Love Lewisham Microgrants

Do you have an idea to tackle fly-tipping, improve a neglected place or make your neighbourhood cleaner, greener or more welcoming? Love Lewisham Micro Grants can help residents, community groups and local organisations turn practical ideas into action. 

Key dates 

• applications open: Monday 28 September 2026 
• applications close: 5pm Friday 27 November 2026 
• final checks and assessment: late November and December 2026 
• applicant outcomes and award documents: December 2026 to January 2027 
• payments: January to February 2027 
• project delivery: from February to 31 May 2027 
• final monitoring: within one month of completion or by 30 June 2027, whichever is earlier 

Seek advice on permission before applying

Email: community.funding@lewisham.gov.uk and briefly describe the idea, location and support needed. Contact us before starting the application if the project involves public or shared space, planters, highways, murals, physical changes to a site, several locations, a public event or land you do not own. An early conversation can help confirm whether the project is viable and what permission is needed. 

How much can you apply for? 

If you need more than £200 

A resident can still lead the idea, but must apply with a suitable constituted Community Organisation Partner. The organisation will receive and manage the funding. The resident and organisation must agree how the funding will pay for the project, and the organisation may support delivery where agreed. Contact us before applying if you need help finding a partner. 

What we can fund 

• community clean-ups and local neighbourhood action
• planting, planters and small greening projects
• equipment that will provide wider community benefit
• community artwork or local awareness activity linked to improving an area
• practical projects addressing fly-tipping, neglect or another recurring local problem

Projects from across Lewisham can be considered. Use photographs, local knowledge and residents’ views to explain the problem and why the project is needed. Published hotspot maps are not used as an eligibility test or scoring requirement. 

What we cannot normally fund 

• private benefit or payments to an individual applicant for their own time
• work that should be carried out by the Council, a landowner or another statutory service
• costs already incurred or activity that has already happened
• projects outside Lewisham
• projects without wider local or community benefit
• projects that cannot obtain required permissions
• activities that are unlawful or unsafe

Before applying 

• read the full guidance
• talk to us if advice or permission may be needed
• confirm a Community Organisation Partner for requests above £200
• prepare a clear location, short project description, itemised budget and cost evidence
• if the grant will pay only part of the project cost, make sure the remaining funding is already confirmed

How applications are assessed 

We will consider the local problem, proposed solution, community benefit, local need, feasibility, value for money, deliverability, permissions and maintenance. We may cross-check relevant Council information during pre-assessment, but a missing mark on a published map will not count against an application. The budget is limited, so meeting the basic criteria does not guarantee funding.

Safety and insurance 

Most straightforward community activities will not require applicants to arrange their own public liability insurance. Some projects, such as larger organised events, work using machinery, physical installations, contractor-led work or activities involving people who may need additional support, may need more information, a risk assessment or suitable insurance.