Building a stronger, fairer Southwark: Our Community Investment Strategy 2025–2030

Southwark is full of brilliant community organisations—large and small—who work every day to create a fairer, more connected borough. Our new Community Investment Strategy 2025–2030 sets out how United St Saviour’s Charity will back that vision over the next five years: with deeper relationships, long-term funding, and a shared commitment to equity, empowerment and prevention.

This strategy is about ensuring community groups have the stability, resources and voice they need to tackle inequality and help everyone in Southwark thrive.

We want to grow equity, power and prevention across Southwark by:

  • Funding and nurturing relationships

  • Strengthening organisational capacity and resilience

  • Partnering and collaborating across sectors

  • Influencing and sharing insight for collective impact

Our long-term vision is clear:

Community organisations and initiatives in Southwark will be connected and supported to build power, tackle inequity and effect change as part of a thriving eco-system within the borough

Our 2025-2030 approach

Our new approach is shaped by learning from partners, residents and the wider eco-system. Key shifts include:

1. Longer-term, flexible funding

Flexible, multi-year grants will now be our default—supporting stability, planning and resilience.

2. One annual open call for core grants

Open to local mid-sized organisations with a turnover of £100,000–£500,000, making funding simpler and more accessible.

3. Distinct funding streams

  • Devolved grants – Smaller grants delivered through local partners

  • Core grants via our annual open call

  • Strategic, issue-based grants through year-round conversations and invitations

4. A more relational, less transactional model

We’re doubling down on trust, transparency and partnership—building meaningful relationships rather than paperwork.

Who We Support

We are an open and trusted community funder, welcoming organisations working towards a fairer Southwark. We tailor support to organisational size and stage:

  • Under £100k turnover → small grants via community partners

  • £100k–£500k turnover → core grants (annual open call)

  • Over £500k turnover → strategic partnerships (invite/conversation)

Community organisations are the beating heart of Southwark. They bring people together, address inequality, prevent crises, and strengthen neighbourhoods.


This strategy is designed so they can thrive, not just survive