Tackling poverty and improving health in London since 1873

London Catalyst is an independent grant giving charity. We provide funding for charities and not-for-profit organisations. Our aims are to alleviate the effects of poverty, and to improve the health and well-being of Londoners. We prioritise support to people living with mental and physical ill health, life limiting health conditions and people with disabilities.

‘The Charity is established to relieve poverty, sickness, disability and infirmity among persons resident in the area bounded by the M25 London Orbital Motorway… by supporting and working with other charitable organisations… and by providing grants to assist individuals and organisations for the aforementioned purposes.’

Since 1873 we have held an annual ‘Hospital-Sunday’ Appeal to raise funds to raise funds for our Samaritan hardship grants. These provide food, clothing, travel and other basic items to people leaving hospital and those in the community in financial need. You can support our appeal by clicking on the ‘Donate’ button in our banner above.

A client was helped with travel to attend an interview that led to employment and secured housing for him and his girlfriend, both formerly homeless. A small grant at the right time made a huge difference to their lives.

Poverty and money management issues are commonplace. ‘T’ , who was helped with a top-up for his electricity key, is schizophrenic. He has gambling and substance addictions, receives £342 each month of which £212 is taken directly to pay debts.

Working With Others

We are committed to working in partnership with other grant givers and in recent years collaborated with many independent funders and private philanthropists. Our current partnership with the Hospital Saturday Fund and others on the Partners for Health programme began in 2015. Working together helps extend our reach and adds value to our grant-making. If you are interested in collaborative funding, contact us to explore how we might work together.

The Sundial Centre

In partnership with Peabody and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, we established the award winning Sundial Centre in Bethnal Green, a day care and resource centre for older people and carers in the local community.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

London Catalyst is committed to tackling social and economic inequalities. As an independent grant maker we are in a privileged position and have assets that we can deploy to realise this aim. We are  committed to working with and learning from others. Our values should be clear in our actions and conduct. We strive to address social inequity, including racial injustice and discrimination, and be open to public scrutiny. For expert analysis and resources:

Runnymede is the UK’s leading independent race equality think tank generating intelligence to challenge race inequality in Britain

Race Equality Foundation promotes race equality in social support and public services.

Race on the Agenda (ROTA) is a social policy research organisation that focuses on race equality and issues affecting the UK’s Black and minority ethnic (BAME) communities

The Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Health and Wellbeing Alliance is a partnership between community sector representatives and the health and care system to share expertise with the aim of improving services for all communities.

The Child Poverty Action Group researches and campaigns to end child poverty

The Fawcett Society  the UK’s leading membership charity campaigning for gender equality and women’s rights at work, at home and in public life.

Tackling Stigma associated with learning disabilities a team of UCL researchers is addressing the stigma attached to learning disability

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