The Royal Borough of Greenwich launched its £1 million pilot of its Neighbourhood Growth Fund on ActionFunder – the council’s largest fund to date.
Every year, developers pay Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) contributions to local authorities to help offset the impact of new developments.
Greenwich is the first to test a scalable, digital-first model that can help distribute money and deliver real impact for local people. ActionFunder’s AI-powered funding platform is designed to make it faster, fairer and easier to get money to the communities that need it most.
How it works
The £1 million fund will be distributed across four neighbourhood zones in Greenwich. Community organisations from charities and schools to CICs and grassroots groups, can apply for grants of £2,500–£35,000 until 1st December 2025.
Funding will focus on infrastructure projects such as:
- Community buildings
- Play equipment
- Green spaces
- Facilities that strengthen neighbourhoods
But this isn’t just about council decision-making. The council is empowering their residents to get involved and have a direct say on which community projects will receive funding. Once projects are shortlisted, local people will be able to view them online and vote for the ones they want to see funded in their neighbourhoods.
Smarter funding in action
The ActionFunder platform automates due diligence, streamlines voting and reporting and captures real-time impact updates from funded projects.
Cllr Majid Rahman, Cabinet Member for Planning, Estate Renewal and Development, said:
“Pro development, pro investment, and pro giving back to residents – that is what this council is about, and this fund clearly demonstrates that.
I’m looking forward to seeing the array of bids that come forward and then through the public vote giving our residents the chance to help shape improvements to their areas. This is a perfect example of how the public can help influence how money is spent which from a community perspective is important in people feeling as though their voice is listened to.”
A blueprint for councils nationwide
At ActionFunder, we see this as more than just a pilot. It’s a proof point for how councils across the UK can embrace digital funding and get money into the hands of the communities they were designed to support.
CEO and Co-Founder, Mark Shearer:
“Greenwich is showing real leadership by piloting ActionFunder. The £1m fund will not only benefit local communities, it will provide a blueprint for councils across the UK.”
Get involved
Calling non-profits and community groups in Greenwich! Applications for the Greenwich Neighbourhood Growth Fund are now open and close on 1st December 2025. Successful projects will be announced later this year, with progress tracked and published online for everyone to see.
If you’re a local council and looking to unlock your fund potential and deliver fast, measurable impact in your community, get in touch.
👉 Learn more about ActionFunder and how we’re unlocking smarter funding
And if you’re a non-profit in the Greenwich area looking for funding, apply here.
