Here are some of the projects that the Foundation is funding in the current academic year.

Westbridge Primary School, Battersea:

• Pottery club: The foundation funds a weekly pottery lesson for ten Westbridge children in the pottery studio at Thomas’s Battersea.  The children learn to express themselves and explore their creativity with clay.
  “I like that I can make whatever I want.  I really like using the wheel” Tia
  “I like making projects that take a long time, and I like getting messy” Tamika
  

• Music: The Foundation has enabled Westbridge to establish a weekly music ensemble for children learning the clarinet, violin, cello and recorder.

Christchurch Primary School, Battersea:

• Sport: The Foundation provides funding for Fit 4 Kidz to run a weekly after-school club of sport and games at Christchurch Primary School.

Katherine Low Settlement, Battersea:

• Junior Club Summer Residential Trip:  The Foundation contributed funding towards a five day trip to the Cuckmere Activity Centre in East Sussex. Ten Battersea children aged 11-13 took part in rock climbing, biking, a treasure hunt and various other activities.

Drumming and Spoons:

• Music: The Foundation funds Jo May, an experienced percussion teacher and performer, to run workshops in local primary schools. Thus far Jo has visited over 17 schools and community centres in the areas local to Thomas’s four schools. Jo runs African drumming workshops and also spoons workshops! She provides African djembes or an assortment of wooden and metal spoons for all the children, who work on traditional drumming/spoon patterns or techniques, developing rhythm, teamwork and a confidence in performance.”The school throbbed with the African beat for the day to the particular delight of some of our staff. The children were very engaged in their learning and the experience memorable, “  Head of St John’s CE Primary, Fulham.

  “I loved playing with the dundun because it is an instrument that I have been waiting for to play with. The bit I enjoyed the most was when everyone played different instruments. Thank you for letting us come and having a long session with you.” Aisha

  “I loved the workshop because I love drumming and its fun. I loved that you can hit the drum and no one will be annoyed with you.” Kevin

  “Thank you Jo it was a great experience and I enjoyed it a lot. For me the part that stood was playing the dun duns and the jembo.” Milen. “PS. it was the best morning I’ve ever had.”

CYM, Kensington and Chelsea:

• Music: The Foundation provides the funding for a woodwind teacher at this thriving Saturday morning music centre. 58 children between the ages of 7–12 are enrolled in the school and are learning all aspects of musicianship.

Kids Love Lambeth, Clapham:

• Ballet: The Foundation funds the Manor Ballet teaching at Clapham Manor School. The Manor Ballet provides four lessons a week in a varied programme of music and movement incorporating a significant element of dance. Approximately 140 children participate over the week and many take the initiative to attend further classes at the Manor Ballet.

Bayonne Nursery, Fulham:

• Forest Experience: The Foundation provides funding to Bayonne Nursery for their “Forest School”.  The nursery takes their children to Wimbledon Common over six consecutive weeks to take part in a range of activities based in a woodland area. The children climb trees, build dens, look at animals and insects, and learn about the outdoors.
  

Sands End Playhouse, Fulham:

• Holiday Club: The Foundation funds a series of holiday projects for this well established community group. Over the holiday period, the Playhouse runs afternoon sessions for up to 80 under 8’s and 60 adults. The staff provide a large range of activities, both outside (basketball hoops, throwing, kicking and catching), and inside (dressing up, art, drama, reading) to keep the children stimulated and amused.

St Thomas’s Primary School, Kensington:

• Music: The Foundation funded the purchase of African djembes.  The school uses the drums to build upon their annual creative curriculum topic, Africa, both in storytelling and music.

• Drama: The Foundation funds a weekly drama club at St Thomas’s run by Big Foot Theatre Company.  The children are given the opportunity to express themselves, develop confidence and perform in front of an audience.

• Sport: The Foundation funds a weekly after-school tag rugby club.

• Capoeria: The Foundation provides a teacher as well as the costumes and instruments for this Brazilian martial arts club.  The club enables children to learn and build confidence through this popular art as well as perform. Working with a team of volunteers and instructors, they develop artistic, music and dance skills and learn about the origins for the Carnival, developing an understanding of its Afro-Caribbean roots.

St Clement and St James Youth Club, Kensington:

• Art and design: The Foundation contributes funding for the Community Carnival Arts Programme where over 65 local children join weekly and summer holiday sessions. The children design and make their own costumes and participate in the annual Notting Hill Carnival.

Everyday Magic:

• Art: The Foundation contributes funding to a school’s early years storytelling programme run by the Westway Development Trust.  Everyday Magic engages children to have fun with language through storytelling, song, rhythm, dance or visual arts. The programme is especially important for children who have English as a second language as the actions and tellers give the children the opportunity to access the story. We have funded the programme at Colville Primary School and St Mary’s RC Primary School in Kensington.

“Colville Primary School has thoroughly enjoyed the experience of having Everyday Magic this Spring Term. Many of our children need support with expressing themselves and following what other people say. They benefit hugely from this extended engagement in language which supports their speech and language development. Further, it is pure fun!” Laurie Grandy, Literacy Co-ordinator.

The Play Association, Hammersmith and Fulham:

• Play: The Foundation funded two days of the Holiday Fun project run by the Play Association.  The project visits local estates and runs an open access play project for children during the school holidays. The children are engaged in fun arts and crafts activities as well as various games.