Westminster Amalgamated Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: ~£250,000 (expenditure)
• Annual Income: ~£222,000
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 6-12 weeks (quarterly meetings)
• Grant Range: £100 - £10,000 (individuals £100-£500; organisations £500-£10,000)
• Geographic Focus: London Borough of Westminster only

Contact Details

• Website: www.w-a-c.org.uk
• Email: wac@3chars.org.uk (organisations), info@3chars.org.uk (general enquiries)
• Phone: 020 7395 9460
• Address: SB.315 China Works, Black Prince Road, Vauxhall, London SE1 7SJ

Pre-application requirement: New organisation applicants must meet with a charity representative before submitting an application.

Overview

Westminster Amalgamated Charity (WAC) was established on 19 July 1961 through the consolidation of seven predecessor Westminster charities, the oldest dating back to 1665 during the Great Plague. The charity became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in October 2017 (registration number 1175356). With annual income of approximately £222,000 and expenditure of around £252,000, WAC provides one-off grants to both individuals and organisations for the relief of need specifically within the London Borough of Westminster.

The charity's objective is “the relief for the public benefit of people in the London Borough of the City of Westminster who are in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage.” WAC is governed by 10 unpaid trustees and holds four grant-making meetings annually. The charity shares administrative arrangements with the Holborn Estate Charity and relocated to serviced offices in Vauxhall in November 2022. Notably, the Trustees emphasise the importance of organisations demonstrating “the active promotion of the learning of English and integration into British culture” where relevant.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Grants for Organisations: £500 - £10,000

• One-off grants only (no recurring funding)
• Four decision meetings annually: March, June, September, November
• Online application via BenefactorCloud portal
• New applicants must meet with a representative before submitting

Grants for Individuals: £100 - £500

• Must be referred by a recognised agency (cannot apply directly)
• Decisions made approximately every six weeks
• Grants issued as e-gift cards, not cash
• Receipts required as proof of purchase

Priority Areas

WAC funds organisations and projects addressing:

• Addiction services
• Children and youth programmes
• Community initiatives
• Elderly/older people support
• Health and disability services
• Homelessness support

Projects must aim to benefit a significant number of needy Westminster residents.

Types of Organisational Funding Available

• Specific capital costs
• Revenue funding (including core costs)
• Specific project/service costs

What They Don't Fund

Organisations:

• National charities operating throughout England and Wales
• Organisations that distribute grants themselves (grant-making bodies)
• Commercial businesses with charitable status (theatres, galleries, museums)
• Higher education institutions
• Political organisations or those engaged in overtly political campaigning

Individuals:

• Electronics, gaming equipment, technology, mobile phones, computers
• Educational needs
• Holidays
• Financial assistance (debt, rent, bills, food, removal costs)
• Fitted flooring (rugs only)
• Emergency cash grants or crisis loans
• Retrospective grants

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (10 members)

| Name | Role | Appointed |

|------|------|-----------|

| A. Paul Gardner FRICS | Chair | October 2017 |

| Jennifer Bianco DL | Trustee | October 2017 |

| Simon Carruth | Trustee | October 2017 |

| J. Graham Mordue JP | Trustee | October 2017 |

| Linda E. McHugh | Trustee | October 2017 |

| Geraldine Elliott | Trustee | May 2018 |

| Matthew Keane | Trustee | May 2019 |

| Toby Jameson-Till | Trustee | July 2019 |

| Jenny Bolton-Clark | Trustee | June 2021 |

| Christopher Hooley | Trustee | September 2021 |

All trustee positions are voluntary and unpaid. The Board meets four times annually at various central London locations. The charity is currently seeking additional trustees and welcomes expressions of interest.

Trustee Jennifer Bianco DL also serves on the boards of Holborn Estate Charity and The Friends of the Past Overseers Society, reflecting the interconnected nature of Westminster's charitable sector.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Organisations:

1. Initial Contact: New applicants must email wac@3chars.org.uk to arrange a meeting with a charity representative before applying
2. Online Application: Submit via BenefactorCloud portal
3. Post-Grant Requirement: A monitoring report must be submitted after project completion before reapplying

For Individuals:

1. Applications must be submitted by a recognised referring agency (Social Services, Citizens Advice, Housing Association, Hostel, or registered charity working in Westminster)
2. Applicants must have sought all state help they are entitled to before applying
3. Where appropriate, applicants should have applied to Westminster City Council's Local Support Payments Scheme first
4. Apply via the online form only (email and postal applications not accepted)

2026 Application Deadlines (Organisations)

| Deadline | Decision Meeting |

|----------|------------------|

| 13 February | March meeting |

| 15 May | June meeting |

| 21 August | September meeting |

| 23 October | November meeting |

Decision Timeline

• Organisations: Decisions made at quarterly trustee meetings (March, June, September, November)
• Individuals: Grants Committee meets approximately every six weeks
• Notification: Successful individual applicants receive e-gift cards; organisations are notified following trustee meetings

Reapplication Policy

• Organisations must submit a monitoring report after project completion before reapplying
• A fresh application is required for each grant request
• Beneficiaries should not expect continuous or year-on-year funding
• No explicit waiting period mentioned, but one-off nature of grants is emphasised

Application Success Factors

Critical Eligibility Requirements

For Organisations:

• Must be a registered charity or CIO with the Charity Commission
• Must be based in Westminster or neighbouring boroughs
• Must deliver services directly to beneficiaries in Westminster
• Projects must aim to benefit a significant number of needy Westminster residents

For Individuals:

• Must currently reside in the London Borough of Westminster
• Must be on a low income or receiving benefits, AND have a disability, OR be homeless residing in a hostel
• Must have exhausted state support options first

What Trustees Value

The charity has stated that Trustees are particularly keen that organisations demonstrate:

• “The active promotion of the learning of English and integration into British culture” where relevant to the project
• Clear benefit to Westminster residents specifically
• Services delivered directly to beneficiaries (not through intermediary grants)

Practical Application Tips from WAC

1. Complete forms fully: “Sponsors are encouraged to ensure that the application form is completed in full and provide as much information as possible (via an accompanying letter, where necessary)”
2. Submit early: “Applications arriving just before or on the deadline date run the risk of being deferred to the next meeting, as there will be insufficient time to resolve any queries”
3. Contact with questions: “If you have any doubts about your eligibility or questions regarding your application, contact the Operations and Grants Manager”
4. Don't chase: “We are receiving a high volume of applications so referring agencies are asked not to email us requesting a status update on an application as this only causes delays in processing”

Referring Agency Partners

The following organisations can advise individuals and submit referral applications:

• Age UK Westminster
• The Cardinal Hume Centre
• Citizens Advice
• The ClementJames Centre
• Family Lives
• Single Homeless Project (SHP)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Westminster-only focus: This is strictly a local funder - applicants must demonstrate direct benefit to Westminster residents. National charities are explicitly excluded.

1. One-off grants only: WAC does not provide recurring or multi-year funding. Each grant request requires a fresh application, and monitoring reports must be submitted before reapplying.

1. Pre-application meeting required: New organisation applicants must meet with a representative before submitting - factor this into your timeline and use the meeting to understand trustee priorities.

1. Cultural integration emphasis: Trustees have stated interest in projects promoting “the learning of English and integration into British culture” - consider how your project aligns with this stated priority.

1. Submit well before deadlines: Applications arriving close to deadlines risk being deferred to the next quarter due to insufficient time to resolve queries.

1. Direct service delivery required: The charity funds organisations delivering services directly to beneficiaries - grant-making intermediaries are not eligible.

1. Modest grant sizes: Organisation grants cap at £10,000 - this funder is suited to discrete projects or contributions toward larger initiatives rather than substantial core funding.

References

• Westminster Amalgamated Charity - Official Website -
• Grants for Organisations - WAC -
• Grants for Individuals - WAC -
• About - WAC -
• History - WAC -
• Charity Commission Register - 1175356 -
• Charity Commission Full Details - 1175356 -
• Giving is Great - Westminster Amalgamated Charity Factsheet -