John Lyon's Charity

Could John Lyon's Charity fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants: £5,000 – £35,000
Where they fund: Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Kensington & Chelsea, City of London, City of Westminster
Applications: Accepted
How to apply: Online form
Decisions: Three times yearly

Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.

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About John Lyon's Charity

John Lyon's Charity supports children and young people across North and West London. Their mission is to promote education, personal development, and community wellbeing through a wide range of activities. The charity provides grants for core costs, salaries, project delivery, capital works, equipment, and training. They work with registered charities, schools, trusts, community groups, and local authorities, focusing on the London boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Kensington & Chelsea, and the Cities of London and Westminster.

What John Lyon's Charity funds

The charity funds work in education, arts and culture, mental health, disability, sport and recreation, and community development. All activities must directly benefit children and young people. They support core costs, salaries, project delivery, capital works, equipment, and training. Their geographic focus is North and West London, specifically the boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Kensington & Chelsea, City of London, and City of Westminster.

Who can apply

Registered charities, schools, trusts, community groups, and local authorities can apply for funding. The charity prioritises organisations that support children and young people across the specified North and West London boroughs. Applicants should have a local presence and a track record of working with the priority beneficiary group.

What John Lyon's Charity doesn't fund

They do not fund faith-based activities, environmental projects, physical health, or animal welfare. Excluded costs include research, feasibility studies, events, and transport. They also do not support general charitable appeals, lobbying, mother tongue teaching, core costs for umbrella bodies, or grants to unregistered intermediaries. Individual applicants, unincorporated associations, and community benefit societies are not eligible.

How they like to fund

Grants are provided for a range of costs including core costs, salaries, project delivery, capital works, equipment, and training. Match funding is not required. The charity welcomes unsolicited applications and is open to approaches from eligible organisations.

How much does John Lyon's Charity give?

John Lyon's Charity runs one grant programme. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 21 sourced facts

Open Programme (Main Grants Fund)Open to applications

£10,000+

Two-stage process
3 rounds a year
Decisions in ~20 weeks

Those are the published figures. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you'd clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is what the free fit check answers.

What John Lyon's Charity funds — and what they won't

Where they fund

BarnetBrentCamdenEalingHammersmith & FulhamHarrowKensington & ChelseaCity of LondonCity of Westminster

Costs they'll cover

Core costsSalariesProject deliveryCapital works & buildingsEquipmentTraining

They don't fund

FaithEnvironmentPhysical healthAnimalsResearchFeasibility studiesEventsTransportUnincorporated associationsCommunity benefit societiesIndividuals

The full exclusions list (1)

General charitable appeals, Lobbying and campaigning, Mother tongue teaching, Core costs for umbrella bodies, Grants to unregistered intermediaries

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

Children & youthEducationDisabilityMental health

How to apply to John Lyon's Charity

John Lyon's Charity takes applications via online form.

Published programme route: two-stage process.
Decisions are typically three times yearly.
Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.

What John Lyon's Charity's application asks

We hold the 9 questions from John Lyon's Charity's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.

Question 1

“A brief overview of your organisation and what you are applying for”

Question 2

“Evidence how this funding will support the life-chances of children and young people”

7 more questions from their form, plus answers drafted from your charity's real data if you decide to apply.

How it works

1
Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
2
See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
3
Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.

See if John Lyon's Charity could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does John Lyon's Charity provide?

John Lyon's Charity runs one grant programme — Open Programme (Main Grants Fund): £10,000+.

Where does John Lyon's Charity fund charities?

John Lyon's Charity funds charities operating in Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Kensington & Chelsea, City of London, City of Westminster.

Does John Lyon's Charity accept unsolicited applications?

John Lyon's Charity accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.

What does John Lyon's Charity not fund?

Their published exclusions include: General charitable appeals, Lobbying and campaigning, Mother tongue teaching, Core costs for umbrella bodies, Grants to unregistered intermediaries. The full exclusions list is further up this page.

How do I apply for funding from John Lyon's Charity?

John Lyon's Charity takes applications via online form. Published programme route: two-stage process.