Labour-run Westminster City Council has brought together dozens of local charities with local businesses for the latest “Meet the Charity” showcase, a practical, energetic event designed to spark new partnerships and help businesses support projects that make a real difference in the community.
Labour-run Westminster City Council’s Meet the Charities event.
Hosted in partnership with Ridge and One Westminster, the event connected over 40 voluntary and community sector organisations with Westminster employers looking to volunteer, donate, or collaborate on local initiatives. The atmosphere on the day was described as “buzzing,” with both businesses and charities praising the quality of conversations and the ease of making meaningful connections.
This year’s event focused on the growing number of businesses that want to contribute to Westminster’s community priorities, whether by tackling the cost-of-living crisis, supporting climate action, expanding digital inclusion, or offering practical help to residents in need.
A simple way for businesses to do good locally
Many Westminster businesses already deliver strong Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes, but often say they struggle to identify the right local partners. Events like Meet the Charity give them a route to understand where their skills, funding, volunteers and resources can have the most impact. They are looking for trusted local organisations aligned with their values, and they want clear, curated opportunities that make it easy to engage. “Meet the Charity” provides that bridge — creating the conditions for long-term, practical collaboration.
The event is part of a growing programme of work designed to strengthen the city’s voluntary sector and support Westminster’s Fairer Economy ambitions, complemented by the Community Investment Platform (CIP), which already showcases 30+ local projects for businesses to support.
Helping charities under pressure
Many charities across Westminster are facing significant demand from residents struggling with rising costs to organisations dealing with increased homelessness, loneliness and climate-related challenges.
The event was designed to help those charities tell their story directly to employers, with the aim of securing:
- Corporate volunteering
- Pro bono professional support
- Donations of equipment and goods
- Financial contributions
- Long-term strategic partnerships
Several charities reported new relationships already taking shape, with follow-up meetings scheduled in the weeks after the event.
Councillor Geoff Barraclough, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, said:
“So many Westminster businesses want to do the right thing — they want to volunteer, donate, and support local priorities. ‘Meet the Charity’ makes that simple. By bringing charities and employers together in one room, we’re helping great local organisations find the partners they need to grow and helping businesses target their support where it will matter most.”
Part of a bigger movement for a Fairer Economy
The event sits alongside other major Westminster initiatives, including:
- the Westminster Anchor Alliance, bringing together the city’s largest employers to coordinate community investment programmes
- the Community Investment Platform, matching businesses with specific charitable projects (over £44,000 in financial and goods donations recorded during the pilot)
- the Council’s social value programme, which continues to grow the number of businesses supporting community priorities through volunteering, apprenticeships and financial contributions