Charities in a London borough supporting care leavers and providing art therapy are among 15 good causes to be handed grants of £1,000 each from a commercial real estate firm’s funding scheme.

The charities have been handed the money from the real estate firm Unibail -Rodamco-Westfield (URW) and its partner Croydon Voluntary Action through the 2026 Croydon Community Grant Fund.

The funding is focused on supporting youth engagement, homelessness support and women and girls safety projects in Croydon.

Among recipients is Keep It Moving, which will deliver housing workshops to 100 young care leavers, refugees and asylum seekers.

Another is Pop Up Top Up, which will run a creative enterprise event for teenage girls.

Recipient Amanah Health and Wellbeing will provide safety masterclasses for women from ethnic minority communities, while Bridging Boundaries will deliver self-defence workshops for women and girls.

PTP Usemi will run an art therapy programme supporting marginalised women and focusing on physical, emotional and sexual safety.

URW customer and retail operations managing director for Northern Europe Katie Wyle said: “The quality and diversity of applications this year reflects the strength of Croydon’s voluntary and community sector.

“We're proud to support organisations delivering projects that will provide practical help for residents, help women and girls feel safer, and create positive opportunities for young people”

Croydon Voluntary Action group chief executive officer Sarah Burns added: “These projects demonstrate the creativity, commitment and community knowledge that exists across Croydon's voluntary sector.

From supporting people in temporary accommodation to empowering young people and improving safety for women and girls, the successful organisations are responding directly to local needs and priorities.

“We look forward to working with the funded organisations and URW as these projects move into delivery and begin making a difference in communities across Croydon.”

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