Capacity Building Programme — Westfield East Bank Creative Futures Fund
In 2024-25, we are delighted to present our fourth year of the Capacity Building Programme, which we are hosting in partnership with award-winning social entrepreneur Lisa Stepanovic MBE.
The Capacity Building Programme is part of our innovative five-year £10mn Westfield East Bank Creative Futures Fund, powered by Westfield Stratford City.
It’s vitally important that the Foundation for Future London arms our communities, local organisations and grantees with tools and expertise to develop and manage life-changing projects, as part of our role as a sustainable development organisation.
The Capacity Building Programme offers free workshops and a Whatsapp network and is open to anyone living, working or studying in Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets or Waltham Forest.
It’s free to sign up for the programme, and it’s open to all new and old applicants. It can make a great difference to take part, in terms of application advice, support and sharing of best practices.
We encourage you to join this programme by emailing capacitybuilding.ffl@outlook.com
Upcoming Grant Guidance Workshops
Bid writing – Getting it right
Tuesday, 14 January, 2025 · 6 – 7:30pm GMT
Join Lisa Stepanovic MBE, Capacity Building lead, for this interactive, hands-on bid writing workshop
In this session, you’ll learn the fundamentals of bid writing. Lisa will share top tips and proven methods of bid writing.
In this session, you’ll learn the fundamentals of bid writing. Lisa will share top tips and proven methods of bid writing using The National Lottery Awards for All application as an example. She will share step-by-step guidance with example answers. This workshop is designed for people who are new to writing funding applications or want refresher training on writing successful funding applications. We will take you through step-by-step guidance and open up for a Q&A.
” I implemented the learning and went on to secure winning bids. Highly recommend this workshop!” – Participant
New Year’s Networking
Tuesday, 21 January, 2025 · 6 – 7:30pm GMT
Join us for this interactive networking session and explore future collaborations and meaningful partnerships.
Networking is key. Whether you work in the youth sector, intergenerational, the arts, or well-being, you will have an active breakout room you. You’ll be able to meet others in your sector, share challenges, and explore collaborations.
All events are free and open to individuals, organisations and businesses working and living across the local communities in the London Boroughs of Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest. See all our events on Eventbrite
Need More Help?
You can watch recordings from past workshops. Learn more out more about our grantees’s stories and experiences in getting funding and the projects we’ve funded.
Guidance Sessions Videos
Watch these recorded sessions from our Year 3 and see presentations for all three funds from Lisa Stepanovic MBE.
General Guidance Session
Applying for Small Grant Scheme Sessions
Applying for Medium and Large Grant Scheme Sessions
Case Study: previously funded projects
Watch this film featuring Year 2 grantees Eastside, Loop Labs and True Cadence.
The film was produced and directed by Chris Baker with Editor Will Cole and Colourist Harvey Gibson.
Capacity Building Programme – Lead
The Foundation for Future London is pleased to work with Lisa Stepanovic MBE, who facilitates the Capacity Building Programme.
Lisa Stepanovic MBE is a working-class, award-winning social entrepreneur, experienced businesswoman, activist and mentor who was born and raised in London’s East End. Lisa is best known as the founder of Social Ark; Social Ark builds on Lisa’s many years of experience in running her own businesses and supporting hundreds of entrepreneurs on their journey, especially those from working-class backgrounds who often find themselves excluded from mainstream incubator and accelerator programmes. Lisa is passionate about social inclusion and tackling challenges in under-resourced communities, she’s also a Lived Experience third sector consultant specialising in programme design and building sustainable communities.
Twitter @Lisa_Stepanovic
