Last Saturday we had our second Enigma Event in partnership with “Women Make Change” who put together a great event for International Women’s Day. Women Make Change is a charity that promotes and protects the health and safety of women and girls affected by domestic violence. Melanie Nock took the chance to introduce Aunt Esther’s Story. […]
February can be a sad month, fortitude tested by continuing winter, with summer still a long way off. Sad for me personally, because I have to stand down as a trustee of Hammersmith Unite Charities (HUC) after 12+ years and also because Oxfam […]
Every Monday, from January to March 2018, our residents at John Betts House and Sycamore House are enjoying a Relaxation and Mindfulness course organised by Open Age. This course of simple relaxation techniques helps slowing heart rate, improving sleep quality, digestion, mood and concentration as well as reducing stress and much more… like, for example, […]
If you think you might be eligible, we'd be happy to give you a tour of our almshouses and share what it's like to live here.
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Helping children become more confident at speaking up
Communication is a crucial life skill. Being able to calmly and confidently get your point across is vital throughout life – in school, workplaces and with friends and family members. What’s more, as Louise Jones, Director of Lawyers4Learners, says, “Children who can articulate their feelings are better equipped to stand up for themselves.”
Lawyers4Learners runs workshops with Year 6 children across Hammersmith. Over four sessions, children take part in mock trials designed and led by volunteer lawyers. As well as becoming more confident at speaking in front of people, the children learn critical thinking, debating and negotiation skills. One child said of the programme, “At the beginning, I probably needed a bit of persuading to get up there, but now I wouldn’t give it a second guess if someone asked me. I would just go up there and I’d start speaking.”
Louise launched the charity with barrister Caley Wright. The pair saw the gap between what was being offered in state schools compared to private schools. Louise adds, “There can also be a big gap between state schools in different areas. The schools we go to are usually under resourced. For lots of the children, English isn’t their first language and there aren’t many opportunities for them to practise any kind of formal speaking. The teachers are doing a brilliant job at doing the things that have to be done, but there isn’t much time for extras like public speaking.”
Louise and Caley realised that lawyers, who are skilled in oracy, argument and persuasion, could help to close the gap. They trialled Lawyers4Learners in five schools. Two years later, the charity is already working with 24 schools. It’s aiming to reach 45 by the end of this academic year, benefitting 2,000 children, including 330 in Hammersmith.
To realise its ambition, the charity has accepted a £5,000 grant from Hammersmith United Charities. Louise says, “We rely heavy on grants. Without the HUC grant, we couldn’t afford to extend our work to Kenmount Primary School and St John XXIII.”
Lawyers4Learners’ sessions are designed to be fun and interactive. Louise says, “It’s not just about standing up and doing a speech. It’s about speaking in a group, coming up with your argument, listening to other people’s points and maybe changing your mind. In a normal classroom situation, the teacher is speaking 85% of the time, and the children just 15% of the time. Our sessions are definitely the other way around! There are opportunities to debate and negotiate. Children who are able to look at both sides of an argument are more likely to grow into young adults who are fair and empathetic.”
78% of the children who take part say they feel more confident speaking publicly after the workshops. Louise shares, “We see children who are too frightened to speak in the first session, but by the end of session four, they’re standing up straight, taking a deep breath, and speaking. ‘B’ stood out for her quietness. English wasn’t her first language, so she avoided speaking in front of others. She avoided eye contact and deferred to more confident peers. In the workshops, she was encouraged to take small, achievable steps forward each week.
“By the fourth session, B’s transformation was striking. She stood tall in front of her classmates and presented her points. Her new confidence impacted across her wider school life. Teachers noticed she was reading aloud more willingly and contributing confidently to group discussions.”
Lawyers4Learners relies on volunteers to deliver the sessions. Louise shares, “These people are amazing. The children get so much out of it and it brings something different to the classroom. It does a lot for the children’s confidence to stand up, say their points, and then get praised by a professional lawyer. It’s really good for their self-esteem.”
As well as lawyers, Louise would love to hear from people who could volunteer to help with PR to raise the charity’s profile and reach more people.
If you want to get involved, please contact Lawyers4Learners through their website.
We spoke to Akiko, one of our residents, about why she loves living here.
Akiko moved to Hammersmith from Norfolk, where she’d lived in a caravan for more than 10 years as part of an intentional community (similar to a commune). She’s now been living at Sycamore House for almost a year.
Why did you decide to move to Sycamore House?I was living in an intentional community in a very rural area in North Norfolk. That ended and I felt like coming back to this area. I’d lived in London for 30 years and I missed the city and the diversity.
The weird thing is, around 25 years ago, I used to visit Sycamore House to offer reflexology and just chat to people. I’m sure that’s not a coincidence.
I want to be connected to other people, living together. We share resources, communicate and support each other. That is so important to me.
Yes. I really value everybody here, including the staff and the gardeners and the cleaning people and the carers. Everybody respects our latent individuality and really honours that. We are getting older, yes, but we still need our independence.
There are community activities; it’s up to the resident if they want to join in. I know some older people like bingo… I don’t like bingo, but I love to bring joy through things like disco. So, we’ve put afternoon discos on a couple of times, including an LGBTQ+ party. There was no alcohol, no drugs, it was just about coming in and enjoying music and dance. I’m planning another one for autumn, once it’s cooled down a bit.
I’m also quite busy going out to do other community things outside of Sycamore House.
It’s amazing! When I lived in the intentional community, I lived in a caravan for over 10 years. So, when Chris [our scheme manager] said, “Here’s your flat,” I couldn’t believe it. It has such spaciousness for a one-bedroom flat. It has a large kitchen. There was already a refrigerator and washing machine, so I didn’t have to buy anything.
It’s ground floor and my bedroom is cool, so I can sleep at night in this heat. The maintenance is great and we are looked after.
Yes, once a month I will go to see them. I need that aspect of nature and being in nature, but I also need the stimulation of what happens in a city.
I have been involved in community activities for all of my life. I run a CIC [a community interest company] called Freedom is Moving. We offer workshops in art, music and dance on the beach in Norfolk or in the forest.
I also volunteer at the Nourish Hub, which is anti-food waste. It’s a stunning place and I am so happy to contribute myself. I’ve started assisting a children’s vegetarian cookery course there. They offer it in August for all these kids – 10 years old to 18 years old. Hoorah!
Yes, but I’ve decided that I do what brings me joy. I don’t think, “I must do this, I must do that.” I chucked all of that out. It doesn’t serve me anymore. If I don’t feel joyful, how can I offer that to the world? So, I make sure that I have joy in serving myself first, then I can spread this to other people.
Help to shape the future of Hammersmith United Charities
We award around £380,000 to local community organisations every year, supporting thousands of people who are facing disadvantage across our area of benefit.
As Head of Grants and Community, you’ll help to ensure that we respond effectively to changing community needs. This is a varied, outward-facing and highly collaborative role, combining strategic leadership with operational delivery. It offers the autonomy to take ideas from concept to delivery. Working directly with the Chief Executive and Trustees, you’ll have significant influence over the Charity’s strategic direction, grant making, partnerships, communications and wider community work.
Please download the job application pack for more details about the role, Hammersmith United Charities and our application process.
The closing date for applications is 12 noon, Monday 21 September 2026.
15 groups have been awarded grants totalling £106,798.
The voluntary sector plays a crucial role in Hammersmith, making life easier for thousands of people. From hospice care to mental health support, the services offered across the borough change lives.
We’ve been supporting grassroots causes for many years, by awarding Community Grants to groups that make a tangible impact in our area, including those working to alleviate poverty, enrich children’s lives, and help some of the most vulnerable people in Hammersmith.
Our July grants round saw 15 groups awarded a total of £106,798. These include:
10+ women in Hammersmith will benefit from counselling sessions to help them process the trauma caused by domestic abuse. You can find out more about the work of Woman’s Trust here.
The charity is using its grant to fund a part-time member of staff, who will co-ordinate befriending services to support older people in Hammersmith’s African and Caribbean community.
This grant is helping to cover the salary of a Project Worker. Their role will include welcoming guests, offering one-to-one advice sessions, organising outreach volunteers, signposting people to other services, and running a weekly wellbeing group. Read our case study on Barons Court Project.
Solidarity Sports is putting its grant towards the cost of running Champions Club. The club is a weekly after-school academic programme for children aged 6-12 who are living in poverty. Find out more about Solidarity Sports.
More adults with a learning disability will soon be able to take part in creative and skills-building activities, as This New Ground can now afford to hold an extra studio day each week. Read our case study on This New Ground.
This grant will help to ensure young people can continue to take part in weekly youth theatre workshops led by a trained practitioner.
As with our last grant to the school, this new funding will be used to provide play therapy for up to 32 pupils. The children will be supported to work through challenging experiences that they may otherwise struggle to talk about. You can find out more about play therapy at John Betts Primary School here.
Around 100 people in White City and Wendell Park will be able to take part in inclusive exercise classes such as Zumba and chair-based yoga. Read an article on Women Aid and Empowerment.
ESCA is using its grant to deliver a 12-month project for girls in Hammersmith. The girls will take part in Powerleague football sessions and other activities. Low-income families will have their fees subsidised.
A Clinician for Narrative Therapy will work with young people who have left Local Authority Care, helping them to move forward with their lives.
The CIC will use its grant to engage with vulnerable families in Hammersmith who are caring for disabled children or adults.
Young people will benefit from free holiday clubs where they’ll take part in activities they may otherwise not be able to try, such as kayaking and rowing. Read more about Fulham Reach Boat Club.
The CIC brings different generations of people together through music, helping to reduce isolation and loneliness. Our grant will help the CIC to work with new partners across Avonmore, Brook Green and Shepherd’s Bush Green.
More people will be able to choose to stay in their own home in the last stages of their life, as St John’s Hospice is expanding its vital Hospice@Home service into LBH&F.
The grant will contribute towards West London Death Café hiring a room at the Bush Theatre so that people can talk freely about death and dying.
We’re 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 to get a better understanding of what you’re doing and answer any questions you may have.
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