City Bridge Foundation

Grants & support for London’s charitable sector: Every month we share an email update with our funded organisations, listing funding opportunities & offers of free support. The bulletin features half-a-dozen open grants, nine training & support opportunities, & our seasonal greetings card ✨ Check out December’s update here: https://lnkd.in/eArE8-9H December’s bulletin features offers from The Baobab Foundation, London Music Fund, Masonic Charitable Foundation, Sport England, UnLtd, Greater London Authority, Association of Charitable Foundations, The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Media Trust, UK Youth, Voice4Change England, Do it Now Now and CAST Centre for the Acceleration of Social Technology

If you're planning on heading into central London to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks display, we urge you to skip Tower Bridge and London Bridge! While iconic, these spots won’t give you a view of the fireworks due to the layout of the river and surrounding buildings. We encourage you to enjoy the fireworks from the comfort of your home or at one of London’s great venues. Let's ring in 2025 with a great (and safe) view!🎆

For the past year, we've had the pleasure of welcoming into our team Chloë Lloyd and Mitva Shah as associate funding managers through the 2027 programme. The 10-year-scheme, supported by Barrow Cadbury Trust, The National Lottery Community Fund and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, aims to increase the representation of working class people in the grant-making sector. Here, Chloe and Mitva share their thoughts with us on their year working for London's biggest independent charity funder, what they've learned and their top tips for our next associate funding managers. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dXtysgah

Julie Parish from Octopus Community Network explains how a five-year grant from City Bridge Foundation is supporting urban access to nature and community food growing in Islington. If you’d like to see their Tufnell Park Community Plant Nursery for yourself, pop along for an afternoon of festive wreath making on Saturday, 14 December 2024. Link in their blog ✨ https://lnkd.in/g7vgEKky

Paul Martinelli has been elected as the new chairman of the City Bridge Foundation Board, responsible for the charity’s day-to-day governance. Having previously served as deputy chairman, Paul takes over from Giles Shilson, who has been chairman for the past three and a half years and who will continue as its deputy chairman. Paul has spent his career working in the food sector at Smithfield Market and holds a range of positions in the City of London, including serving as treasurer of the Smithfield Market Tenants Association and a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Butchers. Paul said: “It’ been a privilege to serve as deputy chairman of the board and it’s a great honour to be elected chairman, to guide the work of the foundation as it looks to the future. “This is a pivotal moment for our 900-year-old charity, as we develop our new funding policy, which will enable us to address our funding where it can have the greatest impact, while delivering our primary aim of looking after five of London’s bridges. “I’d like to pay tribute to Giles Shilson, whose clear and decisive leadership helped the foundation navigate turbulent times in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic and to modernise and equip itself for the challenges London faces now and in the future.” Meanwhile, Nighat Qureishi is the new chair of the foundation’s funding committee, which has delegated authority for the charity’s funding policy, grant-making and social investment work. The board, funding committee and investment committee are made up of elected members of the City of London Corporation, the foundation’s sole trustee, who serve alongside co-opted members with expertise in bridge management, funding or investment.

Grants & support for London’s charitable sector: Every month we share an email update with our funded organisations, listing funding opportunities and offers of free support. This month we feature more than a dozen funding opportunities, along with offers of free support for your organisation or service users. Check out November’s update at https://lnkd.in/gWYHKjTT

Exciting opportunity for a #LearningPartner to work with John Lyon's Charity. You’ll help shape innovative funding approaches, assess the dynamics of systems change, & enhance the resilience of the Children & Young People sector. Budget up to £30,000 for approx 30 days of work, until summer 2027. Apply by Monday, 2 December 2024 ⬇️

We could not be more proud and grateful to be featured by BBC London today, both in print and on screen. Don't forget to watch out for us on the 18:30 BBC London programme, to get a real sense of the work that we do. A special thank you also on this #ChildrenInNeed day to BBC Children in Need and who provide vital and ongoing support to our work. Shout out also to #pudseybear - keep up the good work! 😁 https://lnkd.in/e5g4eGpj

Great to see the amazing impact of one of our funded organisations, which has provided vital support to over 430 mothers over the past year.

People with mental health issues in Croydon and Mitcham will be able to find healing through creativity - thanks to two newly launched art therapy groups. The groups, run by the charity Studio Upstairs and funded with a £232,531 City Bridge Foundation grant, allow people to explore different types of art such as drawing, painting or sculpture, guided by qualified art therapists. Giles Shilson, City Bridge Foundation chairman, said: “For over 30 years, Studio Upstairs has been helping people improve their mental health through the creative power of art. “By dealing with the issues they’re facing in a safe and supportive environment, group members are empowered to build their confidence and create valuable social connections.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/edw5MnyN