London Catalyst

London Catalyst is an independent grantmaker rooted in a historic mission to combat the root causes and effects of poverty and ill health among London's disadvantaged populations, fostering health equity and wellbeing through strategic partnerships and agile grantmaking. Guided by values of collaboration, inclusion, practical compassion, and cross-sector synergy with faith, social work, and medical communities, it empowers grassroots organizations to deliver timely interventions that address unmet health needs. Its theory of change posits that direct support for individual and community wellbeing catalyzes broader social progress, prioritizing responsive, community-embedded solutions over top-down approaches.

It funds frontline services tackling poverty-related health inequalities, including Samaritan Grants for rapid one-off hardship relief such as food provision, travel costs, temporary accommodation, personal care items, mobile top-ups, household essentials, and access support for people in acute crisis; partnership initiatives addressing health disparities through multi-sector collaboration; and local health improvement projects enhancing physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Key beneficiaries encompass homeless individuals, disadvantaged pregnant women seeking birth companionship, adults with learning disabilities, family carers, asylum seekers, refugees, people with chronic illnesses, mental ill-health, physical disabilities, or social exclusion in London's deprived boroughs. Supported activities include direct service delivery like crisis counselling, peer support groups, therapeutic outreach, community day services, respite care, and holistic interventions promoting mental health recovery, disability inclusion, carer respite, and homelessness prevention via person-centred, trauma-informed, community-led models that build resilience and prevent escalation of hardship.

It excludes general core funding, food banks, after-school clubs, holiday activities, medical research, capital projects, standalone advocacy, or non-London work, focusing solely on time-limited project interventions. Distinctive for its unwavering London-centric ethos serving the most marginalized in deprived areas, historic faith and civic ties, preference for grassroots frontline agencies during statutory gaps, and emphasis on innovative, equitable partnerships that deliver practical, measurable health gains for poverty-impacted groups like refugees, carers, and those with complex needs.