Make It Happen 2026

We are investing in supporting new creative and cultural projects led by young people aged 18 to 25 in Waltham Forest through the Make it Happen 2026 grants programme. Whether you are a young person or an organisation working with young people, you can apply for up to £10,000 to deliver a creative and cultural project in the borough between June 2026 and March 2027.

Waltham Forest Council recruited 5 young people aged 16 to 25 as paid Grant Makers to help redesign the Make it Happen creative grants programme for 2026. Working together with the support of facilitators, the Grant Makers have developed the funding criteria, application and selection process through a series of workshops. The Grant Makers will also be responsible for selecting the successful applicants. 

Guidance

Before submitting your application, we recommend you carefully read through the funding guidance pack (PDF) and try to attend some of the support sessions, which will give you the best chance of submitting a strong application.

There will be two stages to applying for Make it Happen 2026. 

Stage One: Expression of Interest
Opens: Friday 21 November 2025 at 6am
Deadline: 6th January 2026 at 11pm  

The expression of interest is an opportunity for you to briefly tell us about your project. You can apply either with a video, voice note or written submission.

If submitting a video or voice note, you must still complete the first section of the written application and the demographic questions for your application to be accepted. 

Stage Two: Shortlisted Applications
Opens: 16 January 2026
Deadline: 27 February 2026  

The panel will select a shortlist of applicants who will then be supported to develop their projects and submit a more detailed application.

Who is eligible to apply 

You must either be a young person aged 18 to 25 who lives, works or studies in Waltham Forest, or an organisation based in the borough that works with young people. If you are an organisation, you must clearly demonstrate that your application has been shaped directly by young people and that they will be supported to lead your project. Your project can involve different age groups as long as the target age range is involved in the project delivery. 

Any of the following can apply: 

• Individuals
• Artist/creative collectives
• Community and arts organisations
• Charities and residents’ associations
• Businesses and CICs (but no profit can be made from your project)
• Schools and colleges 

Whilst this is a creative and cultural grants programme, we encourage applications from individuals and organisations that might not view themselves as creative or cultural.

Application Support Sessions 

We will also be hosting drop-in sessions in libraries across the borough for you to speak to us about your applications. Below are the dates and locations of the drop-in sessions.  

All sessions will take place between 10am and 5pm unless otherwise specified. 

Background 

Since 2013 Waltham Forest Council has been offering grants for local arts and culture projects. £850K has been invested into over 80 local arts and culture projects through the Make It Happen creative grants programme since 2019. Many recipients of the grant have gone on to become key organisations that now deliver great work across the borough and beyond, including Everyone on Boards, Stories and Supper, Walthamstow Trades Hall, Mbilla Arts, GB Carnival, Women Over 50 Film Festival, Music Halls and Revel Puck Circus. 

In 2025 Make it Happen focused on funding projects that pioneered creative approaches and activities which have benefits for our health and wellbeing. Find out more about projects we funded in 2025.