London Growth & Resilience Programme
Build income. Grow resilience. Power your mission.
For London charities, CICs and community groups with little or no trading income, the 18-month London Growth & Resilience Programme gives you up to £19,000 across two grants to change that. Use a Set Up Grant (£4,000 to £7,000) to pilot and build capacity, then as your sales grow, increases in your trading are matched (up to £12,000). You also get 10 learning days, 1:1 mentoring, expert panels and buyer events so you can turn ideas into income and build long-term resilience.
Who it’s for
The London Growth & Resilience Programme is for organisations that:
- are based in London and primarily serve Londoners
- Have £50k+ income in the last financial year
- Have little or no trading history (under 20% of income from trading)
- Have been operating for 3+ years
- Are ready to explore or grow earned income from selling products/services
We particularly welcome organisations led by and for Black and racially minoritised communities, D/deaf and disabled people, women, LGBTQ+ communities, and those in economically disadvantaged areas.
What you get
- Set Up Grant: £4,000–£7,000 to kickstart your trading idea
- Match Trading™ Grant: up to £12,000 over 18 months: we match your growth in trading income, up to £2,000 per quarter. More trading = more grant.
- 10 tailored learning days (mix of in-person & online)
- 1:1 mentoring
- Business Support Panels with expert advice
- Inclusive peer learning with specialist partners
- Market Making events to meet buyers and build relationships
- Access to SSE’s virtual learning community
Together, that’s up to £19,000 in flexible funding + practical support designed to move you from idea to income.
What you’ll leave with
- A tested or launched trading offer
- A clear pricing, sales & marketing plan
- Stronger systems and financial confidence
- New buyer connections and a supportive peer network
- A more resilient organisation that’s less reliant on grants and better able to plan your future
Two grants that fuel growth and confidence
The London Growth & Resilience Programme gives you two grants that work together to help you start and grow:
Set Up Grant (£4,000 to £7,000)
Use this to get moving quickly. Typical uses:
- Pay staff time or backfill to free up capacity
- Test a new product or service
- Marketing and communications such as a website or design assets
- Buy equipment or materials
- Increase delivery or volunteer capacity
If you hold the equivalent of more than six months’ overall expenditure in free reserves, we may ask you to co-fund. Tell us if that creates a barrier.
Match Trading™ Grant (up to £12,000)
We match the growth in your trading income over 18 months. Paid every quarter, up to £2,000 per quarter. As your sales grow, your grant grows.
Trading income includes: selling goods, fees for workshops, training or consultancy, room hire and rentals, and contracts for services. It does not include grants or donations.
Example journey timeline
- Quarter 1–2 (first six months): Use a Set Up Grant, for example £6,000, to launch a pilot. Make first sales, for example £1,500.
- Quarter 3 (months seven to nine): Sales rise to £3,000. Match Trading tops up to match that growth, up to £2,000 that quarter.
- Quarter 4–6 (months ten to eighteen): Scale delivery. Quarterly Match Trading payments continue as sales grow, up to £12,000 total.
In short: quick funding to start, plus quarterly motivation to keep growing.
How the London Growth & Resilience Programme works
- Programme dates: April 2026 – September 2027 (18 months)
- Places: 60 organisations across 3 cohorts
- Format: 5 in-person & 5 online learning days, plus mentoring & panels
- Led by: School for Social Entrepreneurs with partners AVOCADO Foundation, Inclusion Unlimited, Consortium and Power to Change. The programme is supported by City Bridge Foundation, London’s largest independent charitable funder.
How to apply
Deadline: midday on Thursday, 18 December 2025
- Register your interest and we will send you the programme guidance notes an application form and a link to book onto an information session.
- (Optional) Attend an info session. We are running two: Wednesday 12th November 14:00 -14:45 and Monday 1st December 13:00 -13:45.
- Read the guidance notes.
- Apply using the online application form. Complete and submit your application by noon on Thursday, 18 December 2025.
Access needs? If you have access needs, we’ll make reasonable adjustments and have an Access Fund to support you.