The Guild gives many small grants during the year to people in need (on the recommendation of a care professional). The Casework committee is a good example of co-operation between the public and voluntary sectors, complementing and coordinating the work of each.
It comprises representatives of the Guild and other voluntary and statutory bodies within Merton, and meets every two months to discuss the requests made to the Guild for these grants. It is able to draw on funds donated by local individuals and organisations, the Wimbledon Resettlement Fund and restricted funds managed by the Guild.
The nature of the requests has changed over the past ten years. Previously, requests have been for:
• heating grants
• payment of other household bills.
Recently, there has been a large increase in applications for small grants which in the past have been provided by the education departments and the Department for Work and Pensions. These include:
• school uniforms
• school trips
• furniture and furnishings
• white goods.
for Guidelines for Small Grant Applications (Care Professionals only)
for Application forms for Casework Grants (Care Professionals only)
An example of a donation towards the grant scheme
“The Wimbledon Guild is very grateful to Jonathan Ameet Patel for donating his winnings in a local competition to the Guild. Donations play an important role within the Guild allowing us to offer valuable support and assistance to people in need."
The Guild had received a request on behalf of a local family. Three of the children are seriously ill and another was born with a congenital defect affecting his mobility – which will need an operation to correct. Because the children are ill the mother is no longer able to work and as a result the family is under severe financial strain. Their washing machine had broken beyond repair which just added to the strain when you have several children.
They could not afford to buy a new or even a used one. Jonathan’s donation helped to buy this family
a washing machine.
