The suggestion of a petting zoo turned a routine grant meeting into a barnstorming debate — with councillors less than keen on cuddly creatures.
The idea emerged from a bid by youth charity Regenerate, seeking £9,963 to host three community festivals on local estates in Putney and Roehampton. The aim is to build connection and wellbeing through fun, fitness and food, and council staff recommended its approval.
But one detail in the application left councillors feeling sheepish.
“Paying for a petting zoo in 2025, I don’t think is something that we should be funding,” said Cllr Rigby, noting concerns over animal welfare and the ethics of using animals as entertainment. “It’s kind of like the last relic of the circus.”
Cllr Worrall took a practical angle, suggesting the money would be better spent on extending the festivals beyond their current three-hour window: “Maybe the money that would be used to pay for the petting zoo could actually be redirected to putting on the festival for an extra hour.”
The committee ultimately approved the full grant — but asked officers to speak with Regenerate about dropping the petting zoo and considering alternative ways to use the funds. A few councillors noted that extending the hire of a bouncy castle might be more appealing — and less ethically fraught — than carting in livestock.
What Was Funded — and What Wasn’t
The council’s grants panel considered 16 applications [pdf] totalling just over £118,000 in the first round of the new financial year. With £319,500 available, officers recommended awarding £62,895 to eight groups — a recommendation councillors approved in full.
Approved Projects (£62,895 awarded):
- Regenerate – £9,963 for youth-led festivals in Roehampton and Putney
- Roehampton Partnership – £8,610 for community outreach and shared equipment
- Roslyn Park FC – £9,950 for a youth sports and family engagement project
- Tara Theatre – £7,590 for anti-isolation arts sessions
- Contacts – £4,982 for inclusive family day trips to Brighton
- Airbus – £9,570 for an education project praised for engaging local schools
- Youth Battersea – £10,000 for their “Young Influencers” training scheme
- Ibstock Place School – £2,230 for hockey sessions for state school pupils
Rejected Projects (8 groups):
Applications from the First East Putney Scouts, CDARS, Fitness for All CIC, Friends of Trinity St Mary’s, Rathbone Boxing Club, Sports for Health, Work and Play Scrapstore, and Aboyne Residents Association were declined, mostly due to:
- Insufficient clarity about need
- Weak project monitoring
- Ineligible use of funds for ongoing activity
Officers emphasised that in many cases, groups could return in the next round with stronger applications — and councillors repeatedly asked officers to offer that support.
“£58 million in reserves” and hockey sticks?
Ibstock’s awkward grant
The most debated application of the night came from Ibstock Place School, which applied for just over £2,000 to support hockey coaching for disadvantaged children from Roehampton state schools.
The private school’s total project cost was £7,730, with their request covering equipment and transport. Officers noted that the project offered “good value for money,” and councillors agreed the benefit to local children was clear.
But the school’s reported £58 million in reserves drew sharp questions.
“This comes up time and time again… we have organisations with massive reserves making applications to us for a pittance,” said Cllr Worrall. “It feels uncomfortable that we’re [giving money to] huge organisations like this when others are really struggling.”
Cllr Mayorkas appeared to agree: “Were they not to get this grant, would they do this kind of project anyway as part of their CSR?”
Despite serious reservations, the grant was approved — with a caveat that the issue of reserves be re-examined before future funding rounds.
Other Groups Face Financial Questions
Roslyn Park FC, a rugby-linked community charity, was also approved — but councillors flagged concerns over its finances.
“It’s the auditor’s note that’s included in here I find quite interesting,” said Cllr Worrall, referring to a warning about negative unrestricted reserves.
Officers made the grant conditional on the group supplying updated financial accounts, currently being finalised.
Meanwhile, Tara Theatre was awarded £7,590 for its “Meeting Your Neighbours” programme — but not before Cllr Rigby raised a long memory:
“I remember around six years ago when Tara Arts was struggling, and I think we gave them — I think the mayor gave them £25,000 and we gave them £25,000… It was on the basis that they were going to open the theatre up to the community.”
Officers promised to look into the organisation’s current outreach efforts and report back outside of the grants process.
Several committee members made recommendations to tighten future guidance for applicants. These included:
- Clearer expectations around how to justify large reserves
- Improved bid-writing support for small community groups
- Guidance to help schools demonstrate wider community benefit
- Clarification that annual or ongoing events must show renewed impact or purpose
As Cllr Worrall put it:
“I would ask the grants team… to relook at the issue of organizations with millions of pounds of reserves making applications to what is technically a very small amount of money.”
And Finally… Let’s Not Kid Ourselves
While the council didn’t ban petting zoos outright, the message was clear: in 2025, cuddly animals on public funds may be more trouble than they’re worth. Especially when a longer bouncy castle booking could deliver just as many smiles — with far less bleating.
