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 has 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 are developing the funding criteria, application and selection process through a series of workshops. The Grant Makers will also be responsible for selecting the successful applicants. 

We will share detailed information about the programme and how to apply in November 2025. 

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.  

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.

Support 

We are delivering a series of workshops and drop-in sessions that will provide more information about Make It Happen 2026, support you with your applications and bring together individuals to encourage collaborations and partnerships.

Creative Youth Networking event 

Monday 24 November at 5:30pm

Inviting young people who live, work or study in Waltham Forest to Soho Theatre Walthamstow to find out about a variety of exciting creative and cultural opportunities. This is an opportunity to find out more about Make It Happen 2026 and connect with other young people and local organisations to develop partnerships that can strengthen your funding applications. 

Online Information Session 

Wednesday 26 November, 6pm to 7:30pm.

This is an opportunity to find out more about the Make it Happen 2026 programme and ask questions about the application and selection process.  

The session will be recorded and delivered on Teams as a webinar. All attendees videos and mics will be turned off but there will be a Q&A at the end for you to ask any questions.

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.