Councillors on Tuesday night recommended a range of grants to 27 local organisations involved in not for profit activities that benefit residents and communities across Wandsworth.
This latest round of grants brings the total amount paid to local good causes this year by the WGF to just under £340,000.
Since the fund was set up in 2015, awards worth £1.8m have been made, while a further £143,000 has been distributed through the Wandsworth Arts Fringe.
A further 11 community arts organisations were also recommended to share nearly £20,000 for projects which will be part of the 12th edition of the festival which will run from June 25 to July 11.
The fund has also been boosted this year by a series of special Covid-19 grants to local voluntary groups, churches and charities that carried out vital community support work during the pandemic, including delivering food parcels and medicines and befriending those living alone who have been forced into shielding.
The Wandsworth Grants Fund is just one of the ways that the council works alongside and supports the voluntary sector. Other forms of support include funding Citizens Advice Wandsworth to provide expert advice for EU residents following Brexit and to residents on subjects such as housing issues and benefits.
The council has also worked with faith communities on how to best support their congregations through the pandemic and worked with a range of partners on sharing important public health and government messages around Covid-19.Grants committee chairman Paul Ellis said:
“The enormous contribution that our local voluntary groups make to the well-being and benefit of the borough and our residents cannot be overstated. They perform a vital role, none more so than this year when they have proved instrumental in helping local people overcome the challenges of the pandemic."
The WGF has seven key themes and objectives. These are:
• Arts and Culture
• Children and Young People;
• Environment and Attractive Neighbourhoods;
• Citizenship and Civic Engagement;
• Health and Wellbeing
• Achieving Aspiration and Potential
• Recovering from the impact of Covid-19
Among the latest local groups recommended for funding are:
Blind Aid – Promoting physical and mental health activities to improve wellbeing and the provision of activities for vulnerable, visually impaired residents of Wandsworth.
The Children's Book Project – Their Book Heroes Campaign will gift Book Bundles to three schools in Battersea’s Latchmere ward, ensuring that children have the chance to choose and take home at least two books of their own.
JAGS Foundation - Their Wandsworth Upskills Programme Project will target young people in Battersea who face disadvantages and provide engagement, re-training, enterprising opportunities and raised aspirations into meaningful employment.
Meet & Make Spaces - Their Young At Art project will deliver craft and art workshops for anyone over the age of 65 living in Tooting.
The Parish Council of St Michael's with St Stephen's – Their Gardening & Allotment Project aims to promote the health and well-being benefits of gardening and have a positive impact on the self-esteem, mood and general health of a rolling average of 30 vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals living in Southfields.
The Hygiene Bank Wandsworth - This will provide 1,250 packages containing basic toiletries to those on very low incomes due to Covid for whom these products have become luxuries. These will be distributed through 5 local community partners who are currently supporting vulnerable residents.
34F (Balham and Tooting) Squadron RAF Cadets – A flight simulator project will allow cadets aged 12-18 to familiarise themselves with the controls of the aircraft and the simulator will be an attraction to young people to join the air cadets and will open opportunities for personal development.
London Basketball BOOST - This programme will target BAME/disadvantaged male and female Wandsworth residents aged 11-18, combining Basketball and Learning with a three-step approach to engage, develop, and challenge young people to help them reach their full potential.
After-School R.O.C.K.S – Working with The Alton, Heathmere and Roehampton Church schools to deliver studio-based art classes.
Savona Estate Residents Association -Their Sowing From Home scheme will engage residents of this Battersea estate in growing plants at home that can then be incorporated into communal beds and borders on the estate.
Corona Kids CIC - Funding for a pilot 'Children of Prisoners School Support Project' so that primary school pupils mainly in the wards of Tooting, Graveney, Furzedown Roehampton, Latchmere and Queenstown that have been impacted by parent/sibling imprisonment can be more easily identified for help by schools and receive support from within school to improve their emotional wellbeing.
Centrepoint Soho – A scheme to tackle digital exclusion experienced by homeless young people in Wandsworth to support their access to training and employment opportunities.
To find out more about the fund and how to apply visit the council’s website.
