The Junior League of London's 13th LBDI Campaign 2026

Celebrating our 13th year of the Little Black Dress Initiative (#LBDI), we are once again kicking off our campaign to combat the effects of poverty right here in London.

Perfectly aligned in Women’s History month, join us 21-27 March as our campaigners raise awareness about the impacts of poverty in our local community and funds to help make an impact for people here in our city.

Involvement with the Little Black Dress Initiative supports the Junior League of London in our mission to advance women's leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteering and training. Your donations directly benefit local community partners and support the League's outreach and volunteer training programs. Thank you for helping us continue our impact here in London.

Why campaign and why support our campaigners? Because poverty is higher in London than in any other region or country in the UK.

The Trust for London states that after housing costs:

● 26% of Londoners are living in poverty — the highest rate in the country.

● Persistent low income remains disproportionately high among non‑white households, reaching 38% nationally.

● Single‑parent families continue to face severe hardship, with 43% of children in these households living in poverty.

● Shelter reports at least 354,000 people are homeless in England — a 14% rise in just one year.

Please join us in supporting community organisations across London during this pivotal time by donating to this year's LBDI Campaign.

About LBDI (The Little Black Dress Initiative)

LBDI is a week-long, social media-driven fundraising campaign that raises awareness about poverty and its effects on women in society. Throughout the week, participants share posts on social media to drive online donations by raising awareness of the effects of poverty in London and how the JLL supports anti-poverty initiatives.

Participants raise awareness about the effects that poverty can have on an individual's access to resources such as professional attire and the far-reaching toll this can take on confidence and professional opportunities. When LBDI began back in 2014, campaigners wore a black dress each day of the campaign to highlight this. Initially running at the same time as London Fashion Week, LBDI was created to raise awareness of how poverty affects a woman’s trajectory in life and in the workplace. As of 2022, we relaunched the campaign to shift the emphasis from what we wear to what we do - the little things that can make a big difference. The overall aims of the campaign remain the same as they always were.

Since that first campaign in 2014, the LBDI has raised over £200,000 here in London. The initiative has expanded to over 100 Junior Leagues across the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, collectively raising over $2 million towards our global mission.

The positive impact of this global poverty initiative is a testament to the Junior League of London’s mission to advance women's leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration and training.