Grants
Our grant-making
LCRF awards grants of up to £1,000 every Spring and Autumn to multiple refugee projects across London for the relief of destitution such as by the purchase of phone credit, travel cards, hygiene items, nappies, and food, and for emergency payments, to give to the thousands of destitute asylum-seekers in London who come to them for help. LCRF grants cannot be used for course fees, rent, or ongoing costs. LCRF does not make grants directly to individuals.
Image: Wikimedia Commons, public domain
In 2025, the Fund received £44,502 in donations. With Gift Aid and the sale of Christmas cards, our total income was £55,470. We made grants of £58,288 (our highest-ever figure) and incurred just £ 1,766 in overheads - about a third of which related to the printing and distribution of cards.
Last Autumn, we were able to provide funds to 34 organisations to enable them to assist destitute asylum seekers with emergency support. For many of the recipients, this was a lifeline. The recipient organisations listed were assisted with grants of up to £800 each. Grants are capped by the funds available at the time of the awards.
In the rare cases when we reject an application, it is normally because it is not felt to contribute directly to the relief of destitution among refugees and asylum seekers in London.
Organisations supported in Autumn 2025
Action for Refugees Lewisham (AFRIL)
African Refugee Community (ARC)
Akwaaba
Baobab Centre for Young Survivors in Exile
Breaking Barriers
CARAS (Community Action for Refugees & Asylum Seekers)
CAWS Homeless Project
Citizens of the World Choir
Cotton Tree Trust
Croydon Refugee Day Centre
Federation of Iraqi Refugees
Freedom from Torture
Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group
HIAS/JCORE
Happy Baby Community
Hope for the Young
Housing Justice (Hosting Project)
Inspired - Humans
Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants
Jesuit Refugee Service
Migrants Organise Ltd
NNLS Asylum Seekers Drop-in
Notre Dame Refugee Centre
New Citizens Gateway
(British) Refugee Council
Room to Heal
St Dunstan's PCC East Acton
St James Church Piccadilly
Sufra - NW London
The Separated Child Foundation
Together Productions
Union Chapel
Waging Peace
Women Against Rape (Asylum from Rape)
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Apply for a grant
How to apply
For Spring 2026 applications, the maximum grant an organisation can apply for is £1,000. As before, applications may be scaled back if resources are insufficient. The Fund’s Objects require us to support only work with destitute refugees and asylum-seekers in the London area.
Round 40 (Spring 2025) Our Spring round is now open. You may also sign up for our email list to receive information, including when the grants round is open. The application closing date is Sunday, 10 May, to be sent to grants@lcrf.org.uk. Please DO NOT SEND APPLICATIONS TO INDIVIDUAL TRUSTEES. Please put the Grants Round number (40). and Spring Round and your organisation's name in the title of your email.
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The proposed date of the Board meeting is 28 May. You should expect to hear the outcome from us within 2 weeks of that date. Please download and read the Guidance Notes and Terms & Conditions carefully before completing your downloaded application form.
The forms can be accessed below, and you must use our latest form to apply. Please note that we require Safeguarding Policies to be submitted for review at least every TWO years. If the last time you sent us your policy was before the Spring 2024 application round, you must send an updated one this time. If you have updated your safeguarding policy in the last two years, please send us the latest one.
Applications should be emailed to grants@lcrf.org.uk by 10 May, as shown on the form. Please put the Grants Round number (40). and Spring Round and your organisation's name in the title of your email.
Dear Friend
On behalf of the London Churches Refugee Fund, I am pleased to invite organisations to apply for funds to support your work with asylum seekers and refugees. All applications must be made on the form that you can download from this site, and in accordance with our Terms & Conditions.
The Trustees are appreciative of the hugely difficult but valuable work that charities and community groups continue to perform and hope that the Fund will develop in such a way that it becomes a constant and reliable source of support.
With every good wish,
Simon Loveitt
Chair of Trustees