Our former programme manager, Sarah, has left Hackney Giving. Sarah looks back on her time with us.

“Over the last six and a half years, we’ve funded nearly 200 organisations operating in Hackney or the City of London via 468 grants and we’ve helped others access in-kind support from businesses. This period included the Covid pandemic and the cost of living crisis that immediately followed, which shaped our grant-making priorities as we responded to the needs within communities at the time. These major events led to us working closely with the statutory sector, distributing NHS and local authority funding alongside donations from individuals and businesses. It also made Hackney Giving far bigger than we anticipated at the start! We recently passed the milestone of distributing £3 million in grants, and have run 27 grants rounds since 2020.

Some of the groups we’ve funded have never held a grant before, whereas others have been long-standing Hackney institutions. It’s been our aim to make securing funding through Hackney Giving simple and accessible. We’ve tried not to use jargon or complicated documents and we’ve also tried to be on hand to help applicants and grant-holders.

Of course, we’ve had limited budgets and huge demand for grants so we haven’t been able to fund everything. Hackney and the City of London remain places where inequality is massive and poverty and wealth sit side by side. So, Hackney CVS will continue to advocate for a fairer society and for the funding that is needed to make that happen.

Small voluntary and community organisations do amazing things with very small amounts of money, and that’s been clear throughout my time here at Hackney Giving. When I’ve visited community organisations locally, I’ve been welcomed with open arms, and I thank all of you for that. There were many highlights that will stick in my mind, whether it was children’s summer schemes, lunch clubs, intergenerational projects, chair exercise sessions, music – so many opportunities for laughter, joy, love and care.

I’d like to reiterate my thanks to all the statutory partners, funders, individuals and businesses that have contributed. And to the voluntary and community organisations working so hard here to make life better for people. The strength of community and the benefits of the not-for-profit sector locally has shone through. As you continue to navigate a challenging funding landscape into the future, you have my very best wishes.”