The Lord Mayor's Appeal
Impact Report 2025/26
Introduction
From the Lady Mayor
Alderwoman Dame Susan Langley DBE
The Rt Hon The Lady Mayor
of the City of London
The Lord Mayor’s Appeal’s strategic aim is to create A Better City for All that is Inclusive, Healthy, Skilled and Fair. Through collaboration, generosity and shared purpose, we continue to deliver lasting impact across the Square Mile and beyond.
In 2025, our partnerships with Homewards and MQ Mental Health Research continue to make a significant difference. Homewards, launched by Prince William and The Royal Foundation, is demonstrating that homelessness is not inevitable but solvable by empowering local communities to develop lasting solutions. MQ Mental Health Research remains at the forefront of pioneering studies to better understand, treat and ultimately prevent mental illness, helping to create a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
I’m a passionate believer in opening up the City for all. I call it Unsquaring the Square Mile. By breaking down barriers, we can create opportunities for everyone, regardless of background, to benefit from what the City has to offer.
That is why alongside our established initiatives Power of Inclusion, This is Me, We Can Be and City Giving Day, The Lord Mayor’s Appeal is proud to support two new partners in 2025/26 that focus on wellbeing and social mobility in London:
- Combined Cadet Force (CCF) is a youth organisation helping young people aged 12 to 18 build confidence, teamwork and leadership through practical learning and vocational training. It develops real-world skills valued by employers, strengthens social mobility and inspires young people to achieve their potential.
- West Ham United Foundation's Foundry is a new community hub in the heart of East London. It delivers programmes in education, employment, health, youth engagement, and of course, football. With spaces for training, wellbeing, entrepreneurship and a community kitchen, the Foundry aims to inspire better futures and forge stronger communities.
Through these partnerships and our ongoing initiatives, The Lord Mayor’s Appeal will continue to connect business, community and philanthropy to build a City that is truly inclusive, healthy, skilled and fair.
Finally, the Trustees and I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to our corporate partners, livery companies and individuals whose commitment and generosity make this work possible. Together, we are Unsquaring the Square Mile and creating a City where everyone can thrive.
Our Strategy
The Lord Mayor’s Appeal strategy works on four key pillars, to create a City that is Inclusive, Healthy, Skilled and Fair.
Our Programmes
Our four flagship initiatives continue to grow alongside delivering ground-breaking programmes with our charity partners.
The Power of Inclusion series breaks down societal and workplace barriers, to help empower and educate organisations to create inclusive and diverse workplace cultures.
Change Starts Together
This is Me is a pioneering mental health initiative, aiming to change attitudes and reduce stigma around mental health in the workplace.
End the Stigma
We Can Be empowers young women to see the City as a viable career option, providing them with skills and confidence through exposure to participating businesses.
Empower Young Women
City Giving Day is the one day in the year which enables businesses to come together to celebrate and showcase their charitable and volunteering achievements.
Celebrate Philanthropy
UN SDGs
The Lord Mayor’s Appeal has aligned its programme strategy with the SDGs to provide a framework for both business and the City of London to work in partnership to further develop the sustainable businesses agenda, thereby creating A Better and more sustainable City for All.
An Inclusive City
We want to create a city where everyone feels they belong.
We collaborate with businesses across sectors to implement effective practice to address social mobility, take an intersectional approach to social mobility and build inclusive cultures within hybrid working models.
The impact of our work
621
Attendance has grown from 164 attendees in 2023 to 621 over the past three years.
Inspiring Allyship and Advancing Socio-Economic Inclusion at Standard Chartered Bank
“Standard Chartered’s journey with Power of Inclusion has been a rewarding and meaningful experience since we joined the programme nine years ago. Our participation was driven by a desire to engage with an inclusion collective that brings together diverse organisations in the City of London through shared humanity and common values; and to contribute our expertise in ways that can be meaningfully understood and applied.
“Storytelling has a unique ability to connect people emotionally, humanise narratives and shift perceptions. At Standard Chartered, we know that data and numbers alone rarely change behaviours, and stories from our leaders and colleagues offered a way to make statistics relatable and to empower underrepresented groups own their narratives. We believed that storytelling would inspire allyship, create shared understanding of the barriers to fostering a common ground for dialogue; and ultimately would make mobility real and re-enforce self-worth.
“Our involvement in the Power of Inclusion programme has been a significant catalyst in our organisation’s approach to socio-economic inclusion maturing internally, and helping us move from having good intentions to being more deliberate when designing our inclusion strategy. Since participating in ‘Change Starts Together’, we doubled down our focus to systematically give voice to lived experiences of colleagues from a range of socio-economic backgrounds, also seeing a number of senior leaders coming forward to share their humble past and bold rise. Through this process, we feel proud of the collective energy towards inclusion that we managed to sustain, and of strongly signalling our colleagues that every story truly matters.”
If you/your organisation would like to take part in our Power of Inclusion programme, please contact: inclusion@thelordmayorsappeal.org
A Healthy City
To create a healthy city, we must end the stigma around mental health in the workplace.
This is Me
This is Me Storytelling encourages employees to share personal experiences, sparking open conversations about mental health. Over 125 organisations have participated, empowering employees to speak openly about mental ill health. The storytelling programme is complemented by This is Me webinars, which cover topics such as suicide prevention and other workplace wellbeing matters. Attendance has more than doubled since 2023, with around 1,000 participants benefitting through a combination of webinars and in-person events.
The Green Ribbon Campaign promotes visible support for mental health by encouraging workplaces to wear green ribbons during Mental Health Awareness Week and World Mental Health Day. The campaign helps workplaces demonstrate support, show those struggling they are not alone, and foster open dialogue around mental health. Since its launch, more than 300,000 Green Ribbons have been distributed, and our goal is to share over half a million within the next three years.
Together, these initiatives empower organisations to raise awareness, reduce stigma and build confidence in discussing mental health at work, creating more supportive and inclusive workplaces.
The impact of our work
300,000
Green Ribbons have been distributed since 2017.
Championing Mental Health and Wellbeing at Lambert Smith Hampton
From the outset, Donna made mental health and wellbeing a key priority in her HR role. This is Me has helped her shape and strengthen the company’s approach to wellbeing and EDI, not only influencing organisational culture but also inspiring the evolution of her own career. What began as an HR role has grown into a dedicated focus on wellbeing and inclusion – areas she is deeply passionate about.
The programme has provided Donna with the tools, confidence and community to drive meaningful change. Under her leadership, Lambert Smith Hampton has rapidly developed its mental health and wellbeing provisions into a full programme of genuine care, awareness and sustained support that is embedded across the organisation.
Using This is Me’s framework, Donna has successfully challenged stigma, encouraged openness, and normalised mental health conversations across the business. When she joined, the organisation’s wellbeing offer was disjointed; today, it is an aligned, consistent and visible strategy that provides compassionate support at every level of the company.
A major impact of her work has been empowering the company’s Mental Health First Aiders, helping them grow in confidence, visibility, and proactive engagement. Initiatives have included awareness campaigns, internal webinars, the Green Ribbon Campaign, intranet resources and an easy-access crisis support guide for employees seeking help.
Donna believes that participation in This is Me is simply the right thing to do, a duty of care that every organisation owes to its people. As she explains, “We need employees to have fulfilled careers, but they also need to have fulfilled and healthy lives.” She emphasises that mental health and business performance are inseparable: when employees are well, absenteeism falls and productivity rises – something not all leaders yet understand.
She is a strong advocate for leadership vulnerability and psychological safety. “When senior leaders are bold enough to share their personal mental health challenges and stories, it changes everything,” she says. “It shows that mental health affects everyone and that talking about it is normal.”
Inspired by This is Me, Donna has launched several wellbeing initiatives, including the Happiness at Work campaign, and continues to align her work with the Green Ribbon Campaign and Mental Health Awareness Week. This Is Me has already distributed more than 300,000 green ribbons across the City – and she with the other steering members would like to hit the goal of reaching half a million in the next three years.
For Donna, the impact is clear: "This Is Me not only improves individual wellbeing but also strengthens organisations – helping people bring their authentic selves to work and creating workplaces where everyone can thrive."
If you/your organisation would like to take part in our This Is Me programme, please contact: thisisme@thelordmayorsappeal.org
When senior leaders are bold enough to share their personal mental health challenges and stories, it changes everything.
”“
A Skilled City
We Can Be helps to empower young women to make informed decisions about their careers.
We Can Be helps young women to make informed decisions about their careers.
We Can Be
Since its launch, participation has grown significantly. The number of schools in and around London that have partnered with businesses has increased from 12 school groups to over 20, and the number of businesses involved overall has more than doubled, rising from 17 in 2023 to 43 in 2025.
The programme delivers benefits across three key groups:
- Students gain a high-quality careers experience, discover new industries, and raise aspirations as they explore future career paths.
- Schools receive a valuable complement to the careers curriculum, particularly supporting students who face barriers due to limited exposure or misconceptions about certain sectors.
- Businesses get to showcase their organisation and sector to a diverse pipeline of potential talent, while gaining insights from the next generation of the workforce.
Looking ahead, We Can Be aims to reach even more students by expanding business participation and strengthening partnerships. The programme will also focus on engaging a broader demographic of young people, particularly those from social mobility cold spots, to ensure equitable access to meaningful and high-quality career experiences in the City.
Opening Doors for Young Women in the City
The day featured interactive workshops, panel discussions, and real-world activities that introduced students to finance, insurance, law and more. Teachers highlighted the impact of the initiative.
Daniel Beresford from Harris Girls’ Academy said, “Showing young people that these opportunities exist – and how to access them – is invaluable.”
Rhoan Hepburn from Alec Reed Academy noted, “Even our quietest students were confident and proud to share their aspirations – it was incredible to see.”
Besa Zymberi from Kingsbury High School reflected, “It’s rewarding to see students enjoy the day while taking something meaningful back to school.”
City professionals emphasised the importance of role models. Neena Patel from Liberty Specialty Markets explained, “Seeing people like yourself share their journey has a real impact on young people.”
Lexi Cooper-Dervan from Schroders added, “We Can Be helps promote social mobility and opens doors to careers that might have seemed out of reach.”
Students left inspired and motivated. Risha said, “I loved talking to different departments of the insurance company and seeing how all their work comes together to create one big project.”
Sara added, “The pitch game was so much fun – it made us feel comfortable in a workplace even at a young age.” Another student reflected, “There are so many possibilities out there – I need to be confident, courageous and go for them.”
We Can Be continues to empower young women to explore, learn and imagine themselves thriving in the City.
If you/your organisation would like to take part in our We Can Be programme, please contact: wecanbe@thelordmayorsappeal.org
A Fair City
A fair city means equal access to opportunities.
Since its launch in 2015 City Giving Day has grown from 209 participating companies to over 600 in 2025, almost tripling in a decade.
What began with the Tour de City in 2017 has evolved into a calendar of activities including City Walks, Treasure Hunt and Quiz Night and a host of creative, company-led events ranging from simulated race challenges to cake bakes.
Over the years, City Giving Day has raised £1.28 million for The Lord Mayor’s Appeal, alongside millions more for other charities supported directly by participating organisations. But beyond the impressive fundraising totals, the true success of City Giving Day lies in its ability to inspire a culture of philanthropy, teamwork and shared purpose across the Square Mile.
The event encourages employers and employees alike to come together – having fun behind a shared mission and vision of giving – and to showcase how business can be a force for good. Companies are empowered to support The Lord Mayor’s Appeal charities or their own chosen causes, using the day as a platform to highlight the difference they make.
On 23 September 2025, the City was once again buzzing with energy as more than 600 organisations signed up to “put the fun back into fundraising,” demonstrating the power of philanthropy, unity and generosity that defines the spirit of City Giving Day. City Giving Day aims to build on its incredible momentum – uniting even more businesses to champion giving across the Square Mile. By 2030, we aspire to raise over
£2 million for The Lord Mayor’s Appeal and inspire countless acts of generosity, making philanthropy a defining feature of life and work in the City of London.
Photos from City Giving Day 2025
The Lord Mayor’s Appeal is proud to have hosted an array of fantastic events throughout the year including a St Andrew’s Ball, an Eid-Al-Fitr Dinner, the inaugural Lord Mayor’s Cup football tournament, the Sheriffs’ Great Gatsby Ball, the London Market Dinner and the Lord Mayor’s Grand Finale, plus our challenge events The Lady Mayoress’s Sleep Out and The Lord Mayor’s Abseil Challenge. We are lucky to have such wonderful support from our corporate partners, other organisations and individuals.
The Lord Mayor’s Appeal continues to create remarkable and inspiring fundraising events that bring the City community together. I’ve had the privilege of being part of this incredible journey and I’ve seen firsthand the passion, dedication and creativity that the Appeal team pours into every event. These moments not only raise essential funds for important causes but also forge lasting connections. We warmly invite you to join us in 2026 for what promises to be another incredible year!
”“
MQ Mental Health Research: Working Together to Create a World Where Mental Illness is Better Understood, Treated and Prevented
Mental ill-health affects one in four people globally and is the leading cause of disability in the UK. By 2030, the World Health Organization predicts it will become the leading global cause of death. The economic impact is significant as well: in 2019, mental health problems cost the UK economy at least £117.9 billion, equating to 5% of GDP.
The Lord Mayor’s Appeal supports MQ to help create a world where mental illness is better understood, effectively treated, and ultimately prevented, directly contributing to a “Better City for All.”
Our partnership with The Lord Mayor’s Appeal has gone far beyond funding as, through the Appeal, MQ has reached audiences it could not have engaged alone. From business leaders and policymakers to changemakers across the City, the partnership has amplified MQ’s voice, enabling the charity to advocate for change and share critical research findings.
One of the most distinctive aspects of this partnership has been MQ’s close relationship and partnership with the Appeal’s This is Me initiative. Through this clear shared priority, MQ has provided expert speakers and supported a community of practice focused on workplace mental health, allowing The Lord Mayor’s Appeal’s networks to contribute directly to vital evidence-gathering through surveys and stakeholder consultations, helping shape the forthcoming workplace mental health playbook for best practice, set for launch in 2026.
Beyond just workplace mental health, the platform provided by the partnership has produced numerous memorable moments, unparalleled visibility and tangible impact. MQ colleagues and supporters have been able to attend spectacular events such as the Lady Mayoress’ drone show or the annual (and usually dry!) Lord Mayor’s Show. We have been involved in delivering collaborative campaigns like the Green Ribbon Walk for Mental Health Awareness Week, where 40 colleagues walked together through the City, and speaking engagements at Appeal events have repeatedly led to surges in engagement with both existing supporters and new potential allies. For a charity still relatively unknown to many, this exposure has been transformative, opening doors to lasting partnerships and collaborations.
The Lord Mayor’s Appeal’s funding has also directly enabled MQ to conduct vital research on mental health issues exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis. The resulting insights provide actionable, evidence-based recommendations for society to better support mental well-being. This funding has also expanded the reach of the Global Alliance for Living Evidence on aNxiety, depressiOn and pSychosis (GALENOS) programme – a comprehensive digital mental health research catalogue. With the Appeal’s help, GALENOS has reached beyond academic sectors, and the lead academic, Professor Andrea Cipriani of Oxford University, was awarded a Freedom of the City of London. Finally, the partnership has also strengthened MQ’s ability to nurture early career researchers through the MQ Fellows Award and MQ Scholarships Programme, providing financial support and career development for six emerging researchers over two years to turn their groundbreaking ideas into reality.
Although MQ Mental Health Research has now concluded its three year charity partnership with The Lord Mayor’s Appeal, the organisation is excited to continue working with the Appeal, particularly within workplace mental health initiatives like This is Me network. Looking ahead, MQ aims to share evidence-based practices, strengthen relationships with City-based organisations and individuals, and remain an active member of the Appeal community – together driving meaningful change in mental health research, awareness, and prevention.
Through this partnership, MQ and The Lord Mayor’s Appeal are not just raising awareness – we are building a healthier, fairer and more inclusive city for all.
When we joined this partnership, our aim was simple: to bring mental health research to the heart of the City. What we didn’t quite expect was the scale of connection, collaboration and community it would unlock.
”“
Homewards: A Powerful Collaboration to Tackle Homelessness
In Lambeth, Homewards has focused on early intervention and prevention. A major development this year has been the launch of the Preventing Homelessness in the Workplace Pilot. This pioneering initiative brings together a group of forward-thinking employers to test a simple, scalable model of workplace support for employees at risk of housing insecurity. By embedding prevention into workplace wellbeing and HR practice, the pilot seeks to show how businesses can be a powerful force for long-term social impact.
Beyond the workplace, Homewards Lambeth has continued to strengthen its network of local partners. One of the most impactful examples has been the growth of Spiral Skills, a Lambeth-based charity that works with young people aged 14 to 25 to improve access to employment, training, and holistic support. With funding from the Homewards Fund, Spiral Skills has moved into a new multi-agency prevention hub for young people at Oasis Village in Tulse Hill. This collaborative space brings together a range of services under one roof, ensuring young people can access the right support when they need it most. The funding has also enabled Spiral Skills to expand its innovative Changemaker programme, which trains young people with lived experience of homelessness to deliver outreach and build trust across schools, estates, and youth spaces. CEO Joel Balkwill described Homewards’ support as “vital in enabling us to launch our new space and transform access to opportunity for our most underserved young people.”
Another significant milestone for Homewards Lambeth is the development of the Innovative Housing Project at 60 Sancroft Street. In partnership with the Duchy of Cornwall and Centrepoint, the project will transform an existing site into sixteen independent homes for young people aged 18 to 25. Designed as a bridge between supported accommodation and the private rented sector, the homes will be managed by Centrepoint and accompanied by tailored employment and tenancy support. This integrated model aims to help residents build independence and stability while preventing future homelessness. With approval from Lambeth Council secured, work is expected to begin shortly, and the first residents are due to move in by the end of next year.
Across the wider Homewards network, other localities are also demonstrating the impact of collaborative action. In Sheffield, Homewards launched Upstream, a youth homelessness prevention initiative inspired by successful models overseas, and hosted its second-year anniversary event attended by HRH The Prince of Wales. Meanwhile, in Aberdeen, a community photography exhibition at St Andrews Cathedral invited local residents to reflect on homelessness and the power of community response.
As Homewards moves into its next phase, the progress made in Lambeth exemplifies the programme’s ambition – to prevent homelessness before it happens, to empower communities to deliver local solutions, and to create lasting systems change. The Royal Foundation extends its sincere thanks to The Lord Mayor’s Appeal for its ongoing support, which has been instrumental in driving this impact.
The support of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal continues to enable Homewards to deliver collaborative, prevention-focussed solutions to homelessness across our six locations.
”“
West Ham United Foundation - The Foundry
Combined Cadet Force Association
Corporate Partnership Opportunities
Our Corporate Partners receive priority access to our programme events, along with exclusive opportunities to host, speak and volunteer. They play a vital role in shaping the future of our initiatives through active participation in steering groups and senior leadership forums helping to define themes and influence delivery
New for 2026, Corporate Partners are invited to our enhanced series of events, featuring leadership breakfasts, partnership community socials, lunch & learns and special audiences with the Lady Mayor.
Acknowledging our supporters for change
We would like to extend an enormous thank you to our 2025 corporate partners
Aon
Bank of China
Bank of Montreal London Branch
Barclays
Bloomberg
Brit Insurance
City HR Association
DLA Piper UK LLP
Elston Consulting
Fidelity International
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
Janus Henderson Investors
Liberty Specialty Markets
Linklaters LLP
London Stock Exchange Group Foundation*
Payden & Rygel
Phoenix Group
PwC
Roc Technologies
Schroders
Standard Chartered Bank
The Carpenters’ Company
The Company of Human Resource Professionals
The Distillers' Company
The Drapers’ Company
The Fishmongers’ Company
The Girdlers’ Company
The Goldsmiths’ Company
The Grocers’ Company
The Horners’ Company
The Insurers’ Company
The Mercers’ Company
The Tallow Chandlers’ Company
The Worshipful Company of Actuaries’ Charity
The Plaisterers’ Company
TP ICAP
Getting Involved
There are many ways you can get involved and support us
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Corporate partnership
Become a corporate partner or sign up to our thought leadership initiatives
