What happens after you apply
We'll let you know our decision within 6 to 8 weeks of the closing date. So you should know if we’re funding you by the end of June 2025.
In that time we’ll check you are eligible and assess your application.
Here are the main steps involved in reviewing and approving applications:
- You send us your application – we'll get back to you with a decision in around 6 to 8 weeks from the closing date. During this time, we look at your application and do our eligibility checks. You can find out more about the checks we do. We might call you to talk a little more about your application. Or to ask for more information before we make a decision.
- If your application is successful – we'll send you an email with the good news. And we’ll aim to put the funding in your bank account within 14 days (or sooner, if possible).
- You can start spending the funding. You can start preparing and planning right away. But the activities we’re funding must happen between Friday 12 and Sunday 14 September 2025. You should spend the funding the way you said you would in your application (unless we’ve agreed to something different first). We might check in to see how things are going. Find out more about how to manage your funding.
- Share your story. We’ll be in touch with guidance on how and when you can start promoting your activity.
We only have a certain amount of funding to award
This means we have to make some difficult decisions. And there are often lots of good applications we cannot fund.
We want to fund a mix of groups and communities across London. If we get more applications than we can fund we'll prioritise groups:
- with smaller incomes
- that have not had our funding before.
What you can spend the money on
We can only fund activities happening in Greater London on the Mayor's Community Weekend
This means between Friday 12 September and Sunday 14 September 2025.
So make sure you think about a back-up plan. For example, if your activities are outside and the weather is bad. Because we cannot fund your activities if you reschedule them for after these dates.
We can fund the costs of setting up and running activities, including:
- staffing
- insurance
- transport
- equipment hire
- venue hire
- volunteer expenses.
You must keep evidence of how you spent the money
Like receipts, paid invoices or itemised card statements. We may ask to see these after you spend the funding.
We cannot fund
- activities that happen outside Greater London
- events that do not take place between Friday 12 September and Sunday 14 September 2025
- alcohol
- religious activities (We can fund religious organisations. But their project must benefit the wider community and cannot include religious content.)
- fundraising activities (where you use our funding to raise more money)
- general organisational running costs, including repairs and maintenance
- contingency costs, loans, endowments or interest
- VAT you can reclaim
- statutory activities. By this we mean things that the government should provide. Like teaching in schools or healthcare.
If you’ll be working with children, young people or vulnerable adults
You need to have a policy in place that explains how they’ll be safe. If you get funding you’ll need to follow our expectations on safeguarding children and adults at risk.
The NCVO website has child safeguarding advice and information services.
Find out how we use your personal data
We’re working with the Greater London Authority to give out this funding. If you apply we may share your information with them. They may use your information to publicise your event, send branded merchandise or arrange to visit your event.
For details read our data protection and privacy notice for the Mayor’s Community Weekend London.