Current funding available

for individuals
£15,500
Programme for 2026 is now open

Eligibility

Westminster Amalgamated Charity (WAC) is an independent, registered charity.  It is not part of, nor affiliated with, Westminster City Council or the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

WAC supports individuals who currently live in the London Borough of Westminster. 

Grants may be awarded to individuals who: 

  • are in receipt of benefits
  • are on a low income and in receipt of benefits
  • are on a low income, in receipt of benefits and have a disability
  • are homeless and residing in a hostel.

Purpose of Grants

Grants may be made towards:

  • Clothing
  • Essential household items (including furniture, white goods and kitchen equipment)
  • Decorating materials
  • Floor coverings (rugs only - fitted flooring is not funded)

Grants range typically between £100 and £500. All grants are awarded entirely at the discretion of the Trustees.

Exclusions

WAC does not award grants for:

  • TVs 
  • CD/DVD players
  • Technology accessories (e.g. headphones, earbuds, sound bars, speakers)
  • Gaming equipment and downloads
  • Mobile phones
  • Computers/laptops/software
  • Education-related needs
  • Holidays 
  • Debt repayment, fees, removal costs, rent, bills, fitted flooring or food 

How to apply

An individual must be referred through a recognised agency such as Social Services, Citizens Advice, a Housing Association, a hostel, or a registered charity operating in Westminster. If you need assistance with finding a referring agency, please click here for information on organisations that may be able to help you.

Referring agencies are required to register and complete an application form via the online grants portal (link below) on behalf of the individual. Requests for funding received by email or post will not be considered.

Statutory Support

Individuals are expected to explore and access all state benefits, grants and other statutory assistance to which they may be entitled before applying to WAC. As a charitable funder, WAC cannot provide financial support for needs that could reasonably be met through local or national statutory provision.

Where appropriate, applicants should also have applied to Westminster City Council's Local Support Payments Scheme (LSP) before an application is made to WAC.

WAC does not provide emergency cash grants, crisis loans or retrospective funding.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR REFERRING AGENCIES

Please read the following before you access the application form:

Completing Your Application

All referral agents are asked to take time to review applications carefully before submission.

Our trustees rely on the information provided within the application form when making funding decisions. Applications that are incomplete, contain material errors, inaccurate financial information, unexplained discrepancies, or insufficient detail make it difficult for trustees to assess a request fairly.

Whilst we may occasionally seek clarification on specific points, we are unable to extensively revise, rewrite or reconstruct applications once they have been submitted.

Referral agents are expected to ensure that:

  • All questions have been answered fully;
  • Monthly income and expenditure tables are complete and accurate;
  • The individual's financial information is accurate and reconciles correctly with supporting bank statements;
  • Supporting information is relevant and clearly explains the applicant's circumstances;
  • The application includes all required supporting evidence, including a bank statement, benefits statement and referral letter;
  • Applications request only one major household item (for example, a cooker, fridge, washing machine or large item of furniture) or a small number of lower-value household items;
  • Applicants with substantial unsecured debt, including credit card balances or private loans, should seek appropriate debt advice before an application is submitted. We cannot accept an application where there are unresolved debt issues.

Applications that do not contain sufficient information for assessment, or which contain significant inaccuracies or inconsistencies, will not be considered for a grant.

If you have any queries relating to applications, please email wac@3chars.org.uk. For information about the grant process, please see section below.

Application Form

 

Privacy policy

Grant process

Applications for individuals are considered by the Grants Committee on a rolling basis throughout the year. 

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. Please only contact us if the client's circumstances change (e.g. grant no longer required). 

The referring agency will be notified of the outcome. If successful, an e-gift card for an appropriate retailer will be sent to the referring agency to pass on to the individual. Payments are not made directly to the individual or to the referring agency. Receipts must be forwarded to WAC as proof of purchase.

Responsibility for the correct use of the grant lies with the referring agency. Grants must be used solely for the purpose stated in the application. Any misuse of funds will result in WAC seeking reimbursement.

Questions

If you have any doubts about your eligibility or questions regarding your application please contact the Charity.