London Now Now: a Commitment to Equity, Empowerment and Impact
London Now Now represents a bold and transformative step towards addressing systemic inequities faced by Black-led social enterprises and charities in London. It is an initiative designed to champion equity, collaboration, and sustainable change, offering a roadmap to reimagine the civil society landscape. By embedding participatory approaches, capacity-building efforts, and equity-focused funding models, London Now Now strives to create an inclusive ecosystem that uplifts Black-led organisations and the communities they serve.
The Landscape of Challenges
Black-led organisations have long grappled with barriers rooted in historical exclusion and systemic bias. Accessing mainstream funding has often felt like navigating an opaque and exclusionary process. Many of these organisations operate with limited resources, constrained by cycles of underfunding that prevent long-term planning or scalability. Structural inequalities have placed Black-led groups in a constant survival mode, leaving little room for innovation or growth.
Beyond funding, the challenges of engaging with mainstream institutions are manifold. Power imbalances, entrenched biases, and a lack of cultural understanding within these spaces create environments where Black-led organisations feel unwelcome or undervalued. These systemic issues reinforce disparities, perpetuating a cycle of exclusion that limits their ability to thrive.
A Participatory Approach
One of the most powerful elements of London Now Now is its emphasis on participatory grantmaking. This approach shifts the traditional philanthropic model by actively involving Black-led organisations and their communities in decision-making processes. Participatory strategies not only empower those at the grassroots level but also ensure that resources are allocated in ways that directly address community needs.
By embracing co-design and collaboration, London Now Now creates opportunities for organisations to shape initiatives that resonate deeply with the realities they face. This approach builds trust, fosters accountability, and ensures that programmes are relevant and impactful. However, participatory strategies require funders to cede some control, a necessary shift that paves the way for more equitable partnerships.
Building Capacity for Lasting Change
A critical aspect of London Now Now is its focus on capacity building. Black-led organisations often lack access to the training, networks, and resources needed to navigate complex funding landscapes or sustain their operations. Tailored capacity-building initiatives are essential to addressing these gaps, offering support in areas such as fundraising, digital transformation, and strategic planning.
Leadership development is another cornerstone of this work. Empowering Black community leaders not only strengthens the organisations they lead but also amplifies voices that have historically been marginalised. Leadership programmes foster resilience, encourage innovation, and equip leaders with the tools needed to drive systemic change. In addition, creating spaces for peer collaboration enables organisations to share resources, build collective strength, and advocate more effectively for their communities.
Centring Lived Experience
London Now Now recognises the unparalleled value of lived experience in shaping impactful social initiatives. Leaders who have firsthand knowledge of the challenges facing their communities bring authenticity and depth to their work. This perspective ensures that programmes address root causes rather than superficial symptoms.
However, the lived experience model is not without its challenges. Leaders often face significant pressures, including emotional labour and the burden of navigating systemic barriers. Supporting these leaders with appropriate resources and mental health care is vital to sustaining their contributions and the organisations they represent.
Redefining Equity in Philanthropy
The funding models embraced by London Now Now prioritise equity, flexibility, and long-term sustainability. Traditional philanthropic practices, often characterised by rigid structures and short-term funding cycles, have historically disadvantaged Black-led organisations. In contrast, London Now Now advocates for unrestricted, multi-year funding that allows organisations to innovate, respond to emerging needs, and build for the future.
By addressing power dynamics in funding relationships, the initiative creates a more balanced playing field. Funders are encouraged to trust the expertise of Black-led organisations, enabling these groups to allocate resources where they are most needed. This shift is crucial to fostering genuine partnerships and dismantling systemic inequities in the funding landscape.
Accountability and Impact
Transparency and accountability are central to London Now Now’s ethos. Ensuring that resources create meaningful change requires robust systems for measuring impact. However, many Black-led organisations lack the capacity for rigorous data collection and reporting. London Now Now provides support to address these challenges, helping organisations build the skills and tools needed to demonstrate their impact effectively.
Community feedback plays a pivotal role in shaping and refining initiatives. By creating mechanisms for continuous input, the programme ensures that its efforts remain aligned with the evolving needs of the communities it serves. This dynamic approach fosters adaptability and reinforces the commitment to community-centred outcomes.
A Call to Action
London Now Now is more than a programme—it is a movement for equity, empowerment, and systemic transformation. It challenges traditional paradigms and offers a vision of what is possible when Black-led organisations are given the tools, trust, and resources to lead. By amplifying their voices and fostering inclusive collaboration, London Now Now is reshaping the future of civil society in London.
The responsibility to support this vision extends to everyone within the charity and philanthropic sectors. Leaders must commit to adopting equitable practices, dismantling barriers, and championing the values of inclusion and justice. Together, we can build a more equitable society where all communities have the opportunity to thrive.
Now is the time to act—because meaningful change cannot wait.
