Volunteers and community groups are set to benefit thanks to a cash windfall from Battersea Power Station Foundation.

Battersea Power Station Foundation (BPS Foundation), set up by the Battersea Power Station shareholders, has joined forces with the Walcot Foundation to fund Local Roots, a free support programme aimed at strengthening local voluntary and community organisations (VCOs) within Wandsworth and Lambeth.

Local Roots, delivered by Community Learning and Empowerment Network (CLEN) and Battersea Arts Centre (BAC), aims to bring together the VCOs in the two boroughs.

As part of the programme, £240,000 over three years has been awarded to Battersea Arts Centre and Community Learning and Empowerment Network (CLEN).

Barbra Mazur, Director of the BPS Foundation, said: “This is a really exciting initiative that we are proud to be involved with and we believe this strategy will be highly effective in delivering visible results. The foundation is constantly looking for new and innovative schemes that make a real difference to the local community.

“We would encourage any local Wandsworth and Lambeth organisations interested in improving their overall proficiency to get in contact.”

Daniel Chapman, Grants Manger of the Walcot Foundation said: “Local community groups are providing vital services for local residents in an incredibly difficult landscape of funding cuts and rising demand.

"We believe that this service will help organisations not just to survive but to thrive and grow. It will also build connections in the community that will enable groups to tackle poverty and create opportunities together.”

Since it launched, the BPS Foundation has awarded 110 grants to 100 organisations, totaling £3.9 million.

Recipients range from a diversity of charities and local organisations providing vital community services such as mentoring for local disadvantaged young people; tackling loneliness and isolation in the elderly; tree planting and horticulture; arts, music, fitness and wellbeing projects; assistance for disabled residents; tackling youth violence and helping ex-offenders into employment.

The Walcot Foundation is Lambeth’s independent grantmaking charity with roots dating from the 17th century.