Our 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 significant difference to take part in terms of application advice, support and sharing of best practices.
The Capacity Building Programme is part of our innovative five-year £10mn Westfield East Bank Creative Futures Fund, powered by Westfield Stratford City.
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.
It’s vitally important that the Foundation for Future London arms our communities, local organisations, and grantees with the tools and expertise to develop and manage life-changing projects, which are part of our role as a sustainable development organisation.
We encourage you to join this programme by emailing capacitybuilding.ffl@outlook.com.
Upcoming Grant Guidance Workshops
Join one of our free Capacity Building Programme training workshops. 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.
Accounting Essentials: Accounting But Easier
Monday 16 June 2025, 6pm – 8pm on Zoom
It is essential for entrepreneurs to be equipped with key business skills to ensure sustainable and legal business growth. As part of the Foundation for Future London’s Capacity Building Programme, we’re delighted to offer the ‘Accounting Essentials: Accounting But Easier’ session, where Ade Ajimobi will bring a wealth of practical knowledge that any business owner can implement from day one.
This workshop is designed for people who are thinking about starting their own business, in the early stages of their business journey or for anyone who just wants to strengthen their foundation knowledge of accounting.
Join us for this valuable opportunity to gain essential financial literacy and build a strong foundation for your business.
This workshop will cover:
- What is accounting
- Key accounting concepts
- Common fears and myths
- Record keeping
- Financial requirements of business type
- Introduction to tax
- Updates to the account submission process (including change of platform)
“Ade is so lovely. She turns the crazy world of accounting into something knowledgeable and less scary.”
This event is 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.
Please register your place and we will send you details about how to participate closer to the time. Places will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis.
See all our events on Eventbrite
About Ade Ajimobi
Ade is an accountant with 30+ years of experience, working with both larger and smaller companies, including Dyson, DP World, BMW, Allen and Allen insurance and The Lady Powerhouse.
With three daughters who have ventured into the entrepreneurial space, Ade found a passion for empowering early-stage founders to confidently navigate their financial responsibilities and meet government requirements.
Ade now supports and educates early-stage founders to understand their business accounts and what they have to do in order to meet the government requirements regarding the financial side of their business.
Guidance Sessions Videos
You can watch recordings from past workshops.
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
Learn more out more about our grantees’s stories and experiences in getting funding and the projects we’ve funded.
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/X @Lisa_Stepanovic