Objects.  Focused on Westminster, the two key strands of our work are:

• Supporting disadvantaged younger people, particularly through training and education.
• Supporting older people in need, especially those who are lonely and socially isolated.

Achievements in 2024

Our achievements included:  

We funded three students from low-income families at university with Sir Simon Milton Scholarships.  Bursary grants were paid to three universities including:- 

• Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, Simon Milton’s alma mater
• Ada, The National College for Digital Skills 
• Sir Simon Milton Care Leaver Bursary at the University of Westminster

The awards help the students with living costs so that they can study and achieve their  
potential.   
 
We are proud that we now have 34 Scholarship alumni now making their way in the world.    

• In September 2024, we continued our support to Real Action, a charity operating in the north of the City. This was the second year of a three-year commitment. £10,000 was paid to support their Butterfly Education Resurrection programme, which will provide literacy classes for those living in the Mozart area.
• On Sunday 1st December 2024, 1,000 Westminster residents aged 65 and over enjoyed a glorious afternoon of live music and entertainment at the annual Sir Simon Milton Foundation Tea Dance. Now in its 16th year, the charity event has become a calendar highlight for many older people in Westminster and their carers who look forward to the special festive event held in the magnificent Great Room at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane. Guests were entertained by music from Tea Dance regulars, the Red Stripe Band, students from the Sylvia Young Theatre School and professional dancers Rashmi Becker & her team and Fun4over50s. Angela Rippon CBE was the afternoon’s special guest. The was kindly sponsored by Shaftesbury Capital Plc, Hippodrome Casino, Westminster City Council and Grosvenor House Hotel, in addition to individual donors.

“I'm sure I speak on behalf of everyone to say a big thank you to all concerned in arranging  this afternoon's Tea Dance, which was thoroughly enjoyable.”

Tea Dance Attendee.

• In these difficult times, we continued our Christmas programme of support to some of the most vulnerable in Westminster. Volunteers from Westminster Connects helped to deliver over 800 Christmas hampers to some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable older people in the city.  545 of these hampers were funded by Victoria Business Improvement Districts. And thanks to Acari Group Limited, Explora Security and individual donors who made this possible, as well as Westminster City Council for their support with selecting recipients.  

"I'm writing on behalf of my mother, who recently received a Christmas hamper from the Sir Simon Milton Foundation through Westminster Council. She has Alzheimer's and now doesn't get out a huge amount. So, your kind gift made her feel part of the world, and that is hugely meaningful and satisfying to her. And, as her son, may I say that the positive effect that your gift has had on her means more than words can say. "

Son of Hamper Recipient 

What we are going to do next

Towards the end of 2024, trustees discussed their future strategy and agreed continued focus on the two core areas of supporting disadvantaged young people and older people in Westminster, with a focus on the following activities: 

• Young people:
  • Launch two new five-year grant partnerships aimed at young people in education and training. 
  • Continue to support students from low income families at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge through the Sir Simon Milton Bursary scheme.
  • Fulfil existing scholarship, bursary and grant commitments.
• Older people:
  • Continue to deliver the Sir Simon Milton Foundation Tea Dance.
  • Continue to fund the Christmas hampers programme to vulnerable people in Westminster.