Two Tooting groups receive Wandsworth Grants Fund

Community groups, charities, and good causes across the borough are in line to share funding worth nearly £100,000 in the latest round of projects supported by the Wandsworth Grant Fund (WGF).

Tuesday evening saw councillors recommend a range of grants to 27 local organisations involved in not for profit activities that benefit residents and communities across Wandsworth.

Two groups in Tooting have been awarded the grant.

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.

Meet & Make Spaces - Their Young At Art project will deliver craft and art workshops for anyone over the age of 65 living in Tooting.

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.

"In support of these local groups we have increased grant allocations from twice a year to three times, and this year also approved a series of special Covid-related funds to support our residents, particularly those that are vulnerable.

"We welcome applications from groups in each and every part of the borough and have made applying simple, swift and efficient so that we can get the funds out quickly to those good causes that need it most.

"We want these brilliant organisations to spend their time doing good deeds rather than filling in endless forms and needless bureaucracy."

Other groups around Wandsworth awarded part of the grant

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.

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.

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.

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