Wandsworth Care Alliance

Supporting community growth: Our Roehampton and Wandsworth Care Alliance, fundraising workshop for partner organisations

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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.

NHS South West London – Wandsworth Spring Grant Fund 2025 – Empowering communities to shape health and care services

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  • Are you a community leader of a voluntary organisation in south west London?
  • Do you know what matters most to the people you support?  Do you have knowledge about the health and care needs of the communities you work with?
  • Can you run an engaging activity and share what you have heard to shape the future of health and care?

The NHS in south west London is offering funding to support community-led activities and discussions that gather valuable insights. Wandsworth Care Alliance will be administering this grant on behalf of the NHS.

What funding is available?

Fund 1 & 2 – grants up to £550

Fund 3 – grants up to £2,000

Healthy Communities grant (Fund 1) and Digital & Health grant (Fund 2) – up to £550 available

What’s involved?

  • Host an activity and have conversations about health and care topics.
  • Use your knowledge and skills to share what you have heard with us
  • Join a short NHS training session – covering how to record feedback and insight from your community.
  • Share what you heard – take part in an interview after your activity with a local project lead and complete a short feedback form.
  • Join a listening event with NHS leaders – date to be confirmed soon!

This fund is flexible, and its focus is to hear from our most disadvantaged and marginalised communities. It is up to you to decide how and when you collect insight, this could be during your event or in the lead up to your activity. 

The NHS is funding you as a community leader to help us understand the experiences and views of the people you reach and support.

We simply ask that you have these conversations in a way that works for you, then share feedback and insight. You’ll need to complete a short form to help us capture themes along with an interview with a local project lead from Wandsworth Care Alliance. 

What can you apply for?

We would like to understand the views of people and communities on the following topics:  

  • Fund 1: Healthy communities fund – understand what helps people living in Wandsworth to stay healthy and what stops people from seeking support and preventing illness.
  • Fund 2: Digital and health fund – understand how technology can improve access to care and what digital barriers do people face.

Who we’d like to reach?

We’re particularly keen to hear from communities who often face barriers to healthcare.

If applying for a Healthy Communities grant (Fund 1), we’d like to hear from:

  • People from our most deprived areas – see application form for more details
  • People who experience issues or barriers in accessing health and care.
  • People who have lived experience of mental health services or support  
  • Groups supporting social connection, such as outdoor activities and events
  • People from our health inclusion groups – including migrants and refugees, people who are homeless, people facing social exclusion

If applying for a Digital & Health grant (Fund 2) we’d like to hear from:

  • People who face barriers using technology
  • People from our most deprived areas – see application form for more details
  • People from our health inclusion groups – including migrants and refugees, people who are homeless, people facing social exclusion.

Oral health community grant fund (Fund 3) – In-depth focus groups and community research – grants of up to £2,000 available

We are looking for community leaders and organisations to carry out in-depth focus groups and one-to-one discussions about oral health.

Your activity should focus on healthy mouths and teeth, gathering detailed insights from your community to help improve local services.

For more information and to support your application, please download this information pack on oral health grants for Wandsworth: Spring Engagement Grants – Google Drive

What’s involved?

  • Run structured focus groups and one-to-one interviews with:
    • People from our most deprived areas – see application form for more details
    • People from our health inclusion groups – for example people who are homeless or living in temporary accommodation, refugees, migrants, Gypsy, Roma & Traveller communities
    • Children and young people, their parents and carers
    • Older people over the age of 60
  • Join an NHS training session – covering how to record feedback and insight from the communities you work with and reach. 
  • Capture views, experiences and insights using key questions (provided by the NHS).
  • Submit a detailed report summarising your findings. Don’t worry we will help you plan for your report and provide lots of tips and guidance.
  • Join a listening event with NHS leaders – date coming soon!

Who we’d like to hear from:

  • Community leaders and organisations with strong connections to these communities and groups.
  • Those with the capacity to dedicate time to running structured discussions and reporting insights.

What could your funding support?

  • Focus groups and community research
  • Facilitator time for running in-depth discussions
  • Costs related to community engagement and participation.

How will applications be assessed?

You can apply for more than one grant, but applications will be assessed based on:

  • Reach and inclusion – how well you connect with the communities the NHS would like to reach. More information for each grant above.
  • Engagement approach – how you plan to capture insights and feedback from your communities.
  • Commitment to training and feedback – willingness to attend training and a follow-up interview.

Why your voice matters

As a community leader, you have the trust, connections, and insight to reach people in ways others can’t. By getting involved, you’ll help shape health and care services to better reflect the needs of Wandsworth residents.

Key information

  • Application deadline: 19 March 2025 at 17:00 
  • Funding available:
    • Fund 1 & 2: Up to £550
    • Fund 3: Up to £2,000
  • Who can apply: Community and voluntary organisations in Wandsworth.
  • To find out more – join our information session on Thursday 27 February at 1pm, please register sign up here!

How to apply?

Got questions?
Speak to a member of the team at Wandsworth Care Alliance:
Contact: Jessica on Jessica@wandcareall.org.uk.
 

Health Inequalities Fund: welfare support and legal advice for all people

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people sat in a group with laptops collaborating

To be effective in tackling health inequalities we must not just react to illness but also prevent illness by helping people to live well and stay well. Some people may struggle to access welfare and legal advice, (particularly those belonging to less advantaged groups).

People need a good standard of living and protected rights to stay healthy.

WCA are programme managing the Health Inequalities Fund to allocate funds to voluntary sector projects in Wandsworth and create a steering group to deepen conversation about this issue and address barriers to accessing local services. Project delivery will run from March 2024 – March 2025.

What groups are we working with that experience health inequalities?

Organisations who work with the community in the following 6 theme groups are being invited to collaborate and join the following project information sessions.

19th February – 11:00-12:00 Unpaid/young carers project – RSVP

19th February – 14:00-15:00 Learning difficulties/autism project – RSVP

20th February – 11:00-12:00 Black/Asian/Global majority ethnic project – RSVP

20th February – 14:00-15:00 LGBTQIA+ project – RSVP

21st February – 14:00-15:00 Asylum seekers and refugees project – RSVP

22nd February – 14:00-15:00 Socially isolated people project – RSVP

Is there funding available to support the projects?

Funding may be available to support people with activity addressing these issues at the discretion of the lead organisations who will be organising an engagement group in March 2024.

Could you be a project lead?

Do you believe your organisation is a leading voice in Wandsworth on engaging people in one of these 6 key themes? You could be a project lead and access funding support from £10k-£80k.

Project leads will receive a fund and a programme manager for development support.

We are taking project proposals for 6 project leads (1 per theme) in the voluntary sector from 5th February – 29th February.

What’s the expectation for health inequalities project leads?

These projects must build on insight (from existing work with one of the above themes in the community) but we also expect you to propose a new approach to work and activity to engage people in welfare support and legal advice.

You must be prepared to engage other organisations in the delivery of this work at steering group meetings.

You must agree reporting requirements and accommodate external evaluation at the end of the project.

How to apply to be project lead

Register your interest by emailing communications@wandcareall.org.uk

We will be in touch with more information.

Want to hear about other funds and opportunities for voluntary sector organisations in Wandsworth? Join our mailing list.

Health & Wellness Coaching for Chronic Pain? Local Hospitals Pilot Social Prescribing Programme

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Wandsworth resident June said she has “regained control of her life” after living with chronic pain, thanks to a pilot health project with social prescribing services in hospitals. June was referred to the chronic pain service at St George’s where she started working with a Health and Wellbeing Coach, Sam.

June’s problems with pain started after she was injured in an accident on her 70th birthday. “I was left in excruciating pain running from my head to my feet and had tried everything to help after being diagnosed with fibromyalgia,” she said.

“I was stressed at home over house repairs, pain and was gaining weight.”

June claims that receiving coaching has changed her life and given her a sense of self worth.

“Often, hospital pain clinics will have exhausted medical options such as medication or procedures.” Dr Sekeram. Early results from this pilot are due to end later this year.

Read the full article, https://www.southwestlondonics.org.uk/local-stories/pilot-health-project-restores-lives-of-people-in-chronic-pain/?dm_i=790E,H7WT,1I0FFW,25XBS,1

Wandsworth Council Double Cost-of-Living Fund from £5m-£10m

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Wandsworth Council have announced that their support for residents to face the cost-of-living crisis has doubled, using careful budgeting to ensure that council tax stays low.

Councillor Hogg said: “This week we’ve announced that we’ll double our budget for supporting people through the Cost of Living Crisis to £10m – making our response the capital’s biggest.

“We know families are struggling to pay for basics like fuel and food and there’s no sign of things improving anytime soon.

“That’s why we’re putting another £5m into our Cost of Living reserve fund. We’ve also ringfenced more money to help refugees and the homeless.

“We’re funding free gym and swim and free school uniforms for low-income families.

“Now, using the insights of the Wandsworth Cost of Living Commission, we will look at longer-term action we and the community as a whole can take to reduce the effects of the crisis in the future.

Have you, or people you work with been adversely affected by the cost-of-living crisis in Wandsworth? Do you have any views on how the borough can support mental health services during this time? We invite you to voice your views.

Read more about the Council’s approach to the cost-of-living crisis here,

https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/news/news-july-2023/council-leader-announces-doubling-of-funds-to-help-residents-through-cost-of-living-crisis/?utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery

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