23 March

We launched City Giving Day 2026!

The Lord Mayor's Appeal hosted our annual City Giving Day launch breakfast this March, packing Mansion House's Egyptian Hall with 200+ members of the City community to kick off another year of celebrating philantrophy at its finest. 

A host of impressive speakers was led by by Lady Mayor Alderwoman Dame Susan Langley DBE - a long time supporter of City Giving Day. She reminded us 'when the City unites behind a common purpose, our collective impact can be extraordinary". She urged companies across the Square Mile to get involved to 'show the world something we already know to be true...that this is a City that cares.' 

The Lady Mayor then introduced David Johnston CBE, new Chief Executive of The Lord Mayor's Appeal. Speaking at his first Appeal event, he noted the importance of creating trust in City companies - something that City Giving Day can offer.  

Our other four speakers included two from the charity sector - Joe Lyons from West Ham United Foundation, a new delivery partner of The Lord Mayor's Appeal, and Kelly Holliday from Crisis, to give an overview of Lloyds Banking Group's partnership and support. 

From the City, Hind Naciri of Standard Chartered spoke about being a Corporate Parter of The Lord Mayor's Appeal and how to make City Giving Day work for your business - particularly if you have CSR activities that need amplifying. 

Commodore Mike Walliker CBE, Clerk of The Worshipful Company of Pewterers encouraged Liveries to collaborate and get involved as well as opening up their Liveries Halls on City Giving Day; and Nadia Perrier from Central London Alliance took a few minutes to talk about a Guinness World Record attempt they are organising around City Giving Day for the most people trained in CPR over 48 hours. She also shared her own personal story of someone performing CPR on her husband, who wouldn't have survived otherwise. 

Finally, City Giving Day Programme Manager Janette Foster gave an update on the plans to evolve City Giving Day into a year round programme of philanthropic engagement - using the convening power of the Lady Mayor and The Lord Mayor's Appeal to share knowledge and expertise. 

Helen Whitehead, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at SMBC Group EMEA said, 

"This morning’s City Giving Day 2026 launch breakfast at Mansion House provided a timely reminder of what can be achieved when business and communities work together."

The Lord Mayor’s Appeal team would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who attended the City Giving Day 2026 launch breakfast.

Want to celebrate your company’s philanthropic activities alongside 600+ organisations?

Register for City Giving Day here