Funding Advice and Information Clinic for Charities and Community Groups

On 21 March, grant makers Kent Community Foundation will be offering advice and information about funding at a clinic in Sevenoaks.

Experienced grant makers Kent Community Foundation will be holding a funding advice and information clinic at Mencap Hall in Sevenoaks on 21 March for community groups and charities who need financial support.

Natalie Smith, Director of Grants and Impact, Kent Community Foundation said, “Attendees at our funding clinic  can expect, to gain an overview of the range of funding options that are available for projects or core costs and will be able to use the free event to network, share best practices and make valuable contacts with other groups and organisations. There will also be an opportunity for organisations to discuss their individual funding needs with a member of the grants team.”

 

The free event is  being  held at Mencap Hall, 71 Hitchen Hatch Lane, Sevenoaks TN13 3AY between 12.30 and 4pm on 21 March and booking a place is essential.

Natalie Smith, continued, “We have been regularly hosting funding clinics at venues across the county for many years and they are always very well attended. This clinic in Sevenoaks is the first of 2023 and we expect the free places to be booked very quickly as charitable organisations across the county feel the impact of the escalating cost of living crisis and are facing real concerns about how they will be able to continue to deliver their services.”

Ashford based community group Accessible Coders, who support people with a physical and or learning disability, to overcome the barriers faced when using technology, attended a Kent Community Foundation funding fair last year.

Kelly Hogben, Director of Finance and Marketing and Anthony Dale, Director of Augmentative & Alternative Communications, Accessible Coders said, “The advice clinic gave us a wealth of information to help us with our application for funding towards the costs of paying our part time staff members and we were delighted to receive a grant of £3,000. We would certainly recommend that charitable organisations book a place to see what funding might be available for their initiatives and to meet the Kent Community Foundation team.”

Tunbridge Wells community group Venture Together, who focus on overcoming barriers to employability, attended a previous Kent Community Foundation funding clinic and their CEO Janet Phythian said, “After failing to gain funding from Kent Community Foundation for a previous project we took the opportunity to attend one of their advice clinics. After the event we applied for help to cover some of the core costs which allow us to provide our services and advice to low skilled and marginalised people. This second application was successful and we received a £5,000 grant. The advice we received really helped us to understand what Kent Community Foundation was looking for from applications and made the process much easier for us.”

Jackie Sumner, Trustee, Venture Together said, “”The support from Kent Community Foundation is second to none and Venture Together goes from strength to strength on the basis of the initial funding we secured”.

To book a place at the funding clinic please email paul@kentcf.org.uk

Organisations not able to attend the Kent Community Foundation funding clinic can find out more information by visiting www.kentcf.org.uk/funding

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 over twenty years. In this time, it has distributed over £50 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-seven 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 ninety 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.

www.kentcf.org.uk