Local community groups and charities working to achieve positive social outcomes, using early intervention where possible, tackling disadvantage, deprivation and social exclusion. This fund is specifically seeking to fund small grassroots groups with an annual income of below £100,000. 

Decisions are made three times per year. Please use the following rounds as a guideline of when to expect a decision:

Applications submitted between 1st September 2020 and 31st December 2020 will receive decisions by 29th February 2021

Applications submitted between 1st December 2020 and 31st May 2021 will receive decisions by the 31st August 2021

Applications submitted between 1st June 2021 and 31st August 2021 will receive decisions by the 30th November 2021

The fund will support projects for children, young people and families, participation in sports, improvements to community facilities such as village halls and community centres, volunteering, employability, the elderly and the disabled. The fund will also consider uniformed youth groups and children's sports groups.

Click here to view a map of areas the fund would consider funding projects. 

Please use the following rounds as a guideline of when to expect a decision:

Applications submitted between 1st January 2021 and 31st May 2021 will receive decisions by July 2021

Applications submitted between 1st June 2021 and 31st August 2021 will receive decisions by October 2021

Applications submitted between 1st September 2021 and 31st December 2021 will receive decisions by April 2022

Applications accepted from local community groups, charities and social enterprises to fund projects working with children and young people, plus projects providing support to the elderly across Kent and Medway.

Decisions are made three times per year. Please use the following rounds as a guideline of when to expect a decision:

Applications submitted between 1st September 2020 and 30th November 2020 will receive decisions by 29th February 2021

Applications submitted between 1st December 2020 and 31st May 2021 will receive decisions by the 31st August 2021

Applications submitted between 1st June 2021 and 31st August 2021 will receive decisions by the 30th November 2021

APPLY THROUGH THEMED FUNDS.

To support local projects addressing a range of community needs within Kent to improve the lives of disadvantaged, isolated and vulnerable people. 

Some particular areas of interest include; projects focusing on prevention; young people, teenagers, education and grittier projects dealing with challenging issues such as self-harm and teenage pregnancy. Projects local to Edenbridge are also a particular interest. 

APPLY THROUGH THEMED FUNDS

This fund supports projects across Kent and  Medway, working around four broad themes – Children Young People & Families, Elderly & Isolated, Employability, Skills & Enterprise and Vulnerable Adults. Project and core costs considered, as are small capital requests. Decisions are made quarterly. 

Applications up to £5,000 from locally-based charities - apply to Kent Community Foundation. The trustees of The Lawson Trust sometimes award larger grants by invitation only - contact Hayley Corker in the first instance at enquiries@lawsontrust.org

You can apply to Lawson twice a year, six months apart, via our themed funds. Your application will be considered by the Lawson panel, and by any other KCF panels which we think may be interested in it. Please note Lawson is unlikely to fund the same organisation more than once in a year – whether directly or via Kent Community Foundation.

If you are not sure whether to apply via Kent Community Foundation or direct to Lawson, please contact natalie@kentcf.org.uk for advice

APPLY THROUGH THEMED FUNDS

This fund supports new or existing charities and community groups within the Tonbridge and Malling area, working around four broad themes – Children Young People & Families, Elderly & Isolated, Employability, Skills & Enterprise and Vulnerable Adults.

Applications are open all year round and decisions are made every 3 months. Please see the Themed Funds further up on this webpage for more details about application deadlines and when decisions are made. 

Grants will be made up £5,000 but exceptional applications may receive up to £7,500. 

APPLY THROUGH THEMED FUNDS

This fund supports new or existing charities and community groups, working around four broad themes – Children Young People & Families, Elderly & Isolated, Employability, Skills & Enterprise and Vulnerable Adults.

Applications are open all year round and decisions are made every 3 months. Please see the Themed Funds further up on this webpage for more details about application deadlines and when decisions are made. 

Grants will be made up £5,000.

APPLY THROUGH THEMED FUNDS

To support local charitable projects delivering community benefits in Kent with a preference for North West Kent.

- Women and girls (domestic abuse and period poverty)

- Families and young carers / young people ‘s counselling services

- The promotion of reading and literacy / access to books

- Entrepreneurship, employability & skills

Applications are open all year round and decisions are made every 4 months. Please see the Themed Funds further up on this webpage for more details about application deadlines and when decisions are made. 

Grants will be made up to £5,000.

APPLY THROUGH THEMED FUNDS

Applications are open all year round and decisions are made every 4 months. Please see the Themed Funds further up on this webpage for more details about application deadlines and when decisions are made. 

Grants will be made up to £5,000.

The Made by Sport Fund offers unrestricted grants of up to £2,021 for groups delivering sports development programmes for young people up to the age of 25. This fund is specifically seeking to award grants to groups  who are using community sport provision to deliver wider social outcomes, such as improving mental health, developing life skills or reducing anti-social behaviour or crime.

Made By Sport have relaxed their criteria. Priority will still be given to groups with majority children and young people members/beneficiaries, but applications from organisations with a wider reach (those working with adults and older people too) will now also be considered. So we’re now able to accept applications for a ring-fenced children and young person project from groups working with other age ranges too, but the specific costs that the grant will cover must still be restricted to 5 – 25 year olds.

Please note, applicants must have an annual income of £75,000 or under in order to be eligible.

Click here to view FAQs for applicants 

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

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.

The Port of Dover Community Fund has been established to benefit the Dover community. We are seeking projects in two key areas:

Skills & Jobs – projects that provide opportunities to develop skills, support people on the pathway into employment and assist job creation, with a particular focus on young people.

Community - activities that enrich the social, cultural and environmental life of local communities, enhancing Dover as an attractive and welcoming place to live, work and visit.

All applications must demonstrate a long-term sustainable impact on Dover, improved quality of life for all and the needs of Dover’s young people, with a particular emphasis on aspiration, education and employability. Successful projects will bring people together, raise aspirations and standards within Dover and promote a pride in the community and place.

All projects need to show how they will benefit the Dover community and will be evaluated in terms of the impact they can demonstrate they are likely to have. Priority will be given to projects that can explain how they will make a sustainable difference. Applicants are encouraged to set out any match funding they have raised or plan to raise. One off events will be considered but applicants will need to demonstrate their long-term benefit to the community.

The panel would like to see evidence that local events are coordinated to avoid duplication and maximise impact. Consideration will be given to funding exceptional projects over three years, focusing on delivering long-term sustainable outcomes within Dover. Applications from individuals will not be considered. Geographical reach: Dover and its immediate environs.

If you have any questions please contact Rachele rachele@kentcf.org.uk

Decisions are made twice per year. Please use the following rounds as a guideline of when to expect a decision:

Applications submitted between 1st September 2020 and 30th April 2021 will receive decisions by 30th June 2021

Applications submitted between 1st May 2021 and 31st August 2021 will receive decisions by the 31st December 2021

Applications submitted between 1st September 2021 and 30th April 2022 will receive decisions by 30th June 2022

The Albert Burns Children's Charitable Trust Fund focusses mainly on children, young people and families in East Kent, in particular Thanet. 

Causes related to children up to the age of 18, with priority given to small organisations and direct support to young people. 

Grants usually of up to £5,000. 

As a guideline, applications submitted by 30th November will receive decisions by 29th February the following year.

Volunteer led groups working in Canterbury, Herne Bay and surrounding areas with preference for projects supporting children and young people.

Projects providing respite breaks for unpaid carers. This application form is for groups of carers wishing to take time out from their caring role organised by charities or community groups which cater for carers.

For individuals wishing to apply for funding for respite breaks, please see our individual funding page for information on submitting a nomination form.

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: 

• Children, Young People & Families (Click Here)
• Elderly & Isolated (Click Here)
• Vulnerable Adults (Click Here)

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. 

TO APPLY PLEASE FIRST CONTACT NATALIE@KENTCF.ORG.UK

Do you know someone – a colleague, volunteer, friend – who has a brilliant idea that could have a significant impact for social good? Do they struggle to find time or resource to follow their idea through?

The Martello Fund, administered by Kent Community Foundation, has launched the Out of the Ordinary Fund; a new fund to encourage experimentation and enterprise.

It is offering a catalyst grant of up to £5,000 to individuals seeking support to investigate/focus on/incubate an idea that they think has real potential.

Potential grantees should be nominated for a grant by a third-party organisation that knows them (and their idea!) well. Any grants awarded would be paid to the nominating organisation.

We anticipate the grant will be spent on things such as staff time, expert advisor input, expenses (for example, to see a similar idea in practice in a different part of the country), and to test out the idea.

The Out of the Ordinary Fund allows time, space and resource for innovation. The ideas can be small or large, they just need to be something new and bold.

If you’d like to find out more, or would like to nominate someone to receive a grant from this dynamic new fund, please contact Natalie at Kent Community Foundation natalie@kentcf.org.uk in the first instance.

Kent Community Foundation (KCF) is administering this fund on behalf of Kent County Council (KCC) to help organisations to adapt to the “new normal” post COVID-19. It is intended to support organisations to develop/adapt business plans and strategies to put them in a stronger position to thrive, including accessing a range of funding sources. This is about recognising that organisations will need to diversify their business models to adapt to the current challenges and increase the sustainability of organisations. It’s about helping you think through a strategic problem facing your organisation.

Grants of between £5K and £10K are available, with many being made at the lower end of the range, to purchase one-off support across a range of topics including:

• Business planning/operational review and strategy
• Income generation review and strategy
• Financial review and strategy
• Website upgrade/digital skills
• Marketing/social media enhancements

The grant could pay for a specialist time-limited intervention or for training.

We expect applicants to have identified the support they need and the providers/consultant they intend to work with and have costed this as part of their application.

Grants, once received, should be spent within six months.

Find more information, including guidance on selecting a consultant to work with here.

APPLY THROUGH ELDERLY & ISOLATED OR VULNERABLE ADULTS THEMED FUNDS

The fund also welcomes applications from local groups with projects for refurbishing and/or purchasing equipment to adapt to COVID-19 safety measures.

Grants will be made up to £2,000.

Local community Projects/Groups within 10 kilometres of the Little Cheyne Court Wind Farm.

Projects with a focus on reducing offending and re-offending rates or encouraging entrepreneurship among young people and the disadvantaged. Projects providing musical opportunities or countryside activities for disadvantaged children. 

Decisions are made twice per year. Please use the following rounds as a guideline of when to expect a decision:

Applications submitted between 1st September 2019 and 29th February 2020 will receive decisions by 31st May 2020

Applications submitted between 1st May 2020 and 31st August 2020 will receive decisions by the 30th November 2020

Applications submitted between 1st September 2020 and 28th February 2021 will receive decisions by 31st May 2021

To help and support disadvantaged children and young people within Kent, to further their education and training, in order to fulfil their potential.

Please use the following rounds as a guideline of when to expect a decision:

Applications submitted between 1st September 2020 and 28th February 2021 will receive decisions by 31st May 2021

Applications submitted between 1st May 2021 and 31st August 2021 will receive decisions by the 30th November 2021

Applications submitted between 1st September 2021 and 29th February 2022 will receive decisions by 31st May 2022

The Involving Medway small grants pot is now open for applications – and this time the invitation is extended to communities in Swale as well.

Community organisations and volunteers have been working tirelessly throughout the pandemic to connect communities and keep people safe and well. Grants of up to £2,500 are available to community groups for initiatives which help beat social isolation and encourage people in Medway and Swale to participate in community activities. This year we are particularly interested in ideas which manage to connect isolated people virtually.

Involving Medway is funded by NHS Kent and Medway CCG aiming to support healthier communities in Medway and to make sure local people have more of a say in health and care. Since 2017 more than 70 organisations have received grants for running choirs, holding woodwork classes, taking local people on special outings and setting up community gardens. Activities have benefited over 4,000 local people.

For Guidance Notes click here.

Funding for core costs e.g. utilities, rent, service delivery staff, support staff. One grant per district in Kent and Medway. Click here for full details

Click here to fill in this application form by 1st March 2021.

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.

Local community groups and charities working to achieve positive social outcomes, using early intervention where possible, tackling disadvantage, deprivation and social exclusion. This fund is specifically seeking to fund small grassroots groups with an annual income of below £100,000. 

Decisions are made three times per year. Please use the following rounds as a guideline of when to expect a decision:

Applications submitted between 1st September 2020 and 31st December 2020 will receive decisions by 29th February 2021

Applications submitted between 1st December 2020 and 31st May 2021 will receive decisions by the 31st August 2021

Applications submitted between 1st June 2021 and 31st August 2021 will receive decisions by the 30th November 2021

The fund will support projects for children, young people and families, participation in sports, improvements to community facilities such as village halls and community centres, volunteering, employability, the elderly and the disabled. The fund will also consider uniformed youth groups and children's sports groups.

Click here to view a map of areas the fund would consider funding projects. 

Please use the following rounds as a guideline of when to expect a decision:

Applications submitted between 1st January 2021 and 31st May 2021 will receive decisions by July 2021

Applications submitted between 1st June 2021 and 31st August 2021 will receive decisions by October 2021

Applications submitted between 1st September 2021 and 31st December 2021 will receive decisions by April 2022

Applications accepted from local community groups, charities and social enterprises to fund projects working with children and young people, plus projects providing support to the elderly across Kent and Medway.

Decisions are made three times per year. Please use the following rounds as a guideline of when to expect a decision:

Applications submitted between 1st September 2020 and 30th November 2020 will receive decisions by 29th February 2021

Applications submitted between 1st December 2020 and 31st May 2021 will receive decisions by the 31st August 2021

Applications submitted between 1st June 2021 and 31st August 2021 will receive decisions by the 30th November 2021

APPLY THROUGH THEMED FUNDS.

To support local projects addressing a range of community needs within Kent to improve the lives of disadvantaged, isolated and vulnerable people. 

Some particular areas of interest include; projects focusing on prevention; young people, teenagers, education and grittier projects dealing with challenging issues such as self-harm and teenage pregnancy. Projects local to Edenbridge are also a particular interest. 

APPLY THROUGH THEMED FUNDS

This fund supports projects across Kent and  Medway, working around four broad themes – Children Young People & Families, Elderly & Isolated, Employability, Skills & Enterprise and Vulnerable Adults. Project and core costs considered, as are small capital requests. Decisions are made quarterly. 

Applications up to £5,000 from locally-based charities - apply to Kent Community Foundation. The trustees of The Lawson Trust sometimes award larger grants by invitation only - contact Hayley Corker in the first instance at enquiries@lawsontrust.org

You can apply to Lawson twice a year, six months apart, via our themed funds. Your application will be considered by the Lawson panel, and by any other KCF panels which we think may be interested in it. Please note Lawson is unlikely to fund the same organisation more than once in a year – whether directly or via Kent Community Foundation.

If you are not sure whether to apply via Kent Community Foundation or direct to Lawson, please contact natalie@kentcf.org.uk for advice

APPLY THROUGH THEMED FUNDS

This fund supports new or existing charities and community groups within the Tonbridge and Malling area, working around four broad themes – Children Young People & Families, Elderly & Isolated, Employability, Skills & Enterprise and Vulnerable Adults.

Applications are open all year round and decisions are made every 3 months. Please see the Themed Funds further up on this webpage for more details about application deadlines and when decisions are made. 

Grants will be made up £5,000 but exceptional applications may receive up to £7,500. 

APPLY THROUGH THEMED FUNDS

This fund supports new or existing charities and community groups, working around four broad themes – Children Young People & Families, Elderly & Isolated, Employability, Skills & Enterprise and Vulnerable Adults.

Applications are open all year round and decisions are made every 3 months. Please see the Themed Funds further up on this webpage for more details about application deadlines and when decisions are made. 

Grants will be made up £5,000.

APPLY THROUGH THEMED FUNDS

To support local charitable projects delivering community benefits in Kent with a preference for North West Kent.

- Women and girls (domestic abuse and period poverty)

- Families and young carers / young people ‘s counselling services

- The promotion of reading and literacy / access to books

- Entrepreneurship, employability & skills

Applications are open all year round and decisions are made every 4 months. Please see the Themed Funds further up on this webpage for more details about application deadlines and when decisions are made. 

Grants will be made up to £5,000.

APPLY THROUGH THEMED FUNDS

Applications are open all year round and decisions are made every 4 months. Please see the Themed Funds further up on this webpage for more details about application deadlines and when decisions are made. 

Grants will be made up to £5,000.

The Made by Sport Fund offers unrestricted grants of up to £2,021 for groups delivering sports development programmes for young people up to the age of 25. This fund is specifically seeking to award grants to groups  who are using community sport provision to deliver wider social outcomes, such as improving mental health, developing life skills or reducing anti-social behaviour or crime.

Made By Sport have relaxed their criteria. Priority will still be given to groups with majority children and young people members/beneficiaries, but applications from organisations with a wider reach (those working with adults and older people too) will now also be considered. So we’re now able to accept applications for a ring-fenced children and young person project from groups working with other age ranges too, but the specific costs that the grant will cover must still be restricted to 5 – 25 year olds.

Please note, applicants must have an annual income of £75,000 or under in order to be eligible.

Click here to view FAQs for applicants 

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

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.

The Port of Dover Community Fund has been established to benefit the Dover community. We are seeking projects in two key areas:

Skills & Jobs – projects that provide opportunities to develop skills, support people on the pathway into employment and assist job creation, with a particular focus on young people.

Community - activities that enrich the social, cultural and environmental life of local communities, enhancing Dover as an attractive and welcoming place to live, work and visit.

All applications must demonstrate a long-term sustainable impact on Dover, improved quality of life for all and the needs of Dover’s young people, with a particular emphasis on aspiration, education and employability. Successful projects will bring people together, raise aspirations and standards within Dover and promote a pride in the community and place.

All projects need to show how they will benefit the Dover community and will be evaluated in terms of the impact they can demonstrate they are likely to have. Priority will be given to projects that can explain how they will make a sustainable difference. Applicants are encouraged to set out any match funding they have raised or plan to raise. One off events will be considered but applicants will need to demonstrate their long-term benefit to the community.

The panel would like to see evidence that local events are coordinated to avoid duplication and maximise impact. Consideration will be given to funding exceptional projects over three years, focusing on delivering long-term sustainable outcomes within Dover. Applications from individuals will not be considered. Geographical reach: Dover and its immediate environs.

If you have any questions please contact Rachele rachele@kentcf.org.uk

Decisions are made twice per year. Please use the following rounds as a guideline of when to expect a decision:

Applications submitted between 1st September 2020 and 30th April 2021 will receive decisions by 30th June 2021

Applications submitted between 1st May 2021 and 31st August 2021 will receive decisions by the 31st December 2021

Applications submitted between 1st September 2021 and 30th April 2022 will receive decisions by 30th June 2022

The Albert Burns Children's Charitable Trust Fund focusses mainly on children, young people and families in East Kent, in particular Thanet. 

Causes related to children up to the age of 18, with priority given to small organisations and direct support to young people. 

Grants usually of up to £5,000. 

As a guideline, applications submitted by 30th November will receive decisions by 29th February the following year.

Volunteer led groups working in Canterbury, Herne Bay and surrounding areas with preference for projects supporting children and young people.

Projects providing respite breaks for unpaid carers. This application form is for groups of carers wishing to take time out from their caring role organised by charities or community groups which cater for carers.

For individuals wishing to apply for funding for respite breaks, please see our individual funding page for information on submitting a nomination form.

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: 

• Children, Young People & Families (Click Here)
• Elderly & Isolated (Click Here)
• Vulnerable Adults (Click Here)

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. 

TO APPLY PLEASE FIRST CONTACT NATALIE@KENTCF.ORG.UK

Do you know someone – a colleague, volunteer, friend – who has a brilliant idea that could have a significant impact for social good? Do they struggle to find time or resource to follow their idea through?

The Martello Fund, administered by Kent Community Foundation, has launched the Out of the Ordinary Fund; a new fund to encourage experimentation and enterprise.

It is offering a catalyst grant of up to £5,000 to individuals seeking support to investigate/focus on/incubate an idea that they think has real potential.

Potential grantees should be nominated for a grant by a third-party organisation that knows them (and their idea!) well. Any grants awarded would be paid to the nominating organisation.

We anticipate the grant will be spent on things such as staff time, expert advisor input, expenses (for example, to see a similar idea in practice in a different part of the country), and to test out the idea.

The Out of the Ordinary Fund allows time, space and resource for innovation. The ideas can be small or large, they just need to be something new and bold.

If you’d like to find out more, or would like to nominate someone to receive a grant from this dynamic new fund, please contact Natalie at Kent Community Foundation natalie@kentcf.org.uk in the first instance.

Kent Community Foundation (KCF) is administering this fund on behalf of Kent County Council (KCC) to help organisations to adapt to the “new normal” post COVID-19. It is intended to support organisations to develop/adapt business plans and strategies to put them in a stronger position to thrive, including accessing a range of funding sources. This is about recognising that organisations will need to diversify their business models to adapt to the current challenges and increase the sustainability of organisations. It’s about helping you think through a strategic problem facing your organisation.

Grants of between £5K and £10K are available, with many being made at the lower end of the range, to purchase one-off support across a range of topics including:

• Business planning/operational review and strategy
• Income generation review and strategy
• Financial review and strategy
• Website upgrade/digital skills
• Marketing/social media enhancements

The grant could pay for a specialist time-limited intervention or for training.

We expect applicants to have identified the support they need and the providers/consultant they intend to work with and have costed this as part of their application.

Grants, once received, should be spent within six months.

Find more information, including guidance on selecting a consultant to work with here.

APPLY THROUGH ELDERLY & ISOLATED OR VULNERABLE ADULTS THEMED FUNDS

The fund also welcomes applications from local groups with projects for refurbishing and/or purchasing equipment to adapt to COVID-19 safety measures.

Grants will be made up to £2,000.

Local community Projects/Groups within 10 kilometres of the Little Cheyne Court Wind Farm.

Projects with a focus on reducing offending and re-offending rates or encouraging entrepreneurship among young people and the disadvantaged. Projects providing musical opportunities or countryside activities for disadvantaged children. 

Decisions are made twice per year. Please use the following rounds as a guideline of when to expect a decision:

Applications submitted between 1st September 2019 and 29th February 2020 will receive decisions by 31st May 2020

Applications submitted between 1st May 2020 and 31st August 2020 will receive decisions by the 30th November 2020

Applications submitted between 1st September 2020 and 28th February 2021 will receive decisions by 31st May 2021

To help and support disadvantaged children and young people within Kent, to further their education and training, in order to fulfil their potential.

Please use the following rounds as a guideline of when to expect a decision:

Applications submitted between 1st September 2020 and 28th February 2021 will receive decisions by 31st May 2021

Applications submitted between 1st May 2021 and 31st August 2021 will receive decisions by the 30th November 2021

Applications submitted between 1st September 2021 and 29th February 2022 will receive decisions by 31st May 2022

The Involving Medway small grants pot is now open for applications – and this time the invitation is extended to communities in Swale as well.

Community organisations and volunteers have been working tirelessly throughout the pandemic to connect communities and keep people safe and well. Grants of up to £2,500 are available to community groups for initiatives which help beat social isolation and encourage people in Medway and Swale to participate in community activities. This year we are particularly interested in ideas which manage to connect isolated people virtually.

Involving Medway is funded by NHS Kent and Medway CCG aiming to support healthier communities in Medway and to make sure local people have more of a say in health and care. Since 2017 more than 70 organisations have received grants for running choirs, holding woodwork classes, taking local people on special outings and setting up community gardens. Activities have benefited over 4,000 local people.

For Guidance Notes click here.

Funding for core costs e.g. utilities, rent, service delivery staff, support staff. One grant per district in Kent and Medway. Click here for full details

Click here to fill in this application form by 1st March 2021.

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.