Borough of Sanctuary Grants Programme

The Borough of Sanctuary Grants are one of the five commitments we have made in Islington to support our vision that all residents looking for sanctuary can find and take up opportunities while feeling welcomed, included and connected to the borough.  

Using a participatory grant-making model, a panel of experts by experience of seeking sanctuary in Islington, will shape and award £500,000 of government grants to voluntary and community sector organisations. 

The grants are part of our commitment to community cohesion and aimed at finding ways to help Islington organisations support greater integration of refugees and migrants, and to encourage connectivity between new and existing communities.  

To find out about our other four Borough of Sanctuary commitments, please visit: Commitments | Islington Council

Key Dates

• Panel members: Recruitment is now closed and panel members have been selected
• Grant prospectus and guidelines: available 2 December
• Meet the funder events: dates to be confirmed
• Grant applications open: Wednesday 15 January 2025
• Grant applications close: 12midnight Wednesday 26 February 2025
• Grant application review and assessment: from February 2025
• Grant application awards: notifications for successful and unsuccessful application will be made from late February to June 2025

Grant Update

We have recruited 18 panel members. This includes a broadly equal gender split, with ages ranging from 19 to 60 years.  All have lived experience of migration coming more than eight different countries of origin. Some panel members have lived in Islington for over 10 years while others have recently arrived in the borough.

• Panel members are currently receiving training from the council to help them work together to develop grant selection criteria and decision making
• Grant materials are currently in development and no further detail can be provided at this time
• Updates will be posted on this page once available including:
  • grant prospectus
  • grant guidelines
  • grant application

Please refer to the dates mentioned above and revisit this page to access further information at the specified times when the information becomes available.

Contact

If you would like to make contact with the Borough of Sanctuary Grant team or register your interest to be sent information about the grants, please email:  BOS@islington.gov.uk