Come to our Planning Session on Monday 14th July to help shape the future of Funding Differently.
Date: Monday 14th July from 10am – 1pm (drinks and refreshments from 9:30am)`
Location: Keetons TRA Hall in Bermondsey
Lunch will be served at 1pm
Funding Differently is a partnership between Community Southwark, Partnership Southwark (NHS), United St Saviour’s Charity, and local charities and community groups in Southwark.
It was created to tackle funding barriers faced by small organisations, as highlighted in Community Southwark’s State of the Sector research. The programme puts local voluntary and community groups in the lead — they helped design the process and make the final decisions about how funds are awarded.
Over the past two years, 50 grants of £5,000 and £10,000 have been awarded to local organisations across Southwark. You can read about the impact and learning from 2024–25 here: Impact & Learning Report. We’re pleased to confirm that £200,000 has been secured from Partnership Southwark for 2025/26.
In November 2024, groups involved in Funding Differently came together to reflect on the programme’s impact and future. There was a clear call for Community Southwark to help engage more funders in the Funding Differently model.
Since then, we’ve had strong interest from potential funders, but no confirmed contributions yet. However, momentum is building — and now is the time to start thinking ahead.
Looking Ahead — We Want Your Input
We’re bringing together charities, community groups and funders to help shape how the programme will run this year — and to explore what could be possible if more funding becomes available, both in 2025–26 and beyond. We’ll also take a look at the wider funding ecosystem in Southwark, discuss how the VCS can have a stronger voice in strategic conversations, and consider where Funding Differently fits within that bigger picture.
If you are a VCS group operating in Southwark and are interested in attending, please complete our expression of interest form HERE.
If you represent a VCS organisation operating in Southwark, a £50 payment will be made to your organisation in recognition of your time and contribution.