The Helping Hands Community Fund grants round is now open. Read on to find out more, including dates for sessions – online and in person – where you can get guidance to support you to apply.
Young Westminster Foundation’s Helping Hands Programme has been developed to address the impact of serious youth violence in local communities. It creates opportunities for local interventions led by the voices of young people and community members who have been directly or indirectly impacted by violence. Working in collaboration with local youth clubs and partners, the programme gives communities ownership over creating innovative opportunities, building on the valuable work already being done to keep young people safe. Our Programme comprises three key areas: our Community Network, Community Fund and Community Capacity-Building offer for local community organisations and community leaders.
The Helping Hands Community Fund is a community-led grants initiative that will provide funding to organisations or individuals working in partnership with an organisation to deliver projects for young people and/or the local community. This will focus on opportunities that offer prevention and intervention for youth violence in the community.
Over the past two years our Community Panel have distributed a total of £170,000 funding 34 projects, 20 grassroots organisations and 5 resident applications. Find out more about the grantees.
This year we have a total of £95,000 available, for grants up to £5,000. This funding has been made available through contributions from Westminster City Council, London’s Violence Reduction Unit and Young Westminster Foundation.
Who can apply?
- Organisations who are already delivering a service in Westminster.
- Organisations who are looking to deliver pilot projects in the community.
- Individuals with a community guarantor who can govern the project can apply. They must secure a community guarantor and submit a signed community guarantor agreement.
Geographical area of benefit
- North Westminster Wards: Church Street, Westbourne, Harrow Road and Queen’s Park
- South Westminster Wards: Pimlico North, Pimlico South and Vincent Square
How will funding decisions be made?
A panel made up of local community members, practitioners and residents will make the funding decisions, chaired by our local Community Leads
Size of available grants?
Grants of up to £5,000 are available
Key dates
Applications open: Monday 1st December 2025, 12pm
Deadline: Friday 30th January 2026, 4pm
Panel Meetings: W/C 23rd February 2026
Applicants Informed: W/C Monday 9th March 2026
Funding Surgeries: Bookable by email only to helpinghands@youngwestminster.com
What we will fund
Applications must demonstrate one or more of the outcomes below:
- Opportunities that offer prevention and intervention for serious youth violence in the community.
- Projects which aim to increase the feeling of safety and belonging within communities.
- Projects that have consulted with the local community and/or local young people.
GUIDANCE SUPPORT – ONLINE
These sessions will focus on the Fund’s guidance and criteria. The team will be available to answer any questions regarding the Fund and the role of a Community Guarantor.
- Tuesday 9th December 2025, 12 – 1pm
- Thursday 11th December 2025, 5 – 6pm
APPLICATION SUPPORT – IN-PERSON
These 45-minute sessions are led by the programme team, where we will focus on supporting application writing and project development.
North – Church Street, Westbourne, Harrow Road & Queens Park Wards
- Thursday 11th December 2025, 11am – 3pm
- Monday 15th December 2025, 3 – 7pm
- Monday 19th January 2026, 11am – 3pm
- Thursday 22nd January 2026, 3 – 7pm
South – Pimlico South, Pimlico North & Vincent Square Wards
- Wednesday 16th December 2025, 3 – 7pm
- Wednesday 21st January 2026, 3 – 7pm
- Monday 26th January 2026, 11am – 1pm
To book a funding surgery slot or if you would like to contact the Programme Team, please email: helpinghands@youngwestminster.com
Key Documents
Community Fund- Application Form – Paperform
Community Fund – Application Form – Online
