Small Charity Week gives everyone the opportunity to thank the small charities who make a real difference to communities across the UK
Over the last twenty years Kent Community Foundation has awarded over £44 million in just over 9000 grants to organisations, families and individuals across Kent and Medway. As part of the Foundation’s commitment to the charitable sector, they regularly survey small local charities to formulate a clearer picture of the assistance that is required and the major concerns to achieving charitable goals, to ensure their grant making strategy is aligned.
The good news for small charities across the county, is that the May 2021 Kent Community Foundation survey revealed that every charity that participated was confident that they would still be operating in a years’ time compared with only 70% of those surveyed last November. This confidence was despite demand for their services continuing to see an increase. The positive response to the pandemic from small charities means that 40% are collaborating and three quarters have moved part or all their services online to ensure crucial services were not interrupted.
Josephine McCartney, Chief Executive, Kent Community Foundation, said, “Over the last twenty years Kent Community Foundation has awarded over £44 million to small organisations and we want to thank every community group and charity for all they do to make a difference to people’s lives across the county. Last year, was unlike any other and my team responded to thousands of applications and awarded an unprecedented £5m in financial support to help these essential organisations. Small Charity Week gives us the opportunity to say thank you to these amazing organisations and to perhaps take the time to consider donating or volunteering.”
To find out how Kent Community Foundation supports small charities visit www.kentcf.org.uk and to discuss donating please call the team on 01303 814500
Notes to Editors
Results of the Kent Community Foundation Survey
100% of respondents were confident they’ll still be operating in March, compared to 68% in Nov 2020
There’s been a continued upward trajectory in demand for the charity’s services – 47% in May 2020, 59% in Nov 2020, to 74% in the latest survey
With 25% of those who said demand had increased not being able to meet the demand
40% had to recruit to meet the increased demand
Organisations have pulled together during the pandemic, with 40% saying they had collaborated with other third-party organisations more than they usually would.
Only 4% said they had collaborated less and 14% said they hadn’t collaborated with others
The majority (68%) said they had moved part or all of their services online and 60% of those organisations intend to continue to deliver those services online
When asked whether there were barriers to returning to face-to-face services: 60% cited uncertainty around COVID restrictions and 22% said space or location was no longer available
More than a quarter (27%) said they would not be running fundraising events but of those who said they would, 60% said they would either be face-to-face or both online and face-to-face.
43% said they currently struggle, or will struggle, to recruit volunteers in the coming months with 73% of those who said they struggle citing nervousness around the risk of infection from COVID
Other reasons given for recruiting volunteers include “their priorities have changed or have found other interests” and “I think that people will be putting their family’s first and doing more of what they want to in their spare time instead of volunteering”
The survey was completed in May 2021 by 184 small charities
About Small Charities Week
Small Charity Week is a campaign which was first established by the Foundation for Social Improvement (the FSI) in 2010 to celebrate and raise the profile of the small charity sector. From 2020 the campaign has been delivered by The FSI, NCVO, NAVCA, Local Giving and Small Charities Coalition, all passionate about the work of the Small Charity Sector.
About Kent Community Foundation
Grant-maker Kent Community Foundation has been finding, funding, and supporting some of the smallest voluntary organisations in the county for 20 years. In this time, it has distributed over £44 million to support thousands of small charities and deserving causes where a modest sum of money can make a significant impact.
They are part of a UK wide accredited network of forty-six Community Foundations who are committed to improving the lives of local people and communities, particularly the most vulnerable, isolated, and disadvantaged by matching those who want to help, with those who need the help.
Responsible for more than 80 philanthropic funds, Kent Community Foundation is unrivalled in its knowledge of local causes and assists individuals, families, and businesses, who want to help, to establish and administer their own charitable funds.
