Hong Kong Empowerment Fund
This grant aims to empower Hong Kong Civil Society and supports equity-led groups and organisations to work in collaboration to deliver integration support and activities for BN(O) individuals.
The Hong Kong Empowerment Fund is closed for applications. You can view our live grants on our Community Grants page.
The Greater London Authority (GLA) is committed to supporting the Hong Kong Civil Society in London. In its third year of supporting the London voluntary and community sector, they are launching the Hong Kong Empowerment Fund. This follows from the success of the Welcoming Hongkongers Fund and Hong Kong Community Fund.
This third year of funding aims to deliver integration support to the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) community in London. It aims to fund projects that empower BN(O) individuals to develop knowledge and confidence, to be active in their communities and to feel fully part of British society.
Who can apply?
It targets equity-led non-established and newly established organisations run by and/or for Hongkongers. The GLA welcomes applications that deliver integration support and activities for BN(O)s, with a focus on embedding BN(O)s into the local community and building sustainable support networks. It also aims to empower Hong Kong Civil Society by encouraging newly established and/or smaller grassroot groups and organisations to work in collaboration, either with each other or with more established organisations, to provide support to BN(O)s in London and create a legacy of their work.
What type of Grants are available?
There are two types of grants available:
- Growth grants: up to £15,000 – open to non-established and newly established groups or organisations run by and/or for Hongkongers and their partners.
- Collaboration grants: up to £50,000 – open to two or more non-established, newly established and/or smaller grassroot groups and organisations working in collaboration and partnership. A lead partner must be identified in the application, and this must be a legally constituted group.
What type of activity is the fund looking to support?
Projects must fit one or more of the following aims, and so can involve any activities that address those:
- Foster connections and a sense of belonging in the communities where BN(O)s settle
- Support BN(O)s to find suitable employment or to start/grow a business
- BN(O)s English language skills are improved
- Instances of destitutions amongst BN(O)s are minimised and addressed
- Enables BN(O)s to access council and other mainstream services and increase community confidence to navigate their new environment
- Support well-being and mental health needs of BN(O)s
- BN(O)s feel safe, and able to report hate crimes and have this addressed
- Any other specific needs that the BN(O) community faces that applicants can identify and evidence that are not listed above.
How to apply?
Applications closed at 9 am 27th March 2024.
For those that have applied, we will also be conducting interviews with those shortlisted, to allow applicants to speak about their projects. Interviews will largely be conducted online.
Please see the link for the programme Prospectus. You can also find Application Question and Guidance for the two grants below, to be used for reference.
You can also find links below for the British Sign Language video and Easy-Read versions of the prospectus.
Application Support
Please note applications are now closed, but if you have applied you can contact the Groundwork team to ask questions at HKEmpowermentFund@groundwork.org.uk. Alternatively, you can call us at 0207 239 1292.
We held an information session on 6th March 2024. The following topics were covered in the session:
- Details and eligibility of the Hong Kong Empowerment Fund
- Application process
- Key programme dates of the Hong Kong Empowerment Fund
There was also a Q&A session in English and Cantonese following the session.
Please see below links to the presentation slides that were used in the session, plus a Frequently Asked Questions document that we will be regularly updated .
Timelines
| Event | Date |
| Applications Open | Tuesday, 27th February 2024 |
| Information session | Wednesday, 6th March 2024, 12-2:00 pm |
| Stage 1: Applications Close | Wednesday, 27th March 2024 at 9 am |
| Stage 2: Interviews | 10th- 19th April 2024 |
| Inception Meeting with successful applicants | May 2024 |
| Project Delivery, mid-project and end-of-project check-ins | End of May to November 2024 |
| End of project report submission | December 2024 |
