organisations or freelance artists in Lewisham? What successful initiatives have you led on or supported when working with Arts organisations or freelance artists in the borough? Please give examples including projects and who you have worked with. (up to 300 words) *(required)
Summarise your organisation's experience in supporting arts organisations and freelance artists in Lewisham. Include any relevant projects, partnerships, and outcomes.
How will you support the efforts of arts organisations and freelance artists across Lewisham? Describe your strategy and the types of support activities you will undertake. You will have the opportunity to list your activities and outcomes below. (up to 400 words) *(required)
Summarise your strategy and key activities for supporting arts organisations and freelance artists across Lewisham and how addressing the needs described in the previous question will enhance the cultural landscape of the borough. Remember that you will have a chance to list activities, targets and outcomes further down in the application.
How will you help us to develop and deliver the Lewisham Cultural Strategy and support the work of the Lewisham Cultural Partnership? (up to 400 words) *(required)
Explain how your work aligns with the borough's cultural priorities and how you will support the growth and sustainability of these initiatives. In order to respond to this question, it is essential for applicants to be familiar with Lewisham’s Cultural Strategy and be engaged with the Lewisham Cultural Partnership.
Lewisham Cultural Strategy
What is Lewisham’s Cultural Strategy?
Lewisham’s Cultural Strategy – We Are Lewisham 2022-2028 outlines a bold and inclusive vision for embedding culture at the heart of community. It is structured around four key priorities, each with its own rationale, goals, and actions.
Creative Communities: Focuses on increasing cultural participation across all communities, especially those currently underrepresented. It aims to empower residents as cultural producers and consumers, fostering inclusion, wellbeing, and social cohesion.
Creative Places: Seeks to animate Lewisham’s public spaces and neighbourhoods through cultural activity. This includes supporting place-based cultural development and ensuring that culture is embedded in regeneration and planning.
Creative Enterprise: Supports the growth of Lewisham’s creative economy by nurturing talent, supporting freelancers and small businesses, and creating pathways into creative careers—especially for young people and marginalised groups.
Creative Connections: Builds partnerships across sectors and boroughs to amplify Lewisham’s cultural offer. This includes collaborations with institutions like Goldsmiths, Trinity Laban, and the Horniman Museum, as well as cross-borough and pan-London initiatives
Read the full We Are Lewisham: A Cultural Strategy 2022-2028
Approach and track record
What is your track record of working with Lewisham’s arts sector and engaging with the council and our work, such as the Borough of Culture? (up to 300 words) *(required)
Highlight any relevant projects, partnerships, and outcomes that demonstrate your commitment to supporting the local arts community.
Tell us how your activities will support the delivery of the Lewisham Cultural Strategy and the work of the Lewisham Cultural Partnership? (up to 400 words) *(required)
Describe your approach, explain how your activities align with the borough's cultural priorities and how you will support the growth and sustainability of these initiatives. In order to respond to this question, it is essential for applicants to be familiar with Lewisham’s Cultural Strategy. See below (page 23) for further details.
Please describe the benefits that you will bring to the wider arts and culture sector through your work (up to 300 words) *(required)
Summarise how your initiatives will enhance the cultural landscape, support diverse artistic practices, and foster community engagement. Note you will have the opportunity to list impacts and how you will evidence them further down in the application form.
How will your work showcase Lewisham and the Borough of Culture legacy? (up to 300 words) *(required)
Describe your strategies for showcasing the borough's artistic achievements and engaging with the community to celebrate its cultural identity.
Sports
What is Lewisham’s Physical Activity Strategy?
Sport and physical activity organisations such as (but not limited to) local football / basketball clubs clearly align with Lewisham Council’s Main Grants Programme priorities, particularly under the ‘borough-wide infrastructure’ and ‘capacity-building’ areas of support for sports groups . Sports / physical activity organisations offer far more than recreational value — they foster community cohesion, reduce social isolation, and contribute to better mental and physical health outcomes for our residents. By creating inclusive environments where people can connect, set goals, and build resilience, they offer a vital community resource that supports wellbeing and personal development, as stated in our Physical Activity Strategy.
Accessing funding to build organisational capacity can help to strengthen governance practices, expands outreach, helps to train volunteers and improves referral pathways. This will assist in deepening the impact organisations can make by enabling further engagement with underserved communities, and contributes to the borough’s wider strategic goals around health, inclusion, and equal access to services.
Read Let's Get Lewisham Moving - our physical activity strategy for 2023-2028 here.
Approach and track record
What do you think are the needs in relation to capacity building support for sports organisations in Lewisham? (up to 300 words) *(required)
Identify the key challenges faced by sports organisations in Lewisham, such as funding, access to facilities, volunteer recruitment, and training.
What is your experience in providing support for Sports organisations in Lewisham? What successful initiatives have you led or supported when providing support for Sports organisations? Please give examples including projects and who you have worked with (up to 300 words) *(required)
Include any relevant projects, partnerships, and outcomes. Highlight your expertise in addressing the challenges faced by the sports organisations in Lewisham.
How will you support the efforts of Sports organisations at a borough wide level? Describe how your project will align with Lewisham’s Physical Activity Strategy and the types of support activities you will undertake. You will have the opportunity to list your activities and outcomes below. (up to 400 words) *(required)
Summarise your strategy and key activities for supporting sports organisations across Lewisham and how addressing the needs described in the previous question will enhance sports organisations’ capacity. Remember that you will have a chance to list activities, targets and outcomes further down in the application.
Adults with learning disabilities*
* We are prioritising adults with learning disabilities as we recognise this has historically been a significant priority of the Main Grants programme, funding a nubmer of organisation over time. As such we want to ensure that the sector is supported through specific capacity building to remain resilient and embedded in our developing place-based approach.
The Lewisham Disabled People’s Commission Report?
The Lewisham Disabled People's Commission Report explores the barriers faced by Deaf and disabled people living or working in the borough. Established in December 2019, the Commission was tasked with investigating these challenges and making recommendations to improve equality, accessibility, and inclusion across Lewisham.
The report covers experiences of discrimination and exclusion, access to services and support, barriers in employment, housing, and public spaces.
It also makes recommendations for systemic change, including co-production with disabled residents and better implementation of the Social Model of Disability
Find link to this and other reports on the Community Funding Grant Support Hub’s Report and Strategy document library.
Approach and track record
What types of capacity-building support do you think are most needed by groups working with adults with learning disabilities in Lewisham? Please consider intersectional needs of the communities served, for example those who are also Black, LGBTQ+, older, or sanctuary seekers (up to 300 words) *(required)
Identify the key challenges faced by groups working with adults with learning disabilities in Lewisham, such as funding, access to resources, training, and advocacy.
What is your experience in providing support for specific communities and/or organisations working with adults with learning disabilities in Lewisham? What successful initiatives have you led or supported when providing support for these groups? Please give examples including projects and who you have worked with. (up to 300 words) *(required)
Include any relevant projects, partnerships, and outcomes. Highlight your expertise in addressing the challenges faced by these groups and supporting their efforts to improve the lives of adults with learning disabilities.
How will you support the efforts of groups across Lewisham working with adults with learning disabilities? Describe your strategy and the types of support activities you will undertake. You will have the opportunity to list your activities and outcomes below. (up to 400 words) *(required)
Summarise your strategy and key activities for supporting organisations working with adults with learning disabilities across Lewisham and how addressing the needs described in the previous question will enhance these organisations’ capacity. Remember that you will have a chance to list activities, targets and outcomes further down in the application.
How are adults with learning disabilities, particularly those with lived experience of marginalisation, involved in the design, delivery or governance of your project? (up to 300 words) *(required)
Highlight the specific measures you will take to involve those with lived experience in your project.
How will you link with key strategies and policy initiatives such as our work on delivering the outcomes of the Disabled People’s Commission? (up to 300 words) *(required)
Tell us what you know about the work that is underway, what the strategies are and how you would link with these to ensure your work is complementary.
LGBTQ+
Approach and track record
What types of capacity-building support do you think are most needed by groups working with LGBTQ+ communities in Lewisham? Please consider intersectional needs of the communities served, for example those who are also Black, disabled, older, or sanctuary seekers. (up to 300 words) *(required)
Identify the key challenges faced by groups working with LGBTQ+ communities in Lewisham, such as funding, access to resources, training, and advocacy.
What is your experience in providing support for specific communities and/or organisations working with LGBTQ+ communities in Lewisham? What successful initiatives have you led or supported when providing support for these groups? Please give examples including projects and who you have worked with. (up to 300 words) *(required)
Include any relevant projects, partnerships, and outcomes. Highlight your expertise in addressing the challenges faced by these groups and supporting their efforts to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ communities in Lewisham.
How will you support the efforts of groups across Lewisham working with LGBTQ+ communities? Describe your strategy and the types of support activities you will undertake. You will have the opportunity to list your activities and outcomes below. (up to 400 words) *(required)
Summarise your strategy and key activities for supporting organisations working with LGBTQ+ communities across Lewisham and how addressing the needs described in the previous question will enhance these organisations’ capacity. Remember that you will have a chance to list activities, targets and outcomes further down in the application.
How are LGBTQ+ people, particularly those with lived experience of marginalisation, involved in the design, delivery or governance of your project? (up to 300 words)
Highlight the specific measures you will take to involve those with lived experience in your project.
Please describe how your organisation will ensure meaningful inclusion and support for trans, non-binary and gender-diverse people. What specific steps will you take to understand and meet the distinct needs of these communities? (up to 300 words) *(required)
Highlight the specific measures you will take to create a welcoming and safe environment for trans individuals. Explain how you will address the unique challenges faced by trans communities and ensure that their needs are met.
Sanctuary seekers
Approach and track record
What types of capacity-building support do you think are most needed by groups working with sanctuary seekers in Lewisham? (up to 300 words) *(required)
Identify the key challenges faced by groups working with sanctuary seekers in Lewisham, such as funding, access to resources, training, and advocacy.
What is your experience in providing support for specific communities and/or organisations working with sanctuary seekers in Lewisham? What successful initiatives have you led or supported when providing support for these groups? Please give examples including projects and who you have worked with. (up to 300 words) *(required)
Include any relevant projects, partnerships, and outcomes. Highlight your expertise in addressing the challenges faced by these groups and supporting their efforts to improve the lives of sanctuary seekers in Lewisham.
How will you support the efforts of groups across Lewisham working with sanctuary seekers? Describe how you’re your project links to Lewisham’s Borough of Sanctuary Strategy and the types of support activities you will undertake. You will have the opportunity to list your activities and outcomes below. (up to 400 words) *(required)
Summarise your strategy and key activities for supporting organisations working with sanctuary seekers across Lewisham and how addressing the needs described in the previous question will enhance these organisations’ capacity. Remember that you will have a chance to list activities, targets and outcomes further down in the application.
How are sanctuary seekers, particularly those with lived experience of marginalisation, involved in the design, delivery or governance of your project? (up to 300 words)
Highlight the specific measures you will take to involve those with lived experience in your project.
How will this project contribute to wider strategic goals? Describe how you plan to share insights, influence local priorities, collaborate with other sector organisations for sector development and engage with strategic boards or networks through this work. (up to 400 words) *(required)
Explain how your project aligns with and supports the broader strategic goals of the borough. You can view Lewisham’s reports and strategies on the Grant Support Hub.
Cross sector collaboration - Will you be working with other organisations? If so, please detail their roles and your collaboration approach.
You have detailed any formal partnership agreements above - this is the section where you can tell us about other sector wide organisations you will be collaborating with and how you plan to do this.
Organisation name
Role in partnership or collaboration - i.e. referral partner etc.