First Grand Union Microgrants Awarded
We are thrilled to announce that our grants panel met at the beginning of May to review the applications received in the first round of our microgrants programme. Funds totalling £29,552 have now been awarded to 10 Westminster-based charities, community groups and schools.
Organisations were able to apply for pots of up to £3,000, to fund projects and activities that complement the BID’s core priorities;
- Tackling social exclusion
- Promoting digital inclusion
- Inspiring the next generation
- Assisting people into employment
- Improving health and wellbeing
- Championing sustainability
Our panel for this inaugural round included representatives from our BID members and local landlords. All brought professional expertise and valuable insights to make this a rigorous and rewarding process.
It was a pleasure to be part of the panel and to learn so much about all the local groups who are committed to working with communities to effect change. I look forward to following the progress of the successful recipients and to see their plans take real shape.
Microgrant recipients
Creative Futures: Music at Heart is a therapeutic singing project for mothers (and their babies) suffering from post-natal depression and other acute mental health conditions. Sessions will be delivered at the Portman Family Centre in Church Street, in partnership with the perinatal mental health team at St Mary’s Hospital.
Dendê Collective: Five pop-up mask encounters in Church Street will be delivered using funds from the microgrant. Residents will be invited to try on expressive masks, take part in interactive games and join facilitated performances. The project offers local employment opportunities to City Westminster College students who will help to facilitate the interactions.
Essendine Primary School: Training will be given to resource the school’s Emotional Literacy Programme (ELSA) with an additional staff member. The funds will also be used to convert a small office into a dedicated ELSA room; creating a safe, calm environment for targeted 1:1 and small group sessions to improve pupil’s wellbeing, resilience and engagement in learning.
Edward Wilson Primary School: Will be purchasing iPads and associated apps with the fund. This technology will be used in the school’s specialist resource provision for pupils with autism and will help to aid communication.
London Basketball Association: A 20 week basketball programme will be delivered in Paddington for 30 disadvantaged Westminster residents aged 15 – 24 with special educational needs.
Mosaic: An informal weekly club will run for a year in Church Street, offering local women a safe and culturally sensitive space to form friendships, engage in art therapy activities, receive pastoral care and support to overcome stress, worry, fear and anxiety.
Paddington Arts: A term of arts-based activities will be delivered for 8 – 12 year olds, specifically focused on supporting their transition from primary to secondary school and as they navigate puberty. Sessions will use visual arts, spoken word and dance and the programme will culminate with a celebration event.
Paddington Development Trust: The microgrant will enable the delivery of a term of Junction Juniors – a free after school club for approximately 20 children living in Westbourne Park. Children have opportunities to enjoy drama and arts based activities in a safe, welcoming and inclusive space.
Social Links: A newly established homelessness charity; Social Links will use the awarded funds to run a befriending programme for adults in North Westminster. The money will fund 110 meet ups and travel costs for clients.
Social Links delivers 1:1 befriending with people experiencing homelessness. Grand Union's Microgrant goes directly to our clients, enabling them to meet regularly with their befrienders, reducing loneliness and isolation. As a new charity it can be hard to win the trust of funders. Grant Union strike the perfect balance between making sure the money is properly spent and giving new charities the chance to prove themselves.
The Screen Film Community: A course of weekly film and TV production workshops will be held for 13 – 21 years olds, led by industry specialists during summer 2026. Participants will have the opportunity to develop skills in script writing, camera, directing and editing.
Over the coming months, we will be sharing updates as projects reach the delivery stage, to celebrate the reach and impact of this microgrant programme.
Our next microgrant round will open in early 2027 to fund projects for the 2027-28 financial year. The application form and guidance will be available on the microgrants page of our website.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions about any of the funded activities or would like further information about the microgrant programme.