The Access to Justice Programme 2025/26 Round One offers £6.5 million in funding to community-led organisations across London, supporting social welfare advice, community advocacy, and systems-change initiatives. Two grant streams—three-year Development Grants and five-year Transformation Grants—enable organisations to scale frontline insight into long-term structural impact. The programme prioritises collaboration, high-quality service delivery, and initiatives that directly benefit marginalised Londoners.

Access to Justice Programme 2025/26: Round One Funding

Overview

The Access to Justice Programme 2025/26 aims to strengthen community-led organisations in London that provide free social welfare advice, support social action, and drive systemic change. With a total of £6.5 million available, the programme expects to fund 20–25 organisations rooted in their communities. The initiative focuses on reducing structural inequalities and enhancing access to justice and wellbeing for marginalised populations.

Funding Streams

1. Development Grant

• Duration: Three years

• Amount: £75,000

• Eligibility: Smaller organisations with annual incomes between £50,000–£250,000

• Focus: Build capacity for advocacy, organising, and systems-change work using frontline insight

• Purpose: Help organisations begin or strengthen social action and policy influence alongside their social welfare advice services

2. Transformation Grant

• Duration: Five years

• Amounts: £200,000, £300,000, or £450,000 (agreed during Stage 2 of selection)

• Eligibility: Organisations with annual incomes between £50,000–£1.5 million

• Focus: Organisations already influencing policy and challenging structural inequalities

• Purpose: Support mature organisations in applying frontline experience to drive meaningful systems-level transformation

Key Priorities

• Deliver high-quality, holistic, free social welfare advice to marginalised Londoners

• Translate frontline experience into advocacy, community organising, and systems-change

• Demonstrate learning, reflection, and adaptive practice

• Strengthen collaboration with other organisations, resource-sharing, and referral pathways

• Maintain high-quality service delivery, with recognised quality assurance or accreditation processes

Who is Eligible?

• Organisations working within London’s 32 boroughs and the City of London

• Organisations with a commitment to paying London-based staff at least the London Living Wage

• Groups must be community-led and serve the direct benefit of Londoners

• Ineligible activities: capital investments, vehicles, non-charitable activities, retrospective costs, or work outside Greater London

How to Apply / How it Works

1. Check Eligibility – Confirm organisation meets London-based, community-led, and income criteria.

2. Select Grant Stream – Choose Development or Transformation Grant based on organisational capacity and goals.

3. Prepare Proposal – Highlight frontline services, advocacy experience, partnership plans, and systems-change potential.

4. Submission – Submit detailed application, including service delivery standards, organisational track record, and adaptive practice strategies.

5. Evaluation – Shortlisted organisations may discuss grant amounts, and applications are assessed on impact, collaboration, quality, and alignment with programme priorities.

Tips and Common Considerations

• Clearly articulate how frontline insight informs broader advocacy or systems-change work

• Emphasise partnerships or intent to collaborate for higher impact

• Show evidence of high-quality, regulated, or accredited service delivery

• Align proposal outcomes with direct benefits for marginalised London residents

• Ensure all proposed activities comply with programme restrictions

FAQ

1. Who can apply for the grants?
Community-led organisations based in London serving marginalised residents.

2. What is the difference between Development and Transformation Grants?
Development Grants focus on smaller organisations building capacity for advocacy, while Transformation Grants support mature organisations driving systemic change.

3. Can organisations outside London apply?
No, funding is restricted to London’s 32 boroughs and the City of London.

4. Are individuals eligible to receive funding?
No, only registered organisations may apply.

5. What activities are not funded?
Capital investments, vehicles, non-charitable activities, retrospective costs, and work not benefiting Greater London residents.

6. Is there a requirement for staff wages?
Yes, all London-based staff must be paid at least the London Living Wage.

7. How will applications be evaluated?
Proposals are assessed on service delivery quality, organisational track record, collaboration, impact potential, and alignment with programme priorities.

Conclusion

The Access to Justice Programme 2025/26 Round One provides a strategic opportunity for community-led organisations in London to strengthen social welfare advice services and drive systemic change. By supporting both development and transformation, the programme empowers organisations to address structural inequalities, build collective power, and improve justice and wellbeing outcomes for the city’s most marginalised residents.