Apply through one of our five Themed Funds below

Children, Young People & Families

Projects that are making a real difference to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in Kent and Medway. Projects supporting young people who are disadvantaged which might include: living in poverty or deprivation, abuse or neglect, disability, young carers, children in care, bereavement, mental health issues, disability, low aspiration or poor achievement. From early intervention work, such as parent workshops and parent-toddler cooking classes, to youth clubs and mentoring programmes for young people at risk; we support a broad spectrum of projects that ensure young people and their families can access activities and support from which they might otherwise be excluded.

Average grant size £4,000. Fidelity up to £15,000, Ashford Leisure Trust up to £10,000.

Apply now

Elderly & Isolated

Local projects that address the challenges faced by elderly adults and support people to stay well, healthy and independent and, most importantly, combat social isolation. There are considerable challenges associated with an ageing population including loneliness, isolation and illness. Our Elderly and Isolated theme supports projects that give elderly adults the opportunity to have regular social interaction, such as social activities, ‘men’s shed’ projects or lunch clubs. It provides practical support to older people living alone, such as one-to-one befriending schemes or transport services enabling them to get out and about. We fund inter-generational activities; enable older people to use their skills and experience to make a contribution to their communities; and offer activities that encourage participation in sport and physical activity or opportunities to participate in arts and culture such as choirs or museums.

Average grant size £4,000. Medway Better Connected up to £3,000, Fidelity up to £15,000, Ashford Leisure Trust up to £10,000.

Apply now

Vulnerable Adults

Projects that help vulnerable adults stay well and independent, with a focus on early intervention projects to tackle disadvantage, deprivation and social exclusion. A vulnerable person is someone who may need care and is unable to protect themselves from harm or exploitation. Someone may not appear visibly vulnerable, but there are many people in our communities who need extra support or protection, such as people with a learning difficulty, physical disability, living with a mental health issue, victims of abuse, care leavers, refugees and asylum seekers, ex-offenders and carers.

The Vulnerable Adults Themed Fund exists to support projects that are working to look after and promote the safety, well-being and independence of vulnerable adults. We support projects that give vulnerable people the opportunity to socialise with others; combatting isolation and social barriers. Through this theme we provide life skills and work experience for adults with learning difficulties, physical disabilities, or mental health issues. The theme protects victims of abuse and integrates marginalised groups in to the wider community. It supports carers who look after family members or loved ones at home, including offering respite or social activities.

Average grant size £4,000. Fidelity up to £15,000, Ashford Leisure Trust up to £10,000.

Apply now

Employability, Skills & Enterprise

Projects which raise the aspirations and increase the skills and opportunities of people who are far from the labour market. The aim of the Employment, Skills & Enterprise Themed Fund is to make a real difference to the lives of people who are far from the labour market. The theme supports projects working with young people/ NEETs, young parents, ex-offenders, ex-forces, those with financial barriers and those with learning disabilities, mental health issues or physical disabilities. We look for projects that provide accredited training, apprenticeships, meaningful work experience and life skills/employment skills workshops for the disadvantaged. The theme supports strategic projects which aim to prevent young people from becoming NEETs.

Average grant size £4,000. Fidelity up to £15,000, Ashford Leisure Trust up to £10,000.

Apply now

Environment

NEW FOR SEPTEMBER 2021

Think global, act local – projects which encourage local community action to improve the spaces in which we live, and educational work focusing on global environmental issues across Kent & Medway. The aim of the Environment Theme is to improve our local spaces and to encourage more sustainable ways of living. We look for projects that understand the link between poverty of life and poverty of environment, and try to improve those communities most affected. These may include planting of trees and hedging regeneration, restoration of local habitats, organised litter picking and beach cleans, community garden projects, projects focused on educating children about local wildlife and nature, projects focused on learning about growing and cooking your own food, projects to make community buildings more green – solar panels, insulation etc.

Average grant size £4,000.

Apply now

Application deadline dates for Themed Funds:

Our Themed Funds are open all year round and decisions are made every 3 months.

Next Application Deadline: 30th November 2021

How much you can apply for from Themed Funds:

Average grants size up to £4,000.

Priority will be given to groups with an annual income up to £1 million.

When to expect to a decision after applying:

Applications submitted between 1st March 2021 and 31st May 2021 will usually receive decisions by mid-September 2021

Applications submitted between 1st June 2021 and 31st August 2021 will usually receive decisions by mid-December 2021

Applications submitted between 1st September 2021 and 30th November 2021 will usually receive decisions by mid-March 2022

Applications submitted between 1st December 2021 and 28th February 2022 will usually receive decisions by mid-June 2022

Other funds currently open for applications

Medway Better Connected Community Chest Fund

Up to £3,000

Elderly & Isolated, Capital

Medway

APPLY THROUGH THEMED FUNDS (Elderly & Isolated)

The Medway Better Connected Community Chest Fund offers grants up to £3,000 for local groups/organisations delivering community benefit to people over the age of 65 living in Medway, in order to reduce loneliness and social isolation. Funding can cover virtual or online activities, and priority will be given to those organisations using physical activity, art and culture or intergenerational ideas to engage their beneficiaries. Project-specific capital costs will be considered, as will set-up costs for new activities for the target group. The focus of the fund is to increase the range of fun, stimulating, positive activities where older people in Medway can enjoy themselves and make friends.

Closing date

4th October 2021

The Fidelity Fund

£5,000 to £15,000

Capital / Strategic

All Locations

APPLY THROUGH THEMED FUNDS

Capital and infrastructure projects that strengthen robust, registered charities with a solid track record over at least three years. Minimum income more than £100K, grant request must be less than 10% of this total income.

This fund primarily supports organisations benefiting those most disadvantaged in society (especially children and young people), and is open to considering organisations active in the field of health and environmental conservation.

The Fidelity UK Foundation has a focus on the capacity of charities, by which we mean the capability, knowledge or resources that charities need to be effective. Grants should focus on helping organisations strengthen their impact, effectiveness and/or sustainability - therefore strengthening their ability to achieve their mission. This could include investment in leadership, strategic planning, technology (not hardware), fundraising, financial management or impact measurement.

Click here for more information about the fund guidelines.

Closing date

31st December 2021

Ashford Leisure Trust Fund

up to £10,000

Children, Young People & Families, Elderly & Isolated, Vulnerable Adults

Ashford

APPLY THROUGH THEMED FUNDS

Are you a sports club, a community group that offers physical activities or a charity with a physical health focus? This fund is for you.

The purpose of the fund is to support local charitable projects delivering healthy recreational activities in the borough of Ashford, prioritising new activities in new parts of the district. Eligible activities include indoor and outdoor pursuits, those that increase physical well-being and those that bring people together in interests that raise the heart-rate.

Healthy recreational activities which engage people to mobilise, either as individuals or in a group or team. This would include (but not exclusively) activities such as dance, walking groups, table tennis, martial arts, golf, archery, chair exercise, bowling, and all types of sport and athletics, together with exercise forms such as Yoga, Pilates and Zumba. Activities can be targeted at any age group and any sector of the population.

The grant-making area is the whole of Ashford borough (click here to see a map), stretching from Chilham in the north, to Hamstreet in the south and from Monks Horton in the east to Biddenden in the west.

The priority of the fund is to encourage those who do not currently engage in positive recreational activities, perhaps because of lack of opportunity, confidence or finance, to get active.

As such, we anticipate supporting new activities in new venues and expanding existing activities to reach more people.

Grants available will be up to £10,000, possibly more for exceptional applications, although we anticipate many grants made will be for smaller amounts.

Grants will cover project delivery costs including activity costs, small capital costs such as equipment upgrades, project staff and volunteer costs. Core project costs – rent of a space, or activity insurance or training/accreditation fees etc – will also be considered.

The fund will be open throughout the year – apply through our themed funds (see links below). Consider your beneficiary “type” and select the theme which is most appropriate:

If you will be engaging with all different ages, please select the theme which reflects the majority of your beneficiaries.

Applications received by end of February will be considered at a panel in April.

Applications received by end August will be considered at a panel in October.

Contact natalie@kentcf.org.uk if you have any questions.