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?

The charity has a range of different grant programmes.

Small Grants

Maximum of £3,600 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 £3,600.

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 £12,000 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 Project Grant is £12,000.

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 2024-25 are:

  • Monday 16 December 2024
  • Monday 24 March 2025
  • Monday 9 June 2025
  • Monday 6 October 2025
  • Monday 15 December 2025

Please apply using the online application form

Community Investment Grants​

Maximum of £18,500 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 £18,500 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 2024-25 are:

  • Monday 16 December 2024
  • Monday 24 March 2025
  • Monday 9 June 2025
  • Monday 6 October 2025
  • Monday 15 December 2025

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 2023, the Trustees agreed a grants budget of £343,000 for new grants, including the Family Welfare Fund.

Over the year, the Charity awarded 11 grants totalling £303,052 – 2 Small Grants, 5 Project Grants, 4 Community Investment Grants plus 4 Partnership 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.

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 years old offering 1-2-1 emotional & practical support.
£25,500
01/09/2021
31/07/2024
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
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
31/10/2025
Education & Learning
Fitzrovia Community Centre
'Chatterbox'
YWF BFF 2022. Speech & language project for children aged 18 mths to 4 yrs 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 wks 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 (& their parents) violin lessons & general music skills.
£42,900
01/09/2021
31/08/2024
Emotional Well-Being
Central London Community Healthcare
SaLT 5 South Westminster
SALT 5 - A speech & language therapy service across 7 primary schools & nursery school in south Westminster cluster from April 2023 - March 2024. It offers Specialist, Targeted & Universal provision.
£27,306
01/04/2023
31/03/2024
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 Clement Danes PS
Family Therapy service
Family therapy service - contributing to in-house therapist at school offering support to pupils & their family.
£4,971
01/09/2023
31/08/2024
Emotional Well-Being
St Vincent's Family Project
Family Therapy Service
Family therapy service providing a half day per wk support at 3 schools for individual pupils & their families.
£29,823
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 yrs, transitions club for 12-16 yrs & needs-led sessions for 16+.
£39,000
01/11/2021
29/10/2024
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
30/10/2024
Youth Clubs & Activities
Go Live Theatre Projects (formerly Mousetrap Theatre Projects)
StageXchange
YWF BFF 2022. 12-wk drama programme at St Andrew's Club for 1.5hrs pw. 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
St Andrew's Youth Club
St Andrew's Club - Enriching Young Lives
To support & fund club activities.
£45,000
01/09/2022
31/08/2025
Youth Clubs & Activities
The Pimlico Foundation
Outbreak Youth Charity
Outbreak aims to create positive futures for children & young people in Pimlico & South Westminster. They offer young people a range of activities including mentoring, school work, holiday clubs & sports. They expect to support 620 beneficiaries, playing a vital role in transforming young individuals attitudes, behaviours & aspirations.
£45,000
04/09/2023
04/09/2026
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