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4 articles
Funders like visible projects, but small community groups cannot keep going on ribbon-cuttings alone. This opinion piece argues that trust-based small grants should pay for heating, insurance, admin and the tea that makes civic life possible.
Most small grant holders have no press office, no designer and no spare hours — and yet their stories are the ones worth hearing. Here are seven low-cost ways to document and share your work, with examples from groups funded in 2026.
Short-term leases on empty shopfronts are giving charities a foothold on parades where the lights had gone out. This report looks at pop-up advice hubs, community cafés and shared workspaces, sets out the lease, insurance and planning hurdles groups must clear, and asks how the Fund can back more civic space on struggling high streets in 2026.
Five modestly funded projects supported by The Mayor's Hope Fund in 2026 show how small grants can change streets, halls and neighbourhoods. From a community fridge to a repair café, each offers a clear picture of local need, thoughtful delivery and measurable civic value.