Migrant advice and support fund

Supporting migrant Londoners to access the advice and support that they need

This grant is now closed for applications.

What is the Migrant Advice and Support Fund

The Migrant Advice and Support Fund has been established to support migrant Londoners to access the advice and support that they need. It aims to develop capacity for currently underserved groups and areas of emerging need; promote lasting collaborations across the advice sector for the betterment of migrant groups; and support practices which prioritise staff wellbeing to improve the long-term resilience of the sector.

Migrant Londoners are integral to our great city. London would not be the welcoming, diverse, and truly global city that it is without its people, who come from all over the world. Our communities, culture, and economy have been continuously shaped and strengthened, in myriad ways, by the generations of people who have come to the capital and chosen to call it home. 

As part of the Mayor’s promise to champion London’s diversity, the Migrant Advice and Support Fund will help organisations and groups provide support to migrant Londoners with information about their rights.

The Migrant Advice and Support Fund aims to support a resilient and inclusive advice sector to meet the dynamic needs of migrant Londoners.  The broad objectives of the fund are to:

  • Develop advice, support and outreach capacity for currently underserved groups and areas of emerging need;
  • Promote lasting collaboration across the advice sector for the betterment of migrant groups;
  • Promote practices which prioritise staff wellbeing in challenging contexts to improve the long-term resilience of the sector.
Who can apply?

Applications are open to community groups and civil society organisations that have a strong track record of working with migrant Londoners and/or are responding to an increase in need for migrant Londoners, especially newly arrived and underserved groups.

We particularly welcome applications from organisations whose services are tailored to the needs of new arrivals from Ukraine, Hong Kong, and Afghanistan, as well as communities that face systemic exclusion, including Roma communities, racialised migrants and those particularly impacted by Brexit, hostile environment policies, and the Nationality and Borders Act. 

What support is available?

Grants are available between £10,000 and £70,000 for an initial six-month period of activity from January/February 2023, with a potential option for extension by an additional six months.

Applications from individual organisations will be able to apply for a maximum of £30,000, whilst partnerships will be eligible to bid for larger amounts.  

What activities can be funded?

We are seeking to fund work/projects that; –

  • Establish or strengthen partnerships between organisations who provide advice and support to migrant Londoners, including those across community groups seeking to collaborate.
  • Outreach, signpost, or holistically support activities to support enduring access to information and support for migrant Londoners
  • Expand on the advice and casework provision for migrant Londoners and their family members in response to emerging areas of need
  • Develop and disseminate translated information to support migrant Londoners to understand and access their rights, including the Migrant Londoners Hub.
  • Invest into organisational capacity to respond to the new and emerging needs of migrant Londoners
  • Develop and deliver a tailored response to new communities and/or new community needs (including supporting new arrivals from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Hong Kong). 
  • Invest into staff welfare and wellbeing, including contributions to staffing, organisational governance, development of or support to staff counselling and assistance services. Applications should include staff time to participate in the wider wellbeing elements of this programme.
How to apply

Applications closed on Monday 27th February 2023.

Contact

If you have any queries about applying or about the Migrant Advice and Support Fund, we’re here to help. Please get in touch with Rachil Kotidi on migrant.advicefund@groundwork.org.uk.