Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund
London is a shameful tale of two cities. In the richest capital in Europe almost half our children live below the poverty line.
These children and their families - the Dispossessed - are cut off from the life most Londoners take for granted. As London's paper, the Evening Standard believes it is important to champion their cause.
The Evening Standard Fund for The Dispossessed has been set up to fight poverty - and we want you to help to fight the causes behind The Dispossessed.
£1 million fund to back groups tackling gangs and helping vulnerable children
What's the big news?
The Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund is making available £1 million worth of grants to charities and community groups working with vulnerable young Londoners involved in or at risk of involvement with criminal and anti-social activities, and also tackling gangs. We are able to do this thanks to £800,000 from the Government and £200,000 from our endowment. This new £1 million fund is inspired by our Frontline London campaign, which, in partnership with Kids Company, seeks to turn the spotlight on gangs, as well as helping former gang members leave behind criminal life by helping them form social enterprises.
Where will the money go?
The £1 million will firstly be distributed to charities that work with young people at risk - providing safe pathways for those wishing to exit gangs, stopping criminal and anti-social behaviour, preventing younger generations from getting involved, or building skills and aspirations for better choices. Secondly, we will invest in three area-based gang-prevention and exit initiatives, starting in Lambeth and later expanding to other 'hotspot' boroughs, so as to foster a collaborative approach between different charities to provide a long term, sustainable approach. Finally, money will be put aside to evaluate each project to get evidence around what works.
How much will grants be?
Grants will range from £15,000 to £50,000 and will be spread over two years.
Who can apply?
Grants will be made to relevant groups with proven track records known to the Dispossessed Fund, the Office for Civil Society and the Frontline London campaign. We regret that we will not be receiving unsolicited applications for this programme, though we expect to do so again in the future under other income streams of the Dispossessed Fund.
Who will decide?
An advisory board with representatives from the London Evening Standard, the Office for Civil Society and The London Community Foundation, who manage the Dispossessed Fund, will have the final say on agreeing grants.
What has the Dispossessed Fund achieved so far?
Since its launch in July 2010, the Dispossessed Fund has raised £11.2 million from the general public, business, Government, Comic Relief and the Big Lottery. So far, £6.1 million has been given out in grants to 730 groups, helping more than 110,000 people across the capital.
Where are we with the Dispossessed Fund?
We have now raised a phenomenal £11.2million to support groups tackling poverty across the capital. This is the most money ever raised by a newspaper campaign outside of war or natural disaster and has been achieved in less than three years. We have already distributed £6.13 million in grants to 730 groups.
Please click here for a full list of grants awarded through the Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund (ESDF).
Please click here for details of where funding for the ESDF has come from.
Make a donation
Donate nowHundreds of incredible charities across London are fighting the causes of The Dispossessed. Together they are tackling the grinding poverty that blights the city. But these charities need help. The Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund has already raised £11.2million with your donations and help from the Government's match funding to support the local heroes who lift people out of poverty by targeting education, crime, health, and unemployment. If you care about London, dig deep and donate!
Get involved by pledging money now.
Donations to the Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund are being collected by UK Community Foundations (UKCF), registered charity No 1004630. UKCF will distribute monies received from the appeal to their partner charities who have agreed to use these donations to address issues identified by the Evening Standard's Dispossessed Campaign and to grant fund community organisations undertaking charitable work in London.