The Wimbledon Foundation, the official charity of The All England Lawn Tennis Club and The Championships, is proud to announce it has awarded £1 million of funding this summer to 55 charities and community groups operating in Merton and Wandsworth.
This funding helps local charities and community projects across four funds: the Wimbledon Foundation Community Fund; Community Fund+; the Get Set, Get Active Fund; and the Get Set, Go Further Fund which was launched in January 2026.
The Wimbledon Foundation Community Fund and Community Fund+ awarded a total of £638,000 to 20 organisations across the two boroughs meeting social needs including addressing financial insecurity and cost of living, supporting mental health and wellbeing, and promoting and supporting digital inclusion. Since its launch in 2014, the Wimbledon Foundation Community Fund has awarded more than £2.2 million through 345 grants, benefitting over 50,000 local people in the Merton and Wandsworth.
Among the beneficiaries was Wandsworth-based youth charity Carney’s Community who will use the financial support to provide intensive one-to-one support for young people facing challenges, and the Rah Rah Theatre Company whose grant will help to fund the delivery of four touring theatre productions to care facilities and community centres supporting elderly and individuals with learning difficulties.
Hannah Tulloch, Chief Operating Officer of Carney’s Community, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded a multi-year grant from the Wimbledon Foundation towards our key work project, providing intensive one to one support for young people facing the most complex circumstances. A multi-year grant enables us to fulfil our ethos of long-term and consistent support, ensuring that we’re able to support real and lasting change for young people.”
Jude Spooner, Managing Director of the Rah Rah Theatre Company, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Wimbledon Foundation for this three-year investment in our work. The funding will help us to continue bringing theatre, music and shared creative experiences to older people and adults with learning difficulties across Merton and Wandsworth, helping to reduce isolation and improve wellbeing. Multi-year funding like this makes a huge difference to a small charity such as ours, giving us the stability to plan ahead, strengthen the organisation and ensure that more people can access the benefits of the arts for years to come.”
A further 17 organisations benefitted from the Get Set, Get Active Fund which aims to increase the opportunities for local people of all ages and abilities to access and participate in sport and exercise. Recipients include SW Lion’s FC who were awarded a grant to enable them to continue to run weekly inclusive and affordable football and fitness sessions for women and girls.
Belinda Drysdale, SW Lion’s FC Team Secretary, said: “This funding will make a significant contribution towards helping us continue to provide opportunities and positive experiences for young girls through the programme.”
The Foundation’s Get Set, Go Further Fund which was launched earlier this year to offer three-year grants to cover direct project costs or core operational costs, also awarded funding to 17 organisations. Supported charities include Disability Sports Coach whose grant will help fund three inclusive sports clubs in Merton and Wandsworth enabling disabled people to increase physical activity, build friendships and feel part of their community.
Amardeep Gill, Head of Fundraising and Communications at Disability Sports Coach, said: “The Wimbledon Foundation’s funding means more disabled people in the boroughs of Merton and Wandsworth can access welcoming, inclusive sports clubs, where they can get active and meet others. Disabled people are still much more likely than non-disabled people to be inactive due to barriers like accessibility and affordability. We’re incredibly grateful to the Wimbledon Foundation for helping to break down these barriers and create inclusive opportunities for everyone.”
Paige Murphy, Head of the Wimbledon Foundation, said: “We are delighted to have awarded £1 million to 55 fantastic organisations across Merton and Wandsworth through our local grant funds. We’re pleased to be offering more multi-year funding which help organisations plan for the long term and have a greater impact on the people they support in our local communities.”
The Wimbledon Foundation donates more than £4 million a year to charities, half of which goes towards projects in the local community of Merton and Wandsworth, which support people facing a wide range of issues including loneliness, food poverty and poor mental health.
During The Championships, the Foundation welcomed 600 guests from 116 charities with many enjoying behind-the-scenes tours ahead of the Grounds opening. More than 200 people supported by local charities were employed across 13 teams at The Championships through the Foundation’s Work at Wimbledon programme, including adults with learning disabilities, people with visual impairments and young people supported by Carney’s Community. After the Fortnight, more than 5,000 plants have been donated to 40 local organisations including Deen City Farm, Merton Garden Streets, Mitcham Library, Our Roehampton, St George’s Hospital Charity and St Raphael’s Hospice.
