Labour-run Westminster Council has granted £3million for core grant funding to 54 local charities and other small community organisations to use over the next three years.

This funding will provide stability to the sector, and increase the organisations’ capacity to provide services. It will also improve the organisations’ fundraising capability so that they can raise additional funds from other sources. Successful organisations include: 

• All Stars Youth Club 
• Dutch Pot Lunch and Social Club 
• Neighbourhood Doulas
• North Paddington Foodbank
• Paddington Arts
• Paddington Law centre 
• Pimlico Musical Foundation
• Pimlico Toy Library
• The Caxton Youth Organisation

This is a stark contrast from the Conservative administration which had previously stopped all grant funding and had put local youth clubs under huge financial stress, forcing the Stowe Youth Club to close.

Cllr Nafsika Butler-Thalassis, Deputy Leader of Westminster Council said: 

“This funding will give organisations the stability they need to plan their services for the next three years without having to worry about how they will survive in the coming weeks and months. We need this funding in Westminster so that our residents can use high quality services free at the point of use, and close to their homes. From lunch clubs to youth clubs, from sports activities to music and arts, Westminster is now buzzing with high quality activities for everyone”.