The Campden Charities is a four hundred year old charity which supports and encourage those in Kensington who face daily obstacles. In recognition of all it’s good work it’s Grants Officer, Mandy Ala has been recognised with a Mayor’s Award. In the 15 years Mandy has worked in this role, she has overseen the awarding of millions of pounds worth of grants to hundreds of Kensington residents experiencing financial need. The charity was set up to help people, mainly families, who are struggling to gain economic independence or a skill set to fulfil their lives. To comply for a grant beneficiaries must live in [the old parish of] Kensington, be British, European or have Indefinite Leave to Remain, not own a house and be in low paid work. 

“A lot of peoples circumstances have not changed during the Covid pandemic, especially the adults as the majority of our beneficiaries are not in work,” explains Chris Stannard, Campden Charities CEO, “But we hope to help the next generation in the families out of poverty.” The charity has been supplying laptops for some who needed to communicate and for young people's education. Next, there is ongoing discussion about how to tackle the after effects of Covid, the lasting implications. “Young people from low income groups are often undervalued in the eyes of employers,” points out Stannard, “and those at university possibly have most to lose, having missed huge chunks of online learning. This impacts the students further, as employers will be looking at qualifications more carefully this year.” Campden Charities has a Campden Scholars Scheme which connects with sixth forms to give students support to go to university, helps with applications and also provides financial support. “For a lot of students with low incomes, getting into debt is quite daunting.”

“We had a lot of beneficiaries living in Grenfell Tower before the fire, a lot met our criteria. After the fire it all went awry for awhile. People fell through the net, like the people on adjacent walkways, and people who didn’t have proper tenancies in Grenfell,” says Stannard. “[As an organisation] we were able to respond with help immediately and in the weeks following the fire.” Some people affected by the fire were moved out of the area and didn’t have money for transport, to get to work or return to see friends and family. “We managed to fill some of the gaps.” Around 130 people were referred directly to Campden Charities via RBKC and Rugby Portobello Trust.

Last year, as in most years, 1,500 grants were given using money which has grown from a 1621 donation of £200 and a plot of land in Shepherds Bush given by a wealthy silk trader Baptist Hicks, 1st Viscount Campden. The money has been invested and also grown via a portfolio of residential and commercial property some in Kensington and parts of Hyde Park.

When Stannard arrived at Campden Charities 21 years ago the organisation mainly funded other charitable organisations. The biggest change he and his team made was to have a direct impact. Now, ten grants officers visit people in their own homes to assess their need directly. They tend to work with whole families, many of whom have low income jobs like cleaners and catering assistants. Beneficiaries are helped with items like transport to work, white goods and computers if they need them to study.