Students Award Grants to Canterbury Community Groups

Kent Community Foundation recently partnered with the University of Kent to establish the Kent Student Philanthropy Fund with funding donated by Philanthropist David Jamilly to allow students to learn first-hand about charitable giving.

The Philanthropy in Action module that the students participated in, was run in partnership with Kent Community Foundation who managed the grants and co-delivered several workshops, providing students with insight into the charitable sector, grant making processes, and the challenges of charitable giving. Students also heard from several charities who outlined their work and the issues locally that they are trying to address.

After reviewing the many applications, the undergraduate students chose to award grants of £750 to two small community organisations operating in the Canterbury district, Music4 Wellbeing and City Impact CIC.

Natalie Smith, Director of Grants and Impact, Kent Community Foundation, said, “We are delighted to be working with the University of Kent on this innovative project which is one of the first of its kind to be run jointly by a UK university and a Community Foundation to introduce students to charitable giving. Having reviewed the applications, the students presented authoritative cases for why the causes should receive funding and impressed us with the arguments they put forward.”

Dr Alison Body, Senior Lecturer in Philanthropic Studies and Social Policy at the University of Kent said: "We've been delighted to work in partnership with Kent Community Foundation to deliver this innovative module, it has been a fantastic experiential learning process for the students, with great outcomes for local community organisations as well."

BA (Hons) Sociology student Joshua Fernandez said: "The Philanthropy in Action module has enabled me to gain first-hand experience of the practicalities and decision-making process involved in philanthropic giving. Furthermore, this module has given me the opportunity to be involved in a project which provides a real difference to local charitable organisations."

BA (Hons) Sociology and Social Policy student Cathryn Stevens said: "The ability to learn about philanthropy whilst actively being involved in the grant giving process meant I was able to better understand what charities have to go through to get funding and the benefits and restraints of the current system. Working with Kent Community Foundation was a great experience, and the end result of giving money to two extremely worthy causes is a great thing to have been able to do as a student."