The City Bridge Foundation says its new funding policy will have a "sharper focus on tackling the root causes of inequality".
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A foundation which owns some of London’s most iconic bridges has announced a new 10-year funding strategy to support charities across the capital.
The City Bridge Foundation, London’s largest independent charity funder, says its new “Standing with Londoners” policy will focus on tackling inequality and injustice.
The foundation owns and manages five of the capital’s bridges – Tower, London, Southwark, Millennium and Blackfriars – and allocates its surplus income to charity causes across the city.
Since 1995, it has awarded over £840 million to London’s charity sector, including an extra £200 million funding which supported the sector through Covid and the cost-of-living crisis.
Funding policy to focus on ‘root causes’ of inequality and injustice
The City Bridge Foundation says its new funding policy will have a “sharper focus on tackling the root causes of inequality”. CREDIT: CITY BRIDGE FOUNDATION
The foundation says the additional funding will not be renewed for the next ten years and that it plans to “focus” its resources to “deliver maximum impact”.
The new strategy has four priorities: delivering climate justice, access to justice, tackling racial injustice, and addressing economic inequality.
Other changes include a move away from “traditional power dynamics in funding and hierarchical notions of charitable giving” and a greater emphasis on “tackling the root causes and systemic factors which enable inequality and injustice to prevail”.
“London has changed hugely in recent years as a result of the issues the capital has faced, and we need to change too, standing in solidarity with organisations working to deliver change.”
Sacha Rose-Smith, chief funding director of the City Bridge Foundation
Ms Rose-Smith added: “Our ambitious 10-year policy marks an exciting new chapter in our journey as a social justice funder, working collaboratively with our partners to leverage change and standing shoulder to shoulder with Londoners to make the capital a fairer place”.
Inclusive theatre charity hopes foundation funding will continue
Face Front’s Blue Sky Actors group is an inclusive theatre ensemble of adult disabled and non-disabled actors. CREDIT: FACE FRONT
Face Front, an inclusive theatre charity based in Edmonton, receives £40,000 from the City Bridge Foundation to support two programmes.
Its Blue Sky Actors group, an inclusive ensemble of adult disabled and non-disabled actors, runs every Saturday in Stratford. The group are currently preparing for a performance of To Be Continued… at Stratford East theatre later this month. Funding from the foundation pays for support staff, rehearsal and theatre space, and refreshments.
The City Bridge Foundation grant also supports the It’s My Move touring show. A team of 9 actors, 5 of whom are disabled members of the Blue Sky group, travel across the UK performing in schools for children with special educational needs. All actors are paid the London Living Wage and the performances are put on at no cost to the schools.
Artistic director Ray Downing says he’s a “massive fan” of the City Bridge Foundation, who have supported Face Front for many years. He says the upcoming performance at Stratford East will “reinforce your faith in humanity”.
Reacting to the foundation’s new funding strategy, which makes no mention of disability, Ray said he was “confident” that Face Front could fit into the funder’s 10-year vision for London.
He said funders and charities both have to “react and change” with the times and that the City Bridge Foundation had been “nothing but supportive and positive” of Face Front’s work.
The foundation will work with sector partners to design and deliver the first funding programme under the new policy, which it hopes to launch in the autumn, with others to follow next year.
Short HeadlineBridges owner launches charity funding strategy for London
StandfirstThe City Bridge Foundation, which owns five Thames crossings, has announced changes to its funding policy.
A foundation which owns some of London’s most iconic bridges has announced a new 10-year funding strategy to support charities across the capital.
The City Bridge Foundation, London’s largest independent charity funder, says its new “Standing with Londoners” policy will focus on tackling inequality and injustice.
The foundation owns and manages five of the capital’s bridges – Tower, London, Southwark, Millennium and Blackfriars – and allocates its surplus income to charity causes across the city.
Since 1995, it has awarded over £840 million to London’s charity sector, including an extra £200 million funding which supported the sector through Covid and the cost-of-living crisis.
Funding policy to focus on ‘root causes’ of inequality and injustice
The City Bridge Foundation says its new funding policy will have a “sharper focus on tackling the root causes of inequality”. CREDIT: CITY BRIDGE FOUNDATION
The foundation says the additional funding will not be renewed for the next ten years and that it plans to “focus” its resources to “deliver maximum impact”.
The new strategy has four priorities: delivering climate justice, access to justice, tackling racial injustice, and addressing economic inequality.
Other changes include a move away from “traditional power dynamics in funding and hierarchical notions of charitable giving” and a greater emphasis on “tackling the root causes and systemic factors which enable inequality and injustice to prevail”.
“London has changed hugely in recent years as a result of the issues the capital has faced, and we need to change too, standing in solidarity with organisations working to deliver change.”
Sacha Rose-Smith, chief funding director of the City Bridge Foundation
Ms Rose-Smith added: “Our ambitious 10-year policy marks an exciting new chapter in our journey as a social justice funder, working collaboratively with our partners to leverage change and standing shoulder to shoulder with Londoners to make the capital a fairer place”.
Inclusive theatre charity hopes foundation funding will continue
Face Front’s Blue Sky Actors group is an inclusive theatre ensemble of adult disabled and non-disabled actors. CREDIT: FACE FRONT
Face Front, an inclusive theatre charity based in Edmonton, receives £40,000 from the City Bridge Foundation to support two programmes.
Its Blue Sky Actors group, an inclusive ensemble of adult disabled and non-disabled actors, runs every Saturday in Stratford. The group are currently preparing for a performance of To Be Continued… at Stratford East theatre later this month. Funding from the foundation pays for support staff, rehearsal and theatre space, and refreshments.
The City Bridge Foundation grant also supports the It’s My Move touring show. A team of 9 actors, 5 of whom are disabled members of the Blue Sky group, travel across the UK performing in schools for children with special educational needs. All actors are paid the London Living Wage and the performances are put on at no cost to the schools.
Artistic director Ray Downing says he’s a “massive fan” of the City Bridge Foundation, who have supported Face Front for many years. He says the upcoming performance at Stratford East will “reinforce your faith in humanity”.
Reacting to the foundation’s new funding strategy, which makes no mention of disability, Ray said he was “confident” that Face Front could fit into the funder’s 10-year vision for London.
He said funders and charities both have to “react and change” with the times and that the City Bridge Foundation had been “nothing but supportive and positive” of Face Front’s work.
The foundation will work with sector partners to design and deliver the first funding programme under the new policy, which it hopes to launch in the autumn, with others to follow next year.
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