Kingston 2025 broadens cultural reach with community grants

Sewing workshops with RBKares
New arrivals to Kingston will create stitched panels expressing their story for a garment reflective of Kingston's fashion heritage

A total of 11 community groups have been funded to celebrate the diverse cultures of the Royal Borough of Kingston as part of the Kingston 2025 programme.

The grants of up to £3000 have been awarded to the successful organisations by a panel of independent community and voluntary sector representatives working with Kingston Council. 

The 11 projects focus on the Kingston 2025 themes of sharing stories and bringing communities together to reflect on  the borough’s past, present and future.  They encompass everything from a textiles project with refugees to storytelling workshops with school children. 

The Kingston 2025 festival marks 1100 years since the crowning of King Athelstan, the first King of a united England, right in the heart of Kingston.  

One of the grants has been awarded to local charity RBKares. It is receiving funding for a weekly sewing workshop for refugees that will reach out to some of the newest arrivals to the borough.  

Kate Kenyon BEM, Chair of RBKares explained: 

“Working with textiles - which is a common part of cultures around the globe -  gives the people who take part a way to tell their story, perhaps for the first time. In celebrating Kingston 2025 people can not only reflect on their past journey but also what they want for their future.” 

Once finished the fabric panels created by project participants will be sewn together to create a garment. The final piece will be a culmination of the work of everyone who took part, and gives a nod to Kingston’s significant place in fashion history. 

Meanwhile, Story Storks have received funding to work with children at Athelstan Primary School in Kingston to delve into the history of their school and its regal namesake. 

Sara Cantrill, founder of Story Storks said: 

“This is a great opportunity for children to be hands-on local historians exploring saxon and contemporary history right on their doorstep and for the community to be involved in sharing their memories.”  

The 11 projects funded are:

  • Kingston Carnival - Mas Design Workshops - Kingston Race and Equalities Council

  • Breakfast Club Discussions - Dialogue Society

  • Inclusive Community Drumming Workshops  (- Community Drumming CIC

  • ‘On the Origin of King Athelstan School’ Heritage  Project - Story Storks

  • Creative Sewing Project  for Refugees - RBKares

  • Interactive environmental activities - Citizen Zoo

  • Kingston Growing Together Celebration Event - New Malden Town Centre Partnership

  • Kingston Association for the Blind - volunteer training to improve accessibility to events

  • Melody of Memories (senior citizens choir) - Voices of Hope

  • Heritage Visits - Learn English At Home

  • Decca Records and The Sound of Music Story- New Malden Residents' Association

Published: 4th April 2025