Education
We are helping to improve the educational opportunities of local children and young people from birth to 25 years old in our area of benefit - please check the map. We understand education in its broadest sense and support a wide range of activities that extend personal, social, moral, mental and emotional development as well as enhancing learning.
We offer grants to not-for-profit organisations (including schools and churches) to deliver activities that support our mission.
Types of projects
We are interested in projects that fall into five categories:
- Children & Families – focus on younger children and their parents
- Education & Learning – seeking to increase attainment and also enhance the curriculum and learn new skills
- Emotional Well-Being – looking after children’s emotional and mental health
- Youth clubs & activities – after school childcare, open access youth provision (secondary age) and activities that engage young people
- Christian Education
We provide more information about our current grants below.
How much can you apply for?
Small Grants
Maximum of £3,000 for one-off capital or revenue projects
Small Grants are open to all not-for-profit organisations – churches, schools, registered charities and social enterprises.
The maximum funding for a Small Grant is £3,000.
The grant can be used for short-term revenue or capital projects. Examples of some previous grant awards are:
- Environmental education initiatives
- School residential trips (mostly KS2)
- School outings to support curriculum topics
- Children’s activities at community events and festivals
- Holiday play schemes and activities
- Updating resources and materials
- Continuing professional development for frontline staff working with children and young people
- Capacity building grants to support organisational development projects, such as strategic review, evaluation, fundraising strategy or professional training.*
*These grants are only available for organisations that the charity is currently funding or has recently funded.
You can submit your application at any time and we expect to make a decision within six weeks.
Please apply using the online application form.
Project Grants
Maximum of £10,000 for one-off capital or revenue projects
Project Grants are open to all not-for-profit organisations – churches, schools, registered charities and social enterprises.
The maximum funding for a Standard Grant is £10,000.
The grant can be used for revenue or capital projects that last no longer than a year. Please look at our current grants.
There are quarterly deadlines, set about 5–6 weeks in advance of the Trustee meeting.
The deadlines for 2023-24 are:
- Monday 11 December 2023
- Monday 25 March 2024
- Monday 10 June 2024
- Monday 30 September 2024
- Monday 16 December 2024
Please apply using the online application form.
Community Investment Grants
Maximum of £15,000 per annum for up to three years for revenue projects
We introduced multi-year funding in 2017 in response to feedback from grant beneficiaries. We recognise that applicants appreciate the longer term funding commitment and reduction in form filling.
Only applicants who:
- have received funding from the charity in the last three years;
AND
- can demonstrate a strong commitment to the local area through consistent service delivery and participation in local networks.
Please note this is not available to schools or projects working in a school setting.
The maximum funding is £15,000 per annum for up to three years.
The grant should be used for revenue projects. Please look at our current grants.
There are quarterly deadlines, set about 5–6 weeks in advance of the Trustee meeting.
The deadlines for 2023-24 are:
- Monday 11 December 2023
- Monday 25 March 2024
- Monday 10 June 2024
- Monday 30 September 2024
- Monday 16 December 2024
Please apply using the online application form.
Partnership Grants
Up to £50,000 per annum for up to three years
The Partnership Grant programme is discretionary. These grants are awarded to address a specific need that has been identified within the local area, and the Trustees confirm are a priority issue. We would expect any such project to involve a partnership of charities or schools or both, all working together.
Partnership Grants are open to all not-for-profit organisations – churches, schools, registered charities and social enterprises. It is unlikely that we would fund an organisation that we are not familiar with for a strategic grant.
There is no specific size for a Partnership Grant. It is anticipated that they would be large grants of between £15–50,000 per annum for up to three years.
The grant should be used for a revenue project. Our grant awards include:
- Two-year pilot of ‘Smart Gym’ using technology and games to train and teach core life skills (self-regulation, concentration, perseverance and reflection) in 5 primary schools
- Family therapy project working in six or more primary schools
- Full-time Speech and Language Therapist providing service across nine primary schools
This programme is discretionary. If you have an idea for a suitable project then please send a short outline of your idea to the Clerk for an initial discussion. Please DO NOT submit unsolicited applications.
BEFORE you apply for funding please read our detailed grant guidelines.
Current grants
During 2021, the Trustees agreed an increased grants budget of £400,000 again plus the £75,000 remaining funds from the £200,000 Crisis Fund agreed in 2020.
Over the year, the Charity awarded 26 grants totalling £889,652 – 5 Small Grants, 4 Project Grants, 7 Community Investment Grants, 4 Partnership Grants and 6 Crisis Grants. The Charity also continues to support 11 Community Investment Grants awarded in previous years.
The majority of grantees had received grants from the Charity in the past.
The Trustees also agreed an extra £400,000 Covid Education Recovery programme to be spread across 15 primary schools for academic years 2021/22 and 2022/23.
Our current list of active projects is below:
| Area | Organisation | Project | Summary | Grant | From | Until |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children & Families | Cardinal Hume Centre | Family Education & Support in the Cardinal Hume Centre's Family Centre & Garden | Contribution to the Family Centre & Garden offering support to families with children of all ages to play, learn & grow. | £45,000 | 01/07/2021 | 30/06/2024 |
| Children & Families | Family Lives | Westminster Befriending for Families with 5-16 yr olds | Befriending service for families with children aged 5-16 yrs old offering 1-2-1 emotional & practical support. | £25,500 | 01/09/2021 | 31/07/2024 |
| Children & Families | Family Lives | Young Carers in Westminster | Support & fund activities for young carers. | £5,000 | 01/01/2023 | 01/12/2024 |
| Children & Families | Holborn Community Association | HCA Under 5s | HCA can maintain its free under 5s play service supporting over 300 families. This supports the early years development & reduces the impact of inequality. | £45,000 | 01/11/2022 | 31/10/2025 |
| Children & Families | Pimlico Toy LIbrary | Children & adults learning together | Stay & Play sessions & toy library for Under 5s near Churchill Gardens estate. | £45,000 | 01/04/2021 | 31/03/2024 |
| Children & Families | South Westminster Community Festival | SouthWestFest Children, Families & Young People's Programme 2023-2026 | Delivers workshops & family programmes, developing skill building & commissioning events for children, young people & families in Westminster. These include Pimlico prom, festival day, walking tours, exhibitions & archives. Strengthens social solidarity as the community comes together to participate, feel involved & be seen. | £21,000 | 12/05/2023 | 12/05/2026 |
| Children & Families | Unfold (was WBaF) | Keeping It Together - Holistic support for a whole family approach | Core funding to support the 2 main strands of their work in south Westminster. Broadening Horizons educational mentoring project for young people. Mentoring for Mums offers goal-focused coaching style support. | £43,350 | 16/02/2021 | 15/02/2024 |
| Education & Learning | Fitzrovia Community Centre | 'Chatterbox' | Speech & language project for children aged 18 months to 4 years old & their parents. | £10,000 | 12/01/2023 | 14/12/2024 |
| Education & Learning | Local Village Network | Bridging-The-Gap | Will deliver weekly mentoring sessions for 6 weeks to about 40-50 college students across the 2 programmes, exposing young people to volunteer professionals. This will strengthen their support system, communication & networking skills, making them more confident to make more informed decisions about their future. | £10,000 | 04/09/2023 | 15/04/2024 |
| Education & Learning | Pimlico Musical Foundation | Pimlico Musical Foundation Children's Programmes | Providing free, high quality music education for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. | £45,000 | 01/11/2022 | 31/07/2025 |
| Education & Learning | St Barnabas PS | London Music Masters (LMM) | A whole school music intervention from London Music Masters that offers all children (and their parents) violin lessons & general music skills. | £42,900 | 01/09/2021 | 31/08/2024 |
| Education & Learning | The Children's Literacy Charity | Literacy Lab at Soho Parish Primary School | This project will allow 9 children from Soho Parish Primary School to access the Literacy Lab during the next academic year (2023-2024). They address literacy barriers at the earliest possible stage to enhance the children's ability to learn & build their confidence & self-esteem. Support includes all aspects of literacy from reading, writing, comprehension, speaking to listening. | £6,000 | 01/09/2023 | 31/08/2024 |
| Education & Learning | Unfold (was WBaF) | Mentoring for Young Lives in New Starts: supporting young asylum seekers & refugees in Westminster | Support young asylum seekers through mentoring. | £6,000 | 16/01/2023 | 22/12/2023 |
| Education & Learning | Young Westminster Foundation | YWF 2023 Needs Analysis | Research to understand the diverse experiences of young people across the borough post pandemic & during the cost of living crisis. | £5,000 | 01/02/2023 | 31/10/2023 |
| Emotional Well-Being | Churchill Garden PS | SaLT 2 - Churchill Gardens | SALT 2 - A speech & language therapy service from Sep 2023 - Summer 2024. It offers Specialist, Targeted & Universal provision by London Children's Practice. | £4,370 | 01/09/2023 | 31/08/2024 |
| Emotional Well-Being | Millbank Academy | SaLT 5 - Millbank Academy | SALT 5 - A speech & language therapy service from Sep 2023 - Summer 2024. It offers Specialist, Targeted & Universal provision by London Children's Practice. | £3,249 | 01/09/2023 | 31/08/2024 |
| Emotional Well-Being | Pimlico Primary | SaLT 5 - Pimlico Primary | SALT 5 - A speech & language therapy service from Sep 2023 - Summer 2024. It offers Specialist, Targeted & Universal provision by London Children's Practice. | £3,249 | 01/09/2023 | 31/08/2024 |
| Emotional Well-Being | St Vincent's Family Project | SVFP Therapy Program Manager | Creative Arts Therapy Manager to oversee students providing arts, drama or music therapy support for children aged 4-13, with referrals via schools or Early Help. | £45,000 | 01/04/2021 | 31/03/2024 |
| Youth Clubs & Activities | Bloomsbury Football Foundation | Changing the Game for Young People in Pimlico | Will provide accessible football to young people in South Westminster based on paying what they can. Affluent players pay the full fees (£50pm), less affluent backgrounds pay 50% of the fees (£25pm) & further discounts (£5-£10) is applied to those on a lower income. The increased accessibility to football will improve young people's mental, physical health, community spirit & allow transferable skills. | £1,934 | 01/05/2023 | 30/04/2024 |
| Youth Clubs & Activities | Caxton Youth Organisation | Caxton Youth Organisation | Specialist youth club in Westminster for young people with learning disabilities aged 11-25 with youth club, education programmes & regular residential. | £45,000 | 01/09/2022 | 31/08/2025 |
| Youth Clubs & Activities | Dragon Hall | After School, Transitions, Holiday & Youth programmes | Youth Provision including after school club for 8-11, transitions club for 12-16 & needs-led sessions for 16+. | £39,000 | 01/11/2021 | 29/10/2024 |
| Youth Clubs & Activities | DreamArts | DreamArts - Experiment | DreamArts Experiment offers children aged 7-13 yrs an affordable theatre school opportunity to develop their personal & social skills - on Saturdays at the Abbey Centre. | £45,000 | 11/11/2020 | 10/11/2023 |
| Youth Clubs & Activities | Eat Club | Eat Club Cooks in Westminster | Preparing the meal & eating together, boosting awareness of cooking & healthy lifestyle. | £2,000 | 01/03/2023 | 01/02/2024 |
| Youth Clubs & Activities | Future Men | Youth & Community - Churchill Gardens Youth Club | Churchill Gardens Youth Club provides space for young people aged 8-19 to undertake wide range of activities. They deliver open access, sessional & targeted youth work on 3 days per week. | £45,000 | 01/01/2021 | 30/09/2024 |
| Youth Clubs & Activities | Go Live Theatre Projects (formerly Mousetrap Theatre Projects) | StageXchange | YWF BFF 2022. 12-week drama programme at St Andrew's Club for 1.5 hrs per wk. They play drama games & learn performing techniques to develop their confidence, creativity & communication skills. | £3,500 | 01/10/2023 | 01/08/2024 |
| Youth Clubs & Activities | Sport4Health | Health & Wellbeing Support for Students | Sports based activities for young people aged 17-25. | £10,000 | 07/01/2023 | 07/10/2023 |
| Youth Clubs & Activities | Westside Basketball Club | One London Basketball | A free weekly drop-in community basketball session at Pimlico Academy. | £8,500 | 01/06/2023 | 31/07/2024 |