SE15 Community Fund

The Open Collective platform is set up to reimburse receipts/invoices via bank transfer or PayPal. The SE15 Community Fund uses the platform slightly differently, and asks for proof of address instead of receipts/invoices. This can be be confusing, so please Click here for a guide on how to claim from the fund via Open Collective. This guide takes you through step by step.

The SE15 Community Fund offers financial help to people located in the SE15 postcode, who may be struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other circumstances. This fund can be used for any purpose. There is no judgement, nor is there any obligation to pay back the money. We are a group of SE15 based neighbours who believe in helping our neighbours when they are in need - on the basis of solidarity, not charity. 

This fund is available to any current resident in the SE15 postcode, however, the grant is limited to 1 application per household rather than per resident. You must upload proof of address, confirming that you live within the SE15 postcode. We do not ask you to upload an invoice, bill or receipt from what the grant is spent on, but ask that you use it in good faith. We do not require any more personal details - feel free to just upload the initials of your name when making an Open Collective personal profile in order to remain anonymous. For those with no fixed address, please get in contact at [email protected] as we will still try our best to help. 

Please look at our User Guide for full instructions on how to claim from the fund via Open Collective. 

Neighbours can apply for up to £50 at a time. Take only what you need, so that others can also get help. Each household can receive cash up to once per month - this limit is intended to ensure that as many people as possible get the help they need. We are always looking to increase the size and frequency of grants, but can only do so in line with the donations we receive.

Our 'fiscal host', the Social Change Agency, makes payments every Monday, Wednesday and Fridays - though we cannot guarantee what time. Please take this into account when you apply for funds, as you may not receive it immediately. 

For neighbours who do not use online banking/do not have internet access, we can coordinate with local Mutual Aid groups to deliver groceries and reimburse volunteers for them from the fund. Safeguarding is in place in line with social distancing and current hygiene advice and these neighbours will be contacted by the mutual aid group to confirm receipt of the groceries. The same £50/month per person limit still applies to the end recipient of the groceries.

Anything that you are able to give to support the fund, no matter how small, is greatly appreciated. As a steer, some people might give the equivalent of one days’ wages, for a lump sum donation. EVEN better would be a monthly or even weekly recurring contribution which will help provide more consistent support to fellow neighbours and avoid a situation where the pot is empty when someone needs it. You can contribute via bank transfer, card payment and Paypal. We also hope to be able to accept cash donations once it is safe to do so. 

Please note, when contributing by card or Paypal, payment processing fees apply. These are generally 1.4% + 20p and 2.4% and 30p respectively. Bank transfers via online banking do not incur a charge and are paid to our fiscal host, the Social Change Agency, who bank with the UK based Metro Bank.

For this reason, bank transfers are our preferred method of donation. You will be sent an e-mail containing the bank details and a reference number. This happens almost instantaneously, so please check in your ‘junk mail’ folder if you can’t see it in your ‘inbox’. Please quote the payment reference number supplied when you commit to the donation - as this ensures the money is credited to the SE15 Community Fund. 

The current administrators of the fund are three SE15 residents who met through local mutual aid groups, created in response to the current pandemic. The fund is run in accordance with our constitution, which can be read here.

We are in touch with local community groups to increase awareness of the fund's existence, so that the most in need are able to access it. We want everyone to be able to access the fund and are keen to work with others regarding emerging issues. If you have any feedback about your experience, or can help us understand the needs and experiences of particular users, please get in touch at [email protected]

When uploading your personal data into this fund, your data is covered by the privacy policy of the Open Collective, who are based in the US, and as such data protection is covered by US law rather than UK and EU data laws. Their full privacy policy can be found here: https://opencollective.com/privacypolicy . Any personal data received directly by the fund will be handled in compliance with current GDPR regulations.