Local projects share £143k council funding

Published: 1 February 2017

Local projects, including help for local families, arts programmes and support for children with dyslexia, ADHD and hearing disabilities have been recommended to share more than £143,000 from the Wandsworth Grant Fund.

Twenty-one community projects, charities and local organisations have been recommended by a special council committee to receive a grant in the fourth round of funding under the grant scheme, launched in April 2015.

In addition a further 26 arts projects will share £35,000 towards new performances in this May’s Wandsworth Arts Fringe.

See the committee agenda and full list of applicants.

This follows the 26 local projects which shared a total of £125,888 in the third round last summer.

The Wandsworth Grant Fund supports a wide range of not for profit activities in the following categories

  • Arts and Culture
  • Environment and Attractive Neighbourhoods
  • Children and Young People
  • Citizenship and Civic Engagement
  • Raising Aspirations and Potential
  • Health and Well being

The fund has streamlined the way the council allocates small grants.  Just one team now manages the administration of various different grants that were previously overseen by several council departments, including funding towards the Wandsworth Arts Fringe.

Evaluation and assessment is done by specialist council officers and councillors scrutinise the process to ensure value for money and that money is going where it will most benefit borough residents. Recommendations for funding were agreed by a meeting of the council’s Executive on January 23.

Projects receiving round four funding include:

Homestart Wandsworth:  The Bump to Baby project will extend one-to-one home visiting volunteer work to support families through pregnancy and postnatally.

Lightbox Theatre: The Battersea-based theatre specialises in telling the stories of people and places that might be otherwise overlooked. 

Floral Angels: Working out of New Covent Garden Market, Floral Angels recycles donated flowers and gives them to those most in need it he community.

Aspire 2 Inspire Dyslexia:  The grant will pay for free support to adult and young people with dyslexia

SignHealth: The Young DeafHope service will teach deaf children about domestic abuse and staying safe.

Sentalk: A Lego Social Skills programme will help young people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder develop social and communication skills. 

Other projects and groups receiving funding include the Furzedown Festival and Big Day Out, the Battersea Youth Choir, Broomwood Football Club, The Devas Club, Disability Sports Coach and Action on Hearing Loss. See the full list.

Grants committee chairman Cllr Melanie Hampton said:

“We are delighted to support some of Wandsworth’s most worthy and innovative projects and schemes. We are always keen to work with our voluntary and community sector and we are looking forward to receiving applications of a similar high standard for Round Five of funding.”

To receive regular information about the fund by email, fill out the subscribers form at www.wandsworth.gov.uk/wgf.

To find out more about the Wandsworth Grant Fund:

  •  Visit www.wandsworth.gov.uk/wgf
  •  Email wgf@wandsworth.gov.uk
  •  Follow @grantswandb on twitter