Cadogan Creates New Kensington and Chelsea Foundation Fund

Cadogan has created the Kensington & Chelsea Fund, a new annual endowment to benefit local charities at grassroots level. Proceeds from the Fund are managed on behalf of Cadogan by the Kensington & Chelsea Foundation, who work with numerous local charities across the borough to ensure it reaches those who need it most.

The first two charities to receive funding are The Octavia Foundation and the Clement James Centre, which were each given £6,000 this month. Hugh Seaborn, Chief Executive, Cadogan said: “It’s great to be able to support small local charities through the Kensington & Chelsea Foundation’s excellent links with the community and rewarding to see that two such worthwhile organisations will benefit from the first donation”.

The funding will ensure The Octavia Foundation – which connects people affected by unemployment, ill health, social isolation or low incomes in central and west London with opportunities for positive personal change – delivers a befriending project which involves matching volunteers with vulnerable and older adults. The grant will cover all volunteer expenses related to visits to vulnerable people by befrienders, as well as visits to the theatre, tea dances and Christmas parties for age 50-plus chronically isolated residents.
The Clement James Centre works with children, young people and adults living in the most deprived areas of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, assisting them to achieve their full potential by providing education and employability support, improving their English and giving other support to enable them to play a full role in society. Cadogan’s grant will enable the charity to fund an extra day-and-a-half of worker support per week for a year. This post will provide intensive, customised support for around 45 young people in their school environment and at the St James’ Centre.