A new charity support body, Hub for London, is soon to launch to strengthen the capital’s voluntary sector.

The City of London Corporation’s charitable funder and London’s largest independent grant giver, City Bridge Trust, has awarded £350,000 towards the new organisation which will bring together and provide support to the capital’s voluntary sector.

Hub for London will strengthen the charity sector in the capital by providing access to business, organisational, technical and enterprise support to civil society organisations, as well as online resources.

City Bridge Trust’s funding will secure the first year of operation for Hub for London which will be run by Greater London Volunteering.

Hub for London will allow charities to access and share data and information, training schemes and good practice. By building cross-sector links and partnerships, the Hub will mean voluntary and community organisations have a ‘voice’ within the on-going debate about London, its governance and the issues it faces. As well as helping London’s voluntary sector to access organisational support, the Hub will help organisations to work together and provide a platform for a number of voluntary sector networks, such as the London Safer Futures Network.

Membership will be open to any individual or organisation based in London.

The project is a result of research carried out by London Funders, commissioned by City Bridge Trust, into the future of infrastructure support for London’s voluntary sector.

Alison Gowman, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s City Bridge Trust Committee, said:

“The voluntary sector plays a vital role in sustaining London’s communities, so it’s important the capital’s charities are properly supported to make the maximum possible impact on Londoners.

“The capital needs a vibrant civil society in order to prosper, especially in times of uncertainty and where resources are lacking.

“The funding is part of our wider commitment to supporting voluntary sector infrastructure across London. We are committed to tackling disadvantage across the capital and making London a fairer and better place to live.”

Cam Fitzwilliam-Grey, Chair of Greater London Volunteering, added:

“We have long recognised the need for a cohesive, cross-sector approach to civil society in the capital. This funding will see us establish a Hub that, at its core, will aim to serve every Londoner.

“We are very grateful to City Bridge Trust and continue to be inspired by their commitment to civil society infrastructure.”

City Bridge Trust makes grants totalling around £20 million per year towards charitable activity benefitting Greater London.

The charitable funder has awarded more than 7,700 grants totalling over £370 million since it first began in 1995. It helps achieve the City Corporation’s aim of changing the lives of hundreds of thousands of Londoners.

ENDS

Kristina Drake| Media Officer, Public Services

City of London Corporation

http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/newsroom

Kristina.Drake@cityoflondon.gov.uk

M: 07710860884

D: 020 7332 1125