Age UK Westminster was established in 1947, and we exist to promote the well being of older people in the City of Westminster and to help them lead independent, fulfilling lives for as long as possible. We focus on services that reduce financial hardship, disadvantage and social isolation for older people in our local community.
We are a longstanding and trusted organisation in Westminster, and have a proven track record of delivering high quality services which are designed and developed based on our beneficiaries needs and requirements.
We hold quality marks for Age UK Charity Quality Standards, Age UK Information & Advice Quality Assured, Advice Quality Standard and the NHS Toolkit Data Protection.
At Groundwork we are passionate about creating a future where every neighbourhood is vibrant and green, every community is strong and able to shape its own destiny and no-one is held back by their background or circumstances. We help people gain confidence and skills, get into training and work, protect and improve green spaces, lead more active lives, and overcome significant challenges such as poverty, isolation, low skills and poor health.
This year we will be delivering our Thyme to Get Together project which centres around growing herbs and making simple cosmetics, home remedies and household products from herbs. The activities create the opportunity for the participants to develop positive relationships across a practical learning platform and to share their cultural knowledge and experiences. Participants will learn alongside other local residents, in an informal setting and everyone will be able to take home at least one home-made herbal product every week after the individual workshop, to use and enjoy! We are also looking forward to sharing our gardening expertise on our 'Gardening for Beginners' courses from Spring 2021 onwards. If we cannot deliver face-to-face workshops, then we will arrange to give out herbal activity kits and gardening kits each week with instructions included.
Home-Start supports families living in Westminster who have at least 1 child under 5 or a baby on the way. Through a network of trained and DBS checked volunteers, who are either parents themselves or who possess relevant experience, we support parents and children who are experiencing a variety of difficulties including: social isolation, illness, disability, post-natal depression and bereavement. Our volunteers provide non-judgemental practical and emotional support to families, enabling and encouraging them to make positive change in their lives.
At IGLS we provide bespoke Life Skills training programmes for hard-to-reach adults and disadvantaged communities to improve quality of life, promote social inclusion, economic welfare and success.
Our project, ‘Grow Green, Grow Money’, focuses on regeneration and building sustainable communities in the wake of COVID-19. Our training programme ‘ Financial Literacy and Green Sense’ aims to affect sustainable lifestyle changes to ‘personal finance’ including budgeting, saving money and understanding how to choose Green financial Products. The training opens up pathways to employment/volunteering and thereon social mobility and community cohesion. We also offer corporate training and workshops on current events such as ‘Resilience and Emotional Intelligence during COVID’.
IGLS specialises in training that empowers women and recycling projects across the capital. Our community programmes include Well Being, Welfare & Mentoring Circles, Employability, Financial Literacy, Soft Skills, Green Initiatives, ESOL and Literacy.
Learning Unlimited is a not-for-profit social enterprise that specialises in adult and family learning, ESOL and integration, literacy, numeracy and teacher education. We believe in learning as empowerment and engage adults and families in local communities who face a wide range of issues and barriers to social inclusion. We also train the volunteers and professionals who work with and support them. We lead on local, national and international projects, develop and publish books and resources, and do a wide variety of consultancy work.
The Chinese Community Centre has been set up to provide a diverse range of community support, services and activities for the Chinese Community, in particular those who are isolated and vulnerable. We aim to increase the effectiveness of our services for the Chinese community through the development programme to improve efficiency and quality and to increase the understanding and awareness of the needs of the Chinese Community locally, regionally and nationally through the undertaking and commissioning of research studies. We are striving to become a leading Centre for the promotion of Chinese arts, culture and traditions both UK and internationally and to provide a cohesive voice for the Chinese Community on the views and interests of the community at local, regional and national levels. At the same time, we aim to be a vehicle for central, regional and local governmental bodies to submit their proposals and consultations with the Chinese community.
The Marylebone Project works with women experiencing homelessness. We aim to empower and support women at this stage in their lives, so that they can go on to thrive into independent living.
We provide hostel accommodation and a Drop-in Centre for women sleeping rough.
The Project also provides general and specialist support, advocacy, life skills, professional development and resettlement.
The Middle Eastern Women and Society Organisation is a women’s rights charity that aims to defend and protect women from violence both at home and in the wider community. MEWSo supports women from all areas in London to help rebuild their lives after experiencing trauma and abuse. We work to prevent and end abuse and violence against women as well as providing services to meet the needs of survivors. Our work is holistic and empowering, working alongside survivors to achieve independent lives free from abuse. Our mission is to promote and facilitate equality, integration, community cohesion, and cross-cultural understanding. Our vision is to help build a society where every woman lives in safety, with equal rights and equal opportunities, and where diversity is considered an element of strength and not one of division.
Minding My Business – A business support programme to help community entrepreneurs in the early stages of their start-up journey (0 to 36 months), enabling them to gain key business skills and acumen, establish strong foundations for their enterprises, and become confident entrepreneurs.
Through a combination of group seminars, masterclasses, and one-to-one business coaching and mentoring support, beneficiaries will learn how to set up, manage and create lean, flexible, efficient, and sustainable business models that can weather downturns and become profitable in the long-run. More specifically, the programme will help participants to understand the business environment, identify their target markets, improve their products, trade competitively, and increase their sales prospects.
Union Dance Trust is a London BAME educational charity and professional arts company that promotes cultural solidarity through Arts and Education, connecting people with the best of arts and culture.
Urbanwise.London engages people of all ages in learning about the local environment and offer a whole range of programmes to schools and adult groups. For community groups, we lead guided walks focusing on history, wildlife and culture, helping people to discover their London.
The West End Community Trust are a small local charity based in Soho that seeks to reduce isolation and build community relationships among residents in Soho and the wider West End. They stage monthly community suppers, visit and keep in touch with those who are housebound, and hold regular Smartphone Workshops.