A London funder has given £114,480 to 18 organisations in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea to provide a summer programme of activities for young people and families affected by the Grenfell Tower fire.

The City of London Corporation’s charitable funder, City Bridge Trust, awarded the grants to fund seaside day trips, art sessions, sports activities and theatre workshops.

Grants include £7,500 to the SPID Theatre Company for a summer activities programme for young people in North Kensington and £3,000 to Eritrean Lowlanders League for a day trip to Brighton for 60 people. £6,160 was awarded to the Sport4Health Community Interest Company for a 14 week programme of badminton and table tennis for girls and young women.

The funding is part of a wider programme initiated by the John Lyon’s Charity (JLC) in which over 50 applications are being considered for funding to provide activities for residents affected by the fire over the summer. In the two weeks immediately after the Grenfell Tower fire, several funders and third sector agencies were brought together by JLC to support a series of activities for young people in the community. City Bridge Trust has awarded funding to 18 organisations with more support likely to follow from other funders.

Alison Gowman, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s City Bridge Trust committee, said:

“The response of local people to the tragic events of the last few months in the capital have shown the unbreakable strength of communities, coming together in a show of common support and humanity.

“These summer activities will help to bring the community together and give the young people something to look forward to and focus on at such a difficult time. It is important funders work together in supporting the residents to make the best use of resources.

“City Bridge Trust is committed to tackling disadvantage across the capital and making London a fairer and better place to live.”

Daniel Robbins, Senior Curator of the Leighton House Museum, who has been awarded £1,150 for a programme of activity for children affected by the Grenfell fire, added:

“This grant comes as confirmation of our desire to serve the community and reach out to all areas of the borough, ensuring that everyone can enjoy and benefit from the Museum as a place that can nurture curiosity and imagination, and give respite.

“We look forward to welcoming children for a week of fun and learning embedded in a creative environment; inspired by the House, its collections and garden.”

Helena Thompson, Artistic Director at SPID Theatre Company, commented:

“We will use the grant to extend our outreach work and our free drama workshops, and to program an arts therapist who can help those affected deal with trauma.”

Everyone Active General Manager Ian Ling, added:

“The money we have received from the City Bridge Trust will be used to offer young victims from Grenfell Tower the chance to come to our centre for free and try out a whole range of sports. We look forward to welcoming the younger members of the community through our door, as it’s a great opportunity for kids to come and have some fun, whilst making new friends along the way.”

City Bridge Trust is supporting London Emergencies Trust (LET), which works in partnership with the British Red Cross, to distribute the funds raised from their public appeals, ensuring that the money reaches those most in need.

The Trust made available the time and expertise of two of its members of staff, together with other resources, to ensure that LET has the capacity it needs to work effectively. This is in addition to the £75,000 that CBT has already contributed to the LET.

City Bridge Trust provides grants totalling around £20million per year towards charitable activity benefitting Greater London. The Trust has awarded around 7,600 grants totalling over £365 million since it first began in 1995. It is London’s biggest independent grant giver, tackling disadvantage across the Capital. City Bridge Trust is committed to making London a fairer place to work and live.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Full list of organisations that have been awarded grants for summer activities:

• ACAVA-£3,500 for a summer arts activity programme for children and families.
• African Women’s Care- £3,000 for a day trip for 20 children and 20 adults.
• Catholic Children’s Society – £10,000 for a summer programme for children and young people
• Eritrean Lowlanders League- £3,000 for a day trip to Brighton for 60 people.
• Eton Fives Association - £1,500 for Fives (handball) coaching sessions over the summer.
• Hornimans Adventure Playground - £10,000 towards a summer programme for 5-16 year olds.
• Kensington Trust Ltd & West London FC - £2,000 for non-residential summer activities for young people including football, theatre workshops and boxing training.
• Lancaster West Community Children’s Network - £10,000 towards the costs of a summer playscheme for children aged 3 -7.
• Play Association Hammersmith & Fulham - £10,000 for a pop-up play programme on local estates.
• QPR in the Community Trust - £10,000 for a summer programme in North Kensington
• SPID Theatre Company - £7,500 for a summer activities programme for young people in North Kensington.
• St Clement & St James Community Development Project – £10,000 towards the Carnival Arts programme with young people.
• The Friends of Leighton House - £1,150 for a programme of activity for children affected by the Grenfell fire.
• The Harrow Club - £8,850 a summer activity programme for children from the Traveller community.
• Everyone Active- £10,000 towards a summer holiday programme for young people in the Westway area.
• Westpoint-Sustainable Community Development - £4,180 for a summer activity programme for young people from the Somali community.
• Sport4Health Community Interest Company - £6,160 for a 14 week programme of badminton and table tennis for girls and young women.
• Notting Hill Carnival Pioneers Community Festival - £4,000 towards the Notting Hill Pioneers Community Festival

Media Enquiries

Kristina Drake

Media Officer, City of London Corporation

Kristina.Drake@cityoflondon.gov.uk

07710860884 / 020 7332 1125