John Lyon's Charity

Background

The John Lyon's Charity gives grants to groups and organisations for the benefit of children and young adults up to the age of 25 (or 30 if for young people with special needs or disabilities) who are residents in London's northwest boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, City of London, and the City of Westminster.

Objectives of Fund

The aim of the Charity is to promote the life-chances of children and young people through education. To that end, the Charity provides funding for a wide range of services for young people, including youth clubs, arts projects, counselling, childcare and parental support schemes, sports, and academic bursaries and scholarships.

Value Notes

The Charity offers the following grant funds:

• Open Access Programme - Grants are from £10,000 with no maximum amount. For those who have not received a multi-year grant from the charity before, awards are likely to be £10,000 to £20,000 per year for up to three years.
• Schools in Partnership Fund - The maximum amount available is £60,000 for up to five years.
• Refurbishment Fund - Small grants of up to £10,000 and Main grants of up to £35,000 for renovation and repair projects.
• School Holiday Activity Fund - Grants of up to £5,000 are available.
• Capacity Building Fund - Micro-grants for organisations that have already received funding from John Lyon’s Charity.

Who Can Apply

The following organisations can apply:

• Registered charities, including Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs).
• State maintained schools with an open admissions policy.
• Independent schools with charitable status.
• Local authorities (in limited circumstances, they should get in touch with the Grants Team for further information).
• Exempt charities (ie churches).
• National organisations with a track record and reputation in the Charity’s beneficial area.

Location

The London Boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Kensington and Chelsea, the City of London and the City of Westminster.

Restrictions

For charities, the following are not eligible for funding:

• Community Interest Companies (CIC) and other legal entities not registered as charities.
• Not-for-profit organisations that are not registered charities.
• Registered charities that have applied on behalf of organisations that are not registered with the Charity Commission.
• PTAs and school fundraising bodies.
• Individuals.
• National charities with no track record of delivery in the charity’s beneficial area.
• Registered social landlords.
• Hospitals, hospices or clinical commissioning groups.
• Grant-making organisations.
• Statutory obligations.
• General charitable appeals.
• Lobbying and campaigning.
• Endowment funds.
• Promotion of religion or politics.
• Feasibility studies.
• Research not commissioned by John Lyon’s Charity.
• Medical care (including rehab) and resources.
• Running costs of food banks.
• Projects that take place in hospital settings.
• Projects that take place in prisons.
• Telephone helplines.
• Trips abroad.
• Salaries of posts employed by local authorities.
• Hardship appeals.
• Projects that only deliver online.

For schools, the following are not eligible for funding:

• Schools that have not yet been inspected by Ofsted.
• Independent schools.
• State maintained schools which do not have an open admissions policy.
• PTAs.
• Residentials or trips abroad.
• All equipment (including sports and IT) for mainstream providers (primary, secondary, FE colleges).
• Bursaries for higher education (including postgraduate).
• Staff salaries.
• Capital funding.
• Mother tongue teaching.
• Projects that aim to teach healthy eating and reduce obesity.
• Therapeutic gardens or school vegetable gardens.

Eligible Expenditure

The grants can be used in a variety of ways. The Charity will support core revenue costs, some salary costs and project costs (regardless of whether the project is new or well-established), and buildings and refurbishments in specific circumstances.

How To Apply

Applications for the:

• Open Access Fund are considered three times a year in March, June and November.
• Schools in Partnership Fund are considered three times a year in March, June and November.
• School Holiday Activity Fund are accepted at any time, but must be submitted by the following deadlines: Summer holidays - 1 June; October half-term - 21 September; Christmas holidays - 16 November; February half-term - 18 January; Easter - five weeks before East Monday; May half-term - 25 April.
• Refurbishment Fund - Small grants have no deadline. Applications for Main grants have a deadline of 19 January 2024.

For the Open Access and Schools in Partnership there is a two-stage application process, which is started by a proposal letter. If this letter is positively assessed, organisations will be invited to submit a Stage Two Application Form. Applicants should note that it takes at least six months for the application process to be completed and organisations are advised to apply in plenty of time before their project is due to start.

For the School Holiday Activity Fund and School Explorer Fund, there is a one stage application process.

Guidelines can be found on the website of the John Lyon’s Charity.