Kensington Chelsea Foundation

We recently held an inspiring panel discussion at The Other House, South Kensington in celebration of our new partnership. We were thrilled to be joined by Carlos Husbands, Co-Founder of Becauze CIC and Youth Engagement Officer at Metropolitan Police, Christopher Herbert, Founder and CEO of Fit For Life Youth and Rashpal Grewal, Senior Caseworker at St Giles Trust as we explored what life for young people looks like in a borough of extremes. We will be sharing the video of our discussion shortly so sign up to our newsletter today to be the first to hear more from local, community heroes working across Kensington Chelsea. https://lnkd.in/g5f2rFGb

We are thrilled to have been chosen as the charity partner by the new Mayor of RBKC! The Worshipful the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Councillor Will Lane, was elected at Kensington and Chelsea’s Annual Council meeting on Wednesday 22 May, and we were honoured to be invited to the ceremony to speak about our work across the borough. We’re delighted to have the Mayor’s support as we work together to raise awareness of the inequalities facing our community. Together, we can achieve our vision of a borough where everyone can live a happy, healthy and fulfilled life. https://lnkd.in/eCdP-XkT

As we mark the seventh anniversary of the tragic Grenfell Tower Fire, we remember those we lost, those who survived, the bereaved families, and those who continue to support our neighbours. We stand by their side as they demand answers and accountability for the fire that devastated our community. Forever in our hearts 💚

At our recent Annual Charities Celebration, Brooke and Jon, our Community Engagement Grants Managers, brought together and praised the impact our 130 partner organisations had delivered in the last year. Thanks to their tireless work, residents across Kensington Chelsea are leading happier; healthier and more fulfilling lives. See below for just some of our achievements in the last year. * Nearly 6,700 local people struggling with their mental health received tailored and targeted support * Over 7,600 children and young people were supported to stay in school, flourish academically and build their confidence * Brought joy and hope to nearly 7,000 people through your Community Spirit events and celebrations * Helped 436 people to learn new skills and find jobs that were meaningful for them, unlocking opportunities for the future * Helped 1,300 people access over £330k in emergency cash and fuel payments. Thank you to everyone working to support our community’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged residents!

An interesting morning at Dishoom Kensington with Opportunity Kensington at the launch of their latest Business Plan. The team have been working hard to “bring the fun back” to Kensington. They are also working with us to ensure we can achieve our vision of a borough where everyone can live a happy, healthy and fulfilled life. Thank you for your support…and a brilliant breakfast!

We have recently published an update to our original research, ‘Poverty Prosperity in Kensington Chelsea’ and although there has measurable progress, there are also some very sobering statistics: - 33% more children are on Free School Meals - higher than London and national averages; - life expectancy differences between residents in different wards have increased to nearly two decades; - there has been a decrease in permanent school exclusions but fixed term exclusions are still high and are a factor in poor education outcomes and - there has been a 28% increase in Mental Health referrals. In the 3 years since our last report, we have raised over £4 million and helped over 17,000 residents improve their skills and employment potential, to improve their mental health, or improve their education outcomes. We know it can be done and we believe that the borough has sufficient philanthropic capacity to have real, tangible impact on some of these issues. The thriving, but overburdened, voluntary sector delivers effective, person-centred support. With sustainable funding, we can help local groups to scale up and reach the residents who are most in need of support. Please read our new report and get in touch to talk about how you can get involved. We also ask that you share this report, and help us to bring more of our community together together to make the borough better for everyone. https://lnkd.in/eeuZqVCH

Our Director, Victoria Steward Todd, and Brooke Dobbyn our Community Engagement Grants Manager were delighted to attend the The Earls Court Development Company’s Social Value and Economic Impact Report launch this morning. It was great to be in the company of like minded people who share our vision of a borough where everyone can live, happy and fulfilled lives.

The sudden cold temperatures we are experiencing have led many of us to turn up the heating. However, for at least 6,000  households in Kensington Chelsea, this won’t be an option. Last year, we provided emergency support to over 4,000 individuals who were unable to pay their fuel bills or buy basic essentials. This year, we continue to provide this support, as well as focusing on giving residents a more sustainable solution – helping those who are looking for work to find meaningful employment that will improve their financial situation in the longer term. So far, thanks to many of you, we have already raised £38k towards our appeal to support people into employment. Thanks to the generous donation from the Julia and Hans Rausing Trust any donations up to £50,000* will be doubled. Every £400 raised will support one person into employment through one of the impactful and holistic projects we have identified. Ultimately reducing the number of households in K C living in poverty, and ensuring more of our residents can keep their heating on throughout the cold winter months Please donate now to ensure your gift is doubled. https://lnkd.in/enWG4ZaF *Julia and Hans Rausing have generously offered a matched pledge of £40,000. This was offered at a time when the appeal had already raised £10,000, therefore we are able to match gifts from that point, to a maximum of £50,000.

This Winter, help residents in our community into sustainable work and better financial security as the cost of living crisis continues to bite. There are currently 6,023 households living in poverty in Kensington Chelsea. According to the Trussell Trust, for those on low-incomes, the cost of living crisis means going without essentials such as food, a warm home, adequate clothing or toiletries. This Christmas, these high costs will be felt even more, leaving many of our neighbours struggling to put food on the table and keep their homes warm. As we head into another very difficult Winter, we want to give residents a more sustainable solution – helping those who are looking for work to find meaningful employment that will improve their financial situation in the longer term. We have identified local projects which will deliver impactful and holistic support to help residents into work. Alongside advice on barriers to employment like housing and child care, they’ll receive training and long-term mentoring. Many of our projects will reach individuals who find it particularly difficult to find employment such as young offenders, adults with learning disabilities and homeless residents. We need your help to support 1,200 residents, like Henry, into work. £400 could fund a year of intensive employment support for one resident. We are thrilled that, thanks to the incredible generosity of The Julia and Hans Rausing Trust, every pound you donate to our Winter Appeal will be doubled* - so please donate today. https://lnkd.in/enWG4ZaF *matched pledge applies from the date of this newsletter until the appeal reaches £40,000 #givewhereyoulive #kensington #costoflivingcrisis #chelsea #employmentopportunity

Last week, as part of our ongoing webinar series, we explored some of the challenges faced by our most vulnerable residents in seeking employment in the borough. We were joined by speakers from two of the projects we fund as part of our Improving Skills and Employment portfolio and learnt about the comprehensive, holistic and targeted support available to those most in need. Watch our Webinar by following the link below and if you have any questions or would like any further information please get in touch. https://lnkd.in/eVADdhmY #givewhereyoulive #kensington #chelsea #employment #grassroots