About Us

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John Lyon’s Charity gives grants to benefit children and young people up to the age of 25 who live in nine boroughs in North and West London: Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Kensington & Chelsea and the Cities of London and Westminster. The Charity distributes around £12 million in grants each year.

The Charity’s mission is to promote the life-chances of children and young people through education, which is consistent with the interests of our founder, John Lyon, when he founded Harrow School (visit our history to find out more). We see education in its broadest sense and support a wide range of projects that provide opportunities for young people across our Beneficial Area.

Since 1991, the Charity has distributed over £186million to a range of services for young people, including youth clubs, arts projects, emotional wellbeing initiatives, supplementary schools, parental support schemes, sports programmes and academic bursaries. 

Grants are awarded to registered charities, state schools with an open admissions policy and organisations with automatic charitable status.  Occasionally grants are awarded to local authorities in the Charity’s Beneficial Area who are working with voluntary sector partners. National organisations applying to the Charity should have a track record and reputation in the Charity’s Beneficial Area.