Islington Council is set to continue its Local Initiatives Fund (LIF) for another year, providing a flexible budget for ward councillors to support community projects.
The LIF, a key part of the council's hyper-local support, allows ward councillors to respond directly to community needs identified through resident feedback. The proposal, agreed by the Executive on Thursday 25 June 2026, will see the LIF continue in 2026/27 using the same framework as the previous year.
Under this framework, ward councillors will continue to allocate funding at a ward level, with final decisions confirmed through the council's established governance process. This includes consultation with the executive member and officer approval, ensuring that public funding is targeted effectively while maintaining oversight.
The fund supports a wide range of grassroots activities, including community events, festivals, youth engagement programmes, wellbeing and mental health support, and small-scale improvements to neighbourhood spaces. A key strength of the LIF is its ability to reach groups that may not be able to access larger borough-wide funding programmes, thereby supporting smaller communities that may lack the confidence to approach larger funds.
Councillor Saiqa Pandor, Executive Member for Communities and Partnerships, introduced the report, highlighting the fund's role in strengthening local community infrastructure, building capacity within neighbourhoods, and helping to reduce inequalities at a very local level.
The Executive agreed to the recommendations to continue with the existing framework and delegate authority for funding decisions.
