Westminster City Council and the Westminster Foundation have announced their collaborative effort to provide essential funding for youth activities and meals during the upcoming May half term break.
The joint funding will enable Young Westminster Foundation to distribute grants to 27 organisations in Westminster totalling over £94,000.
The half-term funding aims to address the immediate needs of children and young people in the Westminster borough, ensuring they stay engaged and well-fed throughout the holiday period. Young people will be able to take part in a wide range of engaging activities, including sports sessions, cultural excursions, arts and crafts workshops, drama sessions, residential programs, cookery classes, personal and educational development initiatives, and health and wellbeing activities.
In response to concerns surrounding holiday hunger amidst the current cost-of-living crisis, families will be offered several meal options from hot meals to nutritious snacks, food parcels for home preparation, and food vouchers that can be redeemed at established stores.
Previously over 1,000 young people took part in October half term programmes across Westminster, thanks to similar funding made available by the Foundation, which represents the charitable activity of the Duke of Westminster and Grosvenor business. It is all part of their £1 million commitment to charities helping children and families through the cost-of-living crisis.
Similarly, Westminster City Council funded activities and food for young people and children during the February half term holiday, enabling over 70 local organisations to deliver sessions for children and young people in Westminster.
Councillor Tim Roca, Cabinet Member for Young People, Learning and Leisure said:
Now more than ever, the support from our partners like the Westminster Foundation is pivotal in providing activities and food for young people during the holidays. We know that a quarter of our residents are hard-hit by the cost of living crisis, and having free access to sports, art workshops and drama sessions is crucial to parents and their children. Thank you to the Westminster Foundation for supporting young people this half term.
Kate Brown, Director of the Westminster Foundation said:
We know that school holidays can place extra demands on families, many of whom may already be struggling with the cost of living. We’re delighted to work closely with our partners at Westminster City Council and Young Westminster Foundation to help ease that burden and support children and families across the borough this half term.
Speaking about the support one parent commented:
I have been struggling with the cost of living and for the first year, I have been unable to provide experiences and opportunities for my children during the summer due to the costs being too unaffordable like train tickets at £200. If we hadn’t been able to come to these projects, my children wouldn’t have been able to access events during the holidays – this project has made it possible.
Helen Mann, CEO of Young Westminster Foundation said:
This funding for half term activities is a fantastic example of partners coming together to strengthen the work of youth clubs and organisations in Westminster, which in turn helps to enrich the lives of all who grow up in the borough.
You can find out more about what’s on in Westminster this half term on the Our City website.
Published: 26 May 2023