Westminster Labour is proud to announce funding for two important school improvement projects in Little Venice and Maida Vale—bringing real benefits to pupils, families, and the wider community.
Creating Safer, Healthier Play at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School
Children at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School will soon enjoy more space to play safely, thanks to a £55,212 grant from Westminster’s Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL). The funding will go towards raising the height of existing fences and gates to make currently restricted areas safe for pupils to use.
This project is not just about play—it aligns with the NHS and Department for Education’s Healthy Schools Initiative, promoting physical activity, mental health, and well-being. Importantly, it also increases safety for children with special educational needs.
Beyond school hours, St Joseph’s already opens its doors to community partners. With the new improvements, the school is keen to explore further opportunities to share its space with local residents.
The grant was strongly supported by Cllr Sara Hassan, Labour Councillor for Little Venice who said: “St Joseph’s is a wonderful school, and I’m delighted it’s been awarded this grant. I’ve been keen to support this as yet another great example of Labour putting the local community infrastructure fund to good use for our community.”
An Improved Sports Hall for St George’s Catholic School
Just a few streets away, St George’s Catholic School will receive £115,581 in NCIL funding to replace the flooring in its sports hall and upgrade fittings. The current floor has become a safety hazard, limiting both PE lessons and wider community use.
The new resilient surface will create a modern, multi-purpose facility—benefiting over 1,100 students, local community groups, and staff. This project was shaped by community feedback and aims to foster physical activity, teamwork, and social cohesion across all age groups.
Local Labour councillors in Maida Vale strongly backed this project, recognising the importance of inclusive, high-quality facilities for young people and the wider community. Councillor Geoff Barraclough said :“We’re delighted to be able to help these two Maida Vale schools with grants from neighbourhood CIL– this is a great use of this money, which is levied from property developers to be spent on local infrastructure.”
Delivering for Local Families
Both projects are supported by Westminster City Council’s Education team and were championed by Labour Councillors working in partnership with schools and residents. They reflect Labour’s ongoing commitment to healthy, inclusive communities where public spaces work for everyone.
We look forward to seeing these improvements come to life—and to continuing our work with schools to make Westminster a better place to live, learn and grow.
