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Today, on World Earth Day, Kent Community Foundation launched its Environmental Strategy to protect the county’s beautiful countryside and coastline and address social issues which are intertwined with environmental impact.

Josephine McCartney, Chief Executive, Kent Community Foundation, said, “Kent Community Foundation is launching an environmental strategy and a new fund to safeguard our county’s natural habitat and green spaces.

“It’s not just about the need to look after our natural environment for our own pleasure today and in years to come, but because it provides opportunities to address social issues.

“Changes in our natural environment disproportionately affect those most vulnerable in Kent and Medway. The new strategy and fund is part of the move to help address the potential future impacts of warmer, wetter winters and hotter, drier summers on the future prosperity, environmental quality, and health and well-being of our local communities.

“As place-based grant-makers, Community Foundations are pioneers of the statement ‘think global, act local’ and in partnership with donors and the local voluntary and community sector we can facilitate dynamic change in our own ‘back yard’. We believe that local community action can be at the heart of delivering solutions that not only minimise the impact on the environment, but also offer additional benefits that local people and communities can reap.”

Kent Community Foundation’s Environmental Strategy responds to the national objective of net zero carbon by 2050, set by HM Government (and monitored by the UK Committee on Climate Change), and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals which now constitute best practice as defined by their umbrella body, UK Community Foundations.

Supporting organisations that protect the environment is not a new funding direction for Kent Community Foundation. Over the last twenty years they have awarded many grants to organisations and projects such as No Walls Gardens CIC, The Limes Community Garden and Friends of Westbrook Pond, which aim to preserve and conserve our natural environment while also bringing communities together for social good. The new Kent Community Foundation Environmental Strategy and Fund for the Environment will create even more opportunities for local charitable organisations to access financial support and for philanthropists who have a passion for environmental and social issues to work with the Foundation.

The new Kent Community Foundation environmental strategy launched with an hour-long webinar with Q&A, ‘Gardening in the Garden of England’ with Andy Garland form BBC Radio Kent and Viv Hunt, Head Gardener at Godinton House and Gardens. 

Find out more about Kent Community Foundation’s environmental strategy here.

Donate to the Fund for the Environment.

MASSIVE 'thank you ' to everyone at Kent Community Foundation. Your funding support is HUGELY appreciated and has enabled us to get into the heart of local communities with REAL, affordable, healthy and tasty food that does so much more than feed people.

Community chef Mike Spackman, Sheppey Matters

KCF's enthusiasm for what we are doing and hoping to do, coupled with helpful advice, gave us the confidence to take this daunting step which has paid off.

Liz Turner, Octopus Foundation

It's great having a foundation that empowers organisations and charities in our community to make real positive differences and changes!

Tom, MMK Mind