On Friday 4th April 2025, Our Roehampton, in collaboration with Wandsworth Care Alliance (WCA), held a successful fundraising workshop for local community groups. Designed to build confidence and skills in fundraising, the in-person event welcomed seven groups, including two new to the network for an engaging afternoon of practical learning, information-sharing, and networking.
Meeting the funders
The workshop began with presentations from two key funders:
- Sarayu Shah, Community Project Officer at Groundwork London, introduced the Tesco Community Grants scheme and shared how local groups can access this funding to support community initiatives.
- Harriet Steele, Voluntary Sector Partnership Manager at Wandsworth Council, provided an overview of the Council’s grant funding process. She acknowledged the challenges some groups have faced and encouraged early conversations with Council officers to better understand the application requirements and avoid technical rejections.
Practical skills in Grant Writing
The core of the event was a hands-on training session led by Alison Ewart, a fundraising consultant with WCA. Alison guided participants through the essentials of writing strong funding applications, including how to build realistic budgets. Her practical, interactive approach sparked insightful questions from attendees.
To support their ongoing learning, Alison later shared helpful resources, including:
- A budget template
- A list of small funders from the Greater London Authority
- Ideas for community fundraising
- A guide to financial controls for small voluntary organisations
Exploring support and building connections
Ravi Vyas, Development Manager at WCA, spoke with attendees about the tailored support WCA can offer. Many groups were not yet familiar with WCA’s services, and the conversation was a valuable opportunity to connect, share ideas, and build new relationships. Participants also enjoyed networking time with each other, helping to strengthen the wider Roehampton community network.
This workshop is a great example of how practical training, meaningful connections, and shared support can empower local groups to build capacity and create lasting impact.
Interested in more events like this? Email Ravi@wandcareall.org.uk to book onto future development workshops.