Call for Applications: Main Grants Programme (UK)

Deadline: 30-Sep-2026

The Main Grants Programme provides funding to small registered charities in London working to address the social determinants of health, including poverty, housing, education, employment, discrimination, and social isolation. The programme supports charities that provide essential information, advice, and community services to adults aged 18 and over. Funding can be used for unrestricted costs, core costs, or project costs, supporting both existing and new initiatives. Grants are available for a minimum of one year and up to three years, with funding of up to £10,000 per year. The programme has a total annual budget of £181,000 for 2026. Eligible organisations must be registered charities based and operating exclusively in London, with annual income of £500,000 or less. Applicants must meet specific requirements concerning beneficiaries, services, unrestricted reserves, previous funding, and monitoring. The application deadline is 30 September 2026.

About the Main Grants Programme

The Main Grants Programme supports small charities working to improve health outcomes by addressing the social and economic conditions that influence people’s wellbeing. The programme recognises that health is closely connected to wider circumstances such as financial hardship, housing insecurity, education, employment, discrimination, and social isolation. Rather than focusing only on direct healthcare provision, the programme supports organisations helping people address these underlying factors through information, advice, community services, and other forms of practical support. Social Determinants of Health The programme focuses on the social determinants of health, recognising that people’s health can be influenced by the conditions in which they live, work, and participate in society. Key areas supported by the programme include: - Poverty - Housing - Education - Employment - Discrimination - Social isolation Charities working in these areas can help people access services, understand their rights, address financial or housing problems, and develop stronger connections within their communities. What Does the Programme Fund? Funding can support a broad range of organisational needs.

Grants may be used for:

- Unrestricted costs - Core costs - Project costs - Existing initiatives - New initiatives This flexibility allows eligible charities to request support for their wider organisational activities as well as specific projects. Applicants should clearly explain how the requested funding will enable their organisation to address social determinants of health and improve outcomes for adults in London communities. Funding Available

The Main Grants Programme provides:

- Maximum grant: £10,000 per year

- Minimum funding period: 1 year

- Maximum funding period: 3 years

- Total annual programme budget in 2026: £181,000 Organisations can therefore seek support for a single year or, where eligible, apply for multi-year funding. Multi-Year Funding Funding can be awarded for up to three years. Applications for multi-year support follow a two-stage process. Organisations that are new to London Catalyst, as well as start-up charities, are encouraged to first apply for a one-year grant before seeking multi-year support. This approach provides newer organisations with an opportunity to establish their work and demonstrate their effectiveness before seeking longer-term funding. Who Can Apply? Applicants must meet several eligibility requirements.

Eligible organisations must:

- Be registered charities. - Be based in London. - Operate exclusively in London. - Have annual income of £500,000 or less. - Primarily support beneficiaries aged 18 and over. - Provide eligible information, advice, or community services. - Meet the programme’s unrestricted reserve requirements. - Have no outstanding monitoring reports. - Not have been declined funding by London Catalyst within the previous 12 months. Organisations should review all eligibility requirements carefully before submitting an application. Adult Beneficiaries The programme primarily supports organisations working with people aged 18 and over. Applicants should demonstrate that their main beneficiaries are adults and explain how their services address issues affecting their health and wellbeing. Charities whose work is primarily focused on children or young people may therefore not meet the programme’s main beneficiary requirement. Information and Advice Services A key area of eligibility is the provision of information and advice that helps adults deal with issues affecting their living conditions and wellbeing.

Examples include advice on:

- Housing - Welfare benefits - Immigration - Debt - Community care Charities providing these services can help beneficiaries address problems that may otherwise contribute to financial insecurity, housing difficulties, stress, isolation, and poor health outcomes. Tackling Social Isolation The programme also supports organisations delivering services that address social isolation. Applicants working in this area should demonstrate how their activities help adults develop connections, access community support, and reduce isolation. The programme recognises social connection as an important part of wider health and wellbeing. London-Based Requirement Applicants must be both based and operating exclusively in London. This means organisations should ensure that their organisational base and service delivery meet the programme’s geographical requirements. Applicants whose operations extend beyond London should carefully assess whether they meet the exclusive London operation requirement. Income Requirement Eligible charities must have an annual income of £500,000 or less. The programme is specifically designed to support small registered charities, making organisational size an important eligibility factor. Applicants should use the relevant financial information required by the programme to demonstrate that their annual i