Across October half term over 1,000 young people in Westminster were provided with free activities and meals thanks to new funding made available by the Westminster Foundation as part of its £1 million commitment to charities helping children and families affected by the cost-of-living crisis. 

It hopes to support thousands more facing immediate food insecurity over the next six months by making substantial grants to charities fighting food insecurity. 

Over the week, the Young Westminster Foundation was able to distribute grants to 23 organisations totalling over £80,000, using the funds from the Westminster Foundation, which enabled a wide range of week-long programmes to be delivered alongside nutritious meals.

Projects spanned sports, arts and youth club provision, with activities including photography workshops for young carers, badminton and basketball sessions, and designing animal enclosures with ZSL London Zoo.

This funding has helped children and young people in the borough stay engaged and fed over the holiday period and builds on the ongoing support from the Department for Education’s Holiday Activities & Food Programme, distributed by YWF with Westminster City Council.

The organisations who received October half term funding are: Abundance Arts, Adventure Play Hub, The Avenues Youth Project, Cardinal Hume Centre, DreamArts, The Feathers Association, Greenhouse Sports, Happy Lizzy Event Planning, Kulan Somali Organisation, London Basketball Association, London Tigers, Marylebone Bangladesh Society, North Paddington Youth Club, Pro Touch SA, Sport4Health, St Andrew’s Club, St. Vincent’s Family Project, Treasure Boxing Club, Westbourne Park Family Centre, Westminster Children’s University, Westminster Supplementary School, Westside Basketball Club and ZSL London Zoo.

Helen Mann, CEO of Young Westminster Foundation said: “We are very grateful to the Westminster Foundation for their increased commitment to support families in our borough during what are becoming increasingly difficult times. Grosvenor and the Foundation continue to be a close partner for YWF, sharing our mission to ensure all young people in Westminster can grow up safe, healthy and happy.”

The Duke of Westminster, Chair of the Westminster Foundation said: “We know that households are facing impossible choices this winter, and especially during school holidays.  Youth organisations and local charities provide a lifeline to so many families forced to skip meals to cover other financial demands. We’re delighted to work alongside the Young Westminster Foundation and Westminster Council to support them. I hope this funding alongside our grants to other similar charities will help people, and children in particular, have access to healthy food when they need it most.”

The Westminster Foundation is an independent organisation representing the charitable activity of the Duke of Westminster and all Grosvenor business, providing long term sustainable help and direction to children and young people early in life (aged 0-25) through opportunities to thrive, build confidence and raise aspirations.