Borough of Sanctuary Community Fund
We are committed to becoming a Borough of Sanctuary, one which supports and welcomes refugees and asylum seekers. Later in the year, we will publish a strategy outlining our approach and the specific actions we will take to achieve this status.
The voluntary and community sector play a key part in helping to deliver this welcoming environment for those seeking to build new lives in the borough. For this reason, we have created a new Borough of Sanctuary Community Fund to support groups which work with refugees and asylum seekers.
Grants
The Borough of Sanctuary Community Fund provides grants of up to £10,000 to undertake activities for six to twelve months.
Larger grants may be considered in exceptional circumstances where a clear need can be demonstrated.
Priorities
The fund has four priorities it will support projects under:
- Community Integration Support – helping new and recent refugees and asylum seeker arrivals to the borough to integrate into life in the UK and their local community
- Wellbeing – Supporting activities which promote refugees and asylum seeker’s wellbeing:
- Expanding Organisational Capacity – supporting initiatives that build the capacity of the voluntary and community sector to deliver support to asylum seekers and refugees
- Celebrating Refugees and Asylum Seekers – projects which promote the contribution that refugees and asylum seekers make to the borough.
Further details on these themes and other aspects of the application process are included in the fund guidance notes.
Applying for funding
You may apply for funding at any point during the year with your application going to the next meeting of the Grants Sub-Committee. There are three application deadlines during the year.
| Application deadline | Grants Sub-Committee | Decision date (estimated) |
| 28 April 2023 | 8 June 2023 | Week beginning 19 June 2023 |
| 11 August 2023 | 3 October 2023 | Week beginning 9 October 2023 |
| 4 December 2023 | 5 February 2024 | TBC |
How to apply
To apply:
- Read the fund guidance notes
- Complete the fund application form
After funding is agreed, you will need to complete and return:
At the conclusion of your project we will ask you to complete a monitoring report on the outcomes.
Other funding
For details of other funding available, see Other funding opportunities for voluntary and community organisations.
Approved projects
- Borough of Sanctuary Community Fund Round 1 recipients
- Borough of Sanctuary Community Fund Round 2 recipients
Contact
Any questions about the application process can be sent to boroughofsanctuary@wandsworth.gov.uk.