Hammersmith is a vibrant, welcoming area with numerous charities and other local organisations making a positive difference to people’s lives, day in, day out. We’ve been supporting these grassroots causes for many years, by awarding Community Grants to groups that make a tangible impact to people’s lives, including those working to alleviate poverty, enrich children’s […]
From park runs to salsa classes, group exercise is a great opportunity to socialise, get fit and have fun. However, monthly membership fees can make exercise unaffordable for people on a low income. What’s more, as Hanna Teffera shares, “Many people find going to the gym difficult for other reasons, including subtle racism, ageism, body […]
According to Age UK, almost one million older people in the UK often feel lonely. Without the social structure of a workplace or chatter at the school gate, it can be all too easy to go for days without speaking to another person. Age UK Hammersmith & Fulham helps to bring older people together. From […]
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12 groups have been awarded grants totalling £85,885.
Hammersmith is a vibrant, welcoming area with numerous charities and other local organisations making a positive difference to people’s lives, day in, day out. We’ve been supporting these grassroots causes for many years, by awarding Community Grants to groups that make a tangible impact to people’s lives, including those working to alleviate poverty, enrich children’s lives, and support some of the most vulnerable people in Hammersmith.
Our most recent grant round in February 2025 saw 12 groups awarded grants totalling £85,885. The full list of grant holders is as follows:
John Betts Primary School: £12,200The grant will enable up to 28 children to receive play-based therapy, helping them to thrive at school and beyond.
The 13-week Strengthening Families programme funded by our grant will help 15 inmates at Wormwood Scrubs to strengthen ties with their families.
Age UK’s Shopping Service helps housebound and/or disabled older people to retain their independence. You can read more about the service in our case study.
The Kulan Foundation provides a range of services for people from a global majority background. The charity is putting its grant towards staffing and premises costs so that it can continue its popular homework club, parent workshops and other projects.
The grant will fund the energy costs of Dads House’s food bank, lunch club and family law clinic, as well as providing essential supplies for single fathers and their families.
With the help of our grant, The Reanella Trust is able to offer mental health counselling, mentoring and group activities for Black children who are disabled or who have bipolar. Read our case study here.
The WILDE Foundation is using its grant to help it run ‘Women Heal’ workshops, which support women to manage grief, trauma and mental ill-health, and to run local activities such as its Writers Festival.
Hammersmith and Fulham Foodbank relies on volunteers to create food parcels and support people in crisis. Our grant will enable the charity to train volunteers in areas such as ‘conversations with vulnerable people’ and ‘mental health awareness’.
The grant will fund massage and reflexology sessions for people who may otherwise not be able to access them.
Solidarity Sports works with disadvantaged children who are recovering from complex trauma. The focus is on transformational play-based activities. Our grant will help to fund equipment and other expenses for children under 5.
The grant will fund performance art by and for disabled artists in the borough, to be performed during the JOY festival.
The Grove Parent and Toddler Group gives adults and children a fun, supportive place to come together each week. The grant will be put towards staffing and location costs. Read our case study here.
We’re particularly keen to hear from smaller, local organisations in our area of benefit, which have a strong connection to their community and a working knowledge of the local area. Your project can be one-off or ongoing. What interests us most is the difference you’ll make to the local people most in need.
Please complete our Eligibility Quiz before applying, and then contact us at grants@hamunitedcharities.com to tell us about your project. We like to talk to applicants before you apply so that we can get a better understanding of what you’re doing and answer any questions you may have.
Women Aid and Empowerment brings people together through Zumba.
From park runs to salsa classes, group exercise is a great opportunity to socialise, get fit and have fun. However, monthly membership fees can make exercise unaffordable for people on a low income. What’s more, as Hanna Teffera shares, “Many people find going to the gym difficult for other reasons, including subtle racism, ageism, body shaming, or the pressure to keep up with high-intensity classes that are too challenging for people with mobility difficulties or reduced fitness.”
To address these barriers, Hanna partnered with two other women to set up Women Aid and Empowerment. She explains, “We decided to set up our own community interest company after hearing that a popular programme, which offered free fitness classes for women in White City, was closing. We realised that most of the women in our community are economically disadvantaged and would struggle to afford to join a gym. They were very upset about losing the free classes as this was often their only opportunity to exercise and socialise with other people.”
The CIC now runs classes in Zumba, chair-based yoga and chair-based exercise at three locations in Hammersmith & Fulham, including White City Community Centre. Unlike most exercise classes, these ones are free and welcome people of all abilities. Hanna is a professional fitness instructor so leads the classes. One participant, Eunice, says, “Hanna’s chair-based exercises have been a game-changer for me! Her classes are not only accessible but also incredibly effective. I’ve noticed significant improvements in my strength and flexibility, all while having a great time.”
Crucially, the classes also give people the chance to socialise afterwards. Hanna shares, “I have a lot of retired and widowed people attending. Many used to be active but had become ill or disabled. Some had become isolated in their home. Since coming to the class, their health has improved and so has their loneliness, as they feel that they have somewhere to go. They talk after class, meet up with each other and feel more connected with their community.
“For instance, one lady was very lonely. All her children had left home so she was by herself. Because of our class, she has found a best friend. Another lady became very depressed after losing her son. Doing exercise and seeing other people has really helped her.”
Participants have also reported other health benefits, including improved sleep and reduced stress.
One regular participant, Joanna, shares, “Hanna’s exercise sessions are a fantastic way to socialise and meet new people! Her warm and welcoming approach creates a friendly atmosphere where everyone feels included. Not only do we get a great workout, but we also have the opportunity to connect and build friendships. I’ve loved getting to know others while staying active, and Hanna’s positive energy makes every session enjoyable. It’s the perfect blend of fitness and fun.”
Women Aid and Empowerment runs Zumba, chair-based yoga and chair-based exercise classes at:
For more details and to book, visit https://waelondon.org/ or contact Hanna on h.teffera@yahoo.co.uk, 07383 117676.
Age UK Hammersmith & Fulham’s Shopping Service help older people to retain their independence and social life.
According to Age UK, almost one million older people in the UK often feel lonely. Without the social structure of a workplace or chatter at the school gate, it can be all too easy to go for days without speaking to another person.
Age UK Hammersmith & Fulham helps to bring older people together. From a lunch club costing just £2, to bingo, a music club, arts & crafts activities and yoga, there are a wide range of weekly activities to choose from.
Loneliness can be particularly difficult for people with mobility issues who struggle to leave their house so can’t reach the charity’s activity centre. For these people, the charity’s Shopping Service provides a crucial lifeline, helping them to retain their independence and meet up with friends.
Jordan, the minibus driver, and Noel, a volunteer, pick clients up from their homes and take them to the supermarket. Some clients are accompanied by a care worker or family member, but most are happy to travel on their own as Jordan and Noel are on hand to help with wheelchairs and can offer assistance in the supermarket if people need it. Many of the charity’s clients would otherwise be unable to do their own shopping, and for some, this could be the only time they leave the house. As one client, John, shares, “Getting out for that morning has been the highlight of my week.”
Richard Ashe is the Fundraising Manager at Age UK Hammersmith & Fulham. He says, “The Shopping Service is vital for our housebound and disabled clients. Some of these clients used to come to our activity centre. They’d come for lunch or a yoga lesson for example, but bit by bit, their mobility has deteriorated, or other circumstances have come up, which means they now can’t attend. The Shopping Service gives clients a bit of normality back.”
Groups of around eight clients travel to the supermarket together at the same time each fortnight. As a result, they get to know one another. As Richard says, “It creates a little community. Everyone’s chatting. It seamlessly blends social interaction with a core life activity.”
One client, Michael, shares, “I feel like I’m part of a group! One week I didn’t feel well enough to go shopping; the next, everyone said they had missed me. How lovely is that?”
Most weeks, the minibus heads to the ASDA Superstore, so people can buy clothes and other essentials as well as food. However, the service is guided by the clients. Richard shares, “Sometimes they want to do something different so will go to Sainsburys or Tesco, particularly if one of them needs something in particular.” The charity also surveys its clients regularly to check that they’re happy with the service and whether they want to change anything.
If a client needs extra support, for example because their carer is away, the charity can usually arrange for another volunteer to come along. Richard has accompanied them a couple of times himself.
The Shopping Service costs just £3 as it’s subsidised by Age UK Hammersmith & Fulham, with the help of a grant from Hammersmith United Charities.
Age UK Hammersmith & Fulham also offers a befriending service. The charity’s Volunteering Manager aims to match clients with volunteers who have similar interests. Richard says, “Some of them will go out to the theatre together. One pair sit down to have a good game of chess every week.”
In Hammersmith and Fulham, 40% of people over 65 live alone, and 25% have a long-term health problem. For those who need support, even if it’s just a friendly chat or the chance to meet new people, Age UK Hammersmith & Fulham provides a crucial service.
If you want to find out more about the Shopping Service or volunteering, visit www.ageuk.org.uk/hammersmithandfulham
“Art class connects me to others through the simple pleasure of just enjoying playing with paints.”
The Grove Neighbourhood Centre Folk Art Group has been running since the 1970s. To begin with, the group created decorative painted objects as seen on canal barges, but over the years it’s turned into a community of people who enjoy many forms of creativity. They’re led by art teacher Rachel Leach. While Rachel will often bring something along to inspire members’ creativity, there’s no pressure to follow a particular theme, so people will often just ask for her advice on a piece they’re working on or try something new. The group uses a variety of materials, including watercolours, acrylics and charcoal.
People are welcome to attend whether they’ve been painting for years or have barely picked up a paintbrush since their schooldays. Carey Whitley is Chair of the group and has been a member for 18 years. She shares, “When I first came, I was very nervous, because I’d been told at school, ‘’You can’t do art,’ and I believed it. I happened to go to a fete at the community centre and was attracted to the art group’s stall, which was vivid in colour. Colour always speaks to me, so I nervously went to a class and said, ‘Please don’t ask me to draw. I just want to play with colour.’ I spent the first three weeks just painting a colour wheel, which was great fun!”
As well as helping people to improve their art, the group gives members the chance to socialise with other art lovers. Carey says, “We provide a place where it is easy to nurture new friendships, which often go beyond our weekly art sessions. It’s a very sociable group. Everybody is focused on what they’re working on, but we chat about art exhibitions that people may have been to, or something that may have inspired them, or how wonderful all the new spring leaves are, etc. It’s just nice to have a shared enthusiasm and interest that everyone can talk about, especially as around half of the group live alone and around 80% are retired.”
As one member says, “Art class connects me to others through the simple pleasure of just enjoying playing with paints.” Another artist attends partly because it’s, “a great place to meet new like-minded creative friends and revive my own artistic flair in pleasant surroundings.”
Many members of the group head to the pub together after each class, and some regularly visit the V&A. The group also goes on occasional outings and has attended summer courses in Devon and Somerset.
Art can benefit people’s mental wellbeing in a number of ways. According to the Mental Health Foundation, “Participating in the arts can enable people to deal with a wide range of mental ill-health conditions and psychological distress. The best part is that it helps people to improve their mental health through creativity. Making art is helping many people express themselves, without having to use words.”
Rachel shares, “One lady has just returned having had cancer and been homeless. She’s really suffered but she loves to come along, and she loves being with people, and it really, really helps her. It lifts her spirits.”
The Grove Neighbourhood Centre Folk Art Group has received a number of grants from us over the years, which it’s used to part-fund the cost of paying Rachel and hiring the neighbourhood centre. Carey says, “I don’t think that the group would have survived about four years ago if we hadn’t been able to get a grant.”
Thanks to our grants, the art group has been able to keep subscription costs affordable for members, some of whom would otherwise struggle to attend.
The need for the art group cannot be overemphasised. As one member says, “It’s inspiring and relaxing to make art surrounded by lovely people while having tea and biscuits!”
Find out moreThe Grove Neighbourhood Centre Folk Art Group meets on Wednesday afternoons, 2.30pm – 4.30pm. Drop-ins are welcome and pay £7 – £10, depending on their income.
Grove Neighbourhood Centre
7 Bradmore Park Road,
Hammersmith, W6 0DT
“I cherish the lightness and banter between all us amateur artists; the encouragement and support from everyone has made a big difference to my confidence – and when I miss a class I really notice the difference.” A member of The Grove Neighbourhood Centre Folk Art Group
