Funder commits extra £22m to support children & young people in London

John Lyon's Charity is committing an additional £22 million from its endowment to support children and young people in London over the next six years. The funding will be in addition to the charity’s regular grant giving of c£12 million every year and comes as a response to Covid-19 and its impact on the young. John Lyon's Charity has created a strategic plan to help protect the children and young people's sector in the long term, with the core focus of Home – School – Community. It is already part of the charity’s ethos to work collaboratively across these three environments and support organisations working in these areas, and this additional £22 million of funding is aimed at tackling the impact of the pandemic and to ensure that organisations survive post-Covid. Over the next 12 months John Lyon’s Charity will start the recovery process by beginning to invest the additional funds, specifically looking to support organisations working in these areas by initiating collaborations, replicating successful initiatives and rehabilitating organisations, using this funding to help many at risk of permanent closure. One of the first areas the charity will seek to address is the fall in the offer of creative opportunities in schools by launching a new Cultural Capital Fund. Exclusive to schools and arts organisations, the fund is designed to bring the two together to provide a varied and accessible offer to all children, regardless of background.  It will invite applications from both schools and arts institutions in London for projects that utilise the skills of experienced and high-quality practitioners, and that are planned and delivered as face-to-face experiences.  CEO Dr Lynne Guyton commented: “While we have been part of the collaborative emergency response coordinated by London Funders since last March, granting over £1m in immediate grants, we have taken time to reflect and believe we now need to act strategically and definitively for the sector for the long-term. Our aim is to fund not just for the recovery but for the sustainability of the children and young people's sector.  Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic we have pledged to walk alongside our community and provide help and assistance in any way we can.  We strongly believe that we need to take positive action now to safeguard our previous investment in the sector for future generations.  Now is the proverbial rainy day.” John Lyon’s Charity has awarded over £156 million since 1991 in grants to a range of organisations that seek to promote the life-chances of children and young people through education.   Image by klimkin from Pixabay 

from UK Fundraising https://ift.tt/3w516yK