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Privacy Policy

At Hammersmith United Charities we are committed to protecting your privacy. This statement describes how Hammersmith United Charities collects and uses personal data about people who visit our website.

Personal data means any information that you give us from which you can be identified, such as your name, your home address, your email contact details, or your telephone number. Personal data does not include information where your identity has been removed (i.e. anonymous data).

Who are we?

When we refer to “we” or “us” in this privacy notice we are referring to Hammersmith United Charities, a charity with registration number 205856. We are a controller of your personal data, which means we are responsible for deciding how we hold and use data about you. We are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office with registration number Z7121372.

If you have any questions about this privacy notice or our data protection practices please contact us on officeadmin@hammersmithunitedcharities.com.

How do we collect personal data?

We obtain personal data from you when you use our website or sign up to our newsletter. This policy also covers situations when you contact us by email, fill in an online form eg to attend an event or fill in a paper form that you’ve downloaded from our website.

Using our website

Our website (http://hamunitedcharities.org.uk) is not intended for children and we do not knowingly collect data relating to children.

When you use our website, we use cookies to collect technical data (such as your internet protocol (IP) address, your browser type and version, and other technology on the devices you use to access the website) and information about how you use our website. Wherever possible we use aggregated or anonymous information which does not identify individual visitors to our website. Our Cookies Policy has information about how we use cookies on our website http://huc.popcorndigital.co.uk/cookie-policy/.

We will also collect any personal data you give us if you sign up to receive our newsletter (see Newsletters below).

We will only collect and use your personal data in this way if:

  • you have given your consent; or
  • it is necessary for our legitimate interests (or those of a third party) and your interests and fundamental rights do not override those interests.

Our websites may include links to websites run by other organisations. Clicking on those links or enabling those connections may allow third parties to collect or share data about you. Hammersmith United Charities is not responsible for the privacy practices of these other websites so you should read their privacy policies carefully.

Newsletters

We would like to keep in touch with you about the work that we do, events that we organise, and ways in which you can support us.

We use a third party, MailChimp, to deliver our email communications. Mailchimp will only use your personal data in accordance with our instructions. If you want to find out more about MailChimp, you can view their privacy notice here: https://mailchimp.com/legal/privacy/. If you consent to receive email newsletters from us, we will add your name and email contact details to our marketing database and we will share this information with MailChimp in order to send the emails to you.

From time to time, we may also send communications to you by post if we are satisfied that we have a legitimate interest to do so, for example, we may send you a Christmas card.

When you send us an email, fill in an online form or return a paper form

If you contact us by email or fill in an online or paper form that you’ve downloaded from our website we will use your personal data to consider and respond to your request or query, or to process any application you make to Hammersmith United Charities. We will only use your personal data in this way when we have a legitimate interest.

You can change your marketing preferences or opt out at any time by contacting us on 020 8741 4326, by post to Hammersmith United Charities at Sycamore House, Sycamore Gardens, Shepherds Bush W6 0AS or by email to: officeadmin@hamunitedcharities.com.

How do we protect personal information?

We have put in place appropriate security measures to prevent your personal data from being accidentally lost, used or accessed in an unauthorised way, altered or disclosed.

We limit access to your personal data to those employees, contractors and other third parties who have a business need to know. They will only process your personal data on our instructions and they are subject to a duty of confidentiality.

We do not transfer your personal data outside the UK.

We have procedures in place to deal with any suspected personal data breach.

Will we disclose the information we collect to outside parties?

We may disclose your personal data to:

  • external service providers such as our IT and system administration providers;
  • our professional advisers, for example, our accountants, auditors, insurers and lawyers;
  • if we are under a legal duty to disclose or share your personal data, for example, if required to do so by a court order or for the purposes of prevention of fraud or other crime;
  • where we need to share your personal data with a regulator, for example, making returns to HMRC or reports to the Charity Commission;
  • as part of a sale, transfer or merger of parts of our organisation or our assets.

We will not sell any information about your web browsing activity.

Data retention

We will only keep your personal data for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfil the purposes we collected it for, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, regulatory, tax, accounting or reporting requirements. We may retain your personal data for a longer period in the event of a complaint or if we reasonably believe there is a prospect of a legal claim connected to our relationship with you.

Your rights

You have the right to ask for a copy of the information we hold about you and to have any inaccuracies in your information corrected.

In certain circumstances, you also have the right to:

  • Ask us to erase your personal data from our files and systems where there is no good reason for us continuing to hold it.
  • Object to us using your personal data to further our legitimate interests (or those of a third party) or where we are using your personal information for direct marketing purposes.
  • Ask us to restrict or suspend the use of your personal data, for example, if you want us to establish its accuracy or our reasons for using it.
  • Ask us to transfer your personal data to another person or organisation.

You also have rights in relation to automated decision making, but at Hammersmith United Charities we do not make any decisions affecting you based solely on automated processing.

If you have given your consent to us processing your personal data, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.

If you wish to exercise any of these rights, please contact us on 020 8741 4326, by post to Hammersmith United Charities at Sycamore House, Sycamore Gardens; Hammersmith, W6 0AS or by email to: officeadmin@hamunitedcharities.com

We may need to request specific information from you to help us confirm your identity and ensure your right to access your personal data (or to exercise any of your other rights). This is a security measure to ensure that personal data is not disclosed to any person who has no right to receive it. We may also contact you to ask you for further information in relation to your request to speed up our response.

Other people’s information

If you provide us with someone else’s personal details (for example when you suggest that we let someone know about our sheltered housing) you must make sure that you have that person’s consent to provide us with their details, particularly if you’re giving us sensitive information about them.

Changes

If your personal details change, please help us to keep your information up to date by notifying us using the contact details below.

We may update this privacy statement from time to time. If we do so, we will post the changes here so please check from time to time. By continuing to use our websites you will be deemed to have accepted such changes.

Contacting us

If you have any questions about this privacy notice or how we handle your personal information, please contact us on 020 8741 4326, by post to Hammersmith United Charities at Sycamore House, Sycamore Gardens; Hammersmith W6 0AS or by email to: officeadmin@hamunitedcharities.com.

You have the right to make a complaint at any time to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK supervisory authority for data protection – https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/.

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Graphic saying Chair vacancy, Hammersmith United Charities is looking for a new Chair of Trustees

Could you be our next Chair of Trustees?

We are looking for an exceptional individual who shares our values and aspirations for Hammersmith. If you have the vision, leadership skills, and a genuine connection to our mission, we would be delighted to hear from you.

(more…)

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Kelly, one of the This New Ground artists, with some of her paintings

This New Ground

Art and music can often feel inaccessible to people who have a learning disability. This New Ground is helping to change that.

While This New Ground originally started as a choir, it has since grown into a community interest community (CIC) delivering a diverse and ambitious programme of creative engagement – elevating the voices and artistic talents of people who are neurodivergent or who have a learning disability.

The CIC is headed by co-founders Lucy Groenewoud and Nathalie Russell-Clarke. It has two hubs, one in London and one in Portsmouth. Lucy explains, “Nathalie started the choir because she recognised there was a real gap in provision for adults over 25 who have a learning disability. Over the years, this has developed into a thriving creative hub. More recently, we have gone on to open an art studio in the Creighton Centre.”

Tara, a This New Ground artist, standing in front of some of her paintings
Tara

Changing perceptions

Lucy shares, “There’s a long-standing perception that art created by people with a learning disability belongs in community centres. It’s often seen as craft, not art. But thankfully, things are changing. Slowly but surely, cultural perceptions are shifting, and the arts sector is beginning to recognise the value, depth and complexity of work by neurodivergent artists and artists with a learning disability.

“A powerful example is Nnena Kalu, a phenomenal artist with a learning disability, who has just been nominated for the Turner Prize – one of the most prestigious awards in contemporary art. Her recognition marks an important moment of visibility and validation for many others still fighting to be seen.

“We’re working to challenge outdated and negative perceptions around learning disability and creativity. Our goal is to get the work made by artists in This New Ground seen, valued and celebrated by wider audiences.

“One exciting step in that journey is our new partnership with Lush, who are transforming artwork by some of our artists into beautiful Knot Wraps and greetings cards. For the artists, it’s more than just visibility – it’s the powerful realisation that, ‘Actually, this is something I could have a career in.’ It’s about recognition, opportunity and a sense of real creative ownership.”

Offering paid work opportunities

Research by Mencap shows that just 26.7% of people with a learning disability are currently in paid employment. This New Ground is able to offer two avenues for paid work. Firstly, it helps artists to sell their work. Secondly, it hires them to support businesses who want to make their communications more accessible.

Lucy says, “We believe in the voices and the talents of people with a learning disability and of those who are neurodivergent. For us, it’s really important that people have the opportunity to experience paid work and being in a workplace.”

Tackling isolation

Kelly, one of the This New Ground artists, with some of her paintings
Kelly

Along with creativity and employment skills, there are many other benefits felt by This New Ground participants. Lucy says, “Isolation is a really big factor for a lot of the people we work with. A lot of them don’t have support, they live independently and they aren’t working, so our sessions are a social lifeline where they can develop relationships. Singing and creating art also increases confidence and gives people a real sense of achievement. Creative spaces like ours offer community, expression and connection in ways that are truly transformative.”

Martin, a participant at This New Ground’s art group, says, “It’s about getting out and about and meeting new people and being artistic. I didn’t think I had any art skills, but clearly I do, and I have grown to enjoy art.”

Platforming people with lived experience

Lucy and Nathalie want to ensure that people with a learning disability can help to guide and steer the CIC. Lucy shares, “We’re working to diversify our leadership and have people with lived experience on our leadership team.”

The Hammersmith choir is now peer-led, with a keyboardist and drama facilitator on hand to offer support.

Hammersmith United Charities’ support

“Quite often people will come in and say they don’t have enough money to buy food,” says Lucy. The Creighton Centre has been able to organise food vouchers, and Hammersmith United Charities has provided This New Ground with a grant to help cover running costs.

Thanks to grant funding and volunteer support, the CIC is able to keep the art club and choir free for participants.  At a time when many are facing deep financial hardship, this means access to creativity, connection and community remains open to everyone.

Lucy says, “We’re incredibly grateful for the funding we receive; we wouldn’t be able to operate without it. It enables the whole group to take part in a vital weekly social activity – something that makes a real difference to people’s lives.”


Get involved

This New Ground activities are held at the Creighton Centre, 378 Lillie Road, London SW6 7PH.

TNG Studio: Open Tuesdays, please email lucy@thisnewground.com if you’d like to join a supported studio session.

Art group: Tuesdays, 1–2.30pm

Singing group: Tuesdays, 3–4pm

The groups are free to attend. Please email lucy@thisnewground.com if you’d like to join.

Work by This New Ground artists is being exhibited at Sands End Arts & Community Centre until 31st July 2025.

 

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Graphic reading We've awarded £85,885 to 12 groups supporting Hammersmith

February 2025 grants announced

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:

Graphic reading We've awarded £85,885 to 12 groups supporting HammersmithJohn Betts Primary School: £12,200

The grant will enable up to 28 children to receive play-based therapy, helping them to thrive at school and beyond.

Urban Partnership Group: £10,000

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 Hammersmith & Fulham: £9,052

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.

Kulan Foundation: £7,500

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.

Dads House: £7,300

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.

The Reanella Trust: £7,200

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: £6,550

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: £6,185

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’.

Community Massage London CIC: £5,898

The grant will fund massage and reflexology sessions for people who may otherwise not be able to access them.

Solidarity Sports: £5,000

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.

Turtle Key Arts: £5,000

The grant will fund performance art by and for disabled artists in the borough, to be performed during the JOY festival.

Grove Parent and Toddler Group: £4,000

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.


How to apply for a HUC Community Grant

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.

Find out more

 

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Hanna Teffera

Making exercise affordable for all

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.”

Women Aid and Empowerment

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.”


People doing chair-based exercises

Find out more

Women Aid and Empowerment runs Zumba, chair-based yoga and chair-based exercise classes at:

  • White City Community Centre
  • Matthew Hall Community Centre
  • Acton Vale
  • Chiswick Town Hall

For more details and to book, visit https://waelondon.org/ or contact Hanna on h.teffera@yahoo.co.uk, 07383 117676.

 

 

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Image shows three older men, age 70+, smiling in front of an AgeUK minibus.

Tackling loneliness for people who are housebound

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.

The Shopping Service

Image shows three older men, age 70+, smiling in front of an AgeUK minibus.

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.”

Social interaction

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?”

Tailored to clients

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.

Find out more

If you want to find out more about the Shopping Service or volunteering, visit www.ageuk.org.uk/hammersmithandfulham

 

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