Grosvenor supports Christmas Appeal to help children access healthy food

The ‘On the Breadline’ campaign is being delivered by the Evening Standard in partnership with The Childhood Trust and Comic Relief to fund organisations helping to relieve pressure on people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.

 

 

The Westminster Foundation’s £100,000 donation to the appeal is part of its wider £1 million cost-of-living crisis emergency fund established this Autumn to help thousands of children and families through the challenging months ahead, especially those experiencing food insecurity.

The Duke of Westminster commented: "We know that a rising number of households across the capital are facing extreme hardship this winter and it will feel even more acute during the school holidays when too many parents are forced to make impossible decisions as they skip meals to cover other financial demands.

The Childhood Trust provides a lifeline to so many children and families. We share their ambition to reduce the impact of poverty on young people living in London so I’m delighted to support the On the Breadline campaign of the Evening Standard and Independent in partnership with The Childhood Trust."

 

 

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.”

 

 

Grosvenor has a longstanding track record of supporting charitable initiatives throughout its history.

Our organisation’s philanthropic activity is largely focused on supporting the Westminster Foundation - an independent organisation representing the charitable activity of the Duke of Westminster and Grosvenor businesses, that provides 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. 

The Foundation works closely with organisations which support families, schools and local communities. 

In addition, through our international network of operating businesses, we also provide direct financial support to other charities. Aligning with the Westminster Foundation’s early intervention focus on children and young people these are selected by our local teams and within locations where we commit to third-party managed investments.

Learn more about the foundation here. 

 

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