Good quality used baby clothes and toys, donated by local people, are given to families in need. Demand for the service has more than doubled and it now runs a weekly drop-in playgroup where families can collect the items they need. Items donated and distributed have included more than a hundred cots and Moses baskets, 4,500 nappies and more than 80 buggies, plus countless clothes, toys and books.

A grant from round two of the Wandsworth Grant Fund last year was used to help with the cost of setting up the group including paying for premises and equipment. 

A local health visitor working with homeless, refugee and asylum seeker families said, “Little Village have been invaluable in helping us to support these families and have been able to produce at very quick notice sterilisers, cots, mattresses and sheets. Little Village have not just supported us in emergencies – they have provided toys and books so parents can spent quality time playing with their children.”

Find out more about Little Village at littlevillagehq.org or join the Facebook group.

Wandsworth grants committee chairman Cllr Melanie Hampton said, “I’m delighted to hear Little Village is going from strength to strength. We supported its grant application because it was a brilliant idea, with real energy behind it.

“I would urge local organisations, groups of friends or neighbours, or anyone with a good idea that could help their local community to consider applying to the Wandsworth Grant Fund.”

The Wandsworth Grant Fund considers funding for projects meeting these council priorities:

1.        Arts and Culture

2.        Environment and Attractive Neighbourhoods

3.        Children and Young People

4.        Citizenship and Civic Engagement

5.        Achieving Aspirations and Potential

6.        Health and Well being

The deadline to apply for round five funding is April 18th, 2017.

Applications receive a high level of scrutiny by councillors to ensure money is going where it is most needed and will have most benefit for the borough’s residents

Read about the recipients of round one funding

Read about the recipients of round two funding.

Read about the recipients of round three funding

Read about the recipients of round four funding

A series of events will be held in the coming weeks to provide information on how to apply to the Wandsworth Grant Fund. Find out more here