Applications to the second round of the Local Area Activation Fund are now open. The initiative from Hackney Council supports its town centres and high streets as part of the borough’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) grant from the UK Government. Hackney-based businesses, associations, or partnerships are invited to apply for grant funding between £2,000 and £4,000.
This follows a highly successful first round, which awarded over £31,000 to seven local projects. Previous funding helped launch Hackney’s first-ever dive bar festival, Earth Day celebrations and the Spring into Stokey programme. In total, these grants supported more than 30 events, drawing thousands of people across Woodberry Down, Stoke Newington, Hackney Central, London Fields, Lower Clapton and Hackney Wick.
The fund was launched directly in response to feedback from local businesses requesting more targeted, neighbourhood-level support.
What can the funding be used for?
The grants are designed to cover the operational costs of running projects that boost footfall, bring residents and businesses together, and support the local economy. Funding can be used for initiatives such as:
- Events and Festivals: Collaborative markets, pop-ups, or seasonal celebrations.
- Joint Marketing Campaigns: Shared digital campaigns, town centre websites, or local maps.
- Accessibility Improvements: Creating accessible marketing materials and high street guides.
- Customer Loyalty and Trails: Cross-promotional reward schemes or themed walking and cycling tours.
The Council actively encourages applications from Black, Asian, and Global Majority-owned businesses, as well as those with a diverse workforce to support communities that traditionally face barriers to funding. To qualify, projects must involve and benefit Hackney businesses, enhance local accessibility or increase visitor numbers, and be completed by Sunday 27 September 2026.
Please note grant money cannot be used for past activities or for structural building work or purchasing equipment. Financial contributions from applicants are welcomed but it is not required to apply.
The application deadline is 11pm on Sunday 21 June 2026. To read the full guidelines and start an application, visit: Hackney Business Network website. If you have any questions relating to the fund, you can email: BusinessSupport@hackney.gov.uk
Cllr Rachel Nkiessu-Guifo, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Skills, High Streets and Markets said: “Our town centres and high streets are the heartbeat of communities. This fund is a direct response to feedback from local businesses, helping deliver a stronger local economy. By backing our local business partnerships with grants of up to £4,000, we are helping them bring more people into our town centres, support local trade, and ensure Hackney’s high streets remain vibrant places for everyone.”
Allison Crawbuck and Rhys Everett, owners of The Absinthe Parlour and previous recipients of the Local Area Activation Fund, said: “The festival welcomed 240 additional customers through our doors and generated nearly £2,500 during the week, driving vital repeat business and community growth. Because of the collaborative nature of the event, the majority of our social media reach was among non-followers, enabling us to connect with entirely new audiences.”
Keiran Allen, general manager of Saint Monday Brewery and previous recipient of the Local Area Activation Fund, said: “I feel it was good for uniting the Hackney local scene together and giving more visibility to a lot of the local alternative venues in the area. Saint Monday saw around £1,200 revenue increase during the festival week. Using the festival as a platform to launch new event concepts, such as their brewery tours and heavy metal quiz nights, which will now be recurring offerings at their venues.”
Helen Symonds, co-owner of Kitchen Provisions and previous recipient of the Local Area Activation Fund, said: “I love how it encourages people to explore the whole length of the High Street and Church Street and look in places they might not have been to before.”
