Kent Community Foundation recently visited two charities in Folkestone to observe, how matching those who want to help, with those who need the help, makes such a difference to community projects.
Kent Community Foundation trustees Melissa Murdoch DL and Robert Sackville-West DL recently visited Locavore Growing Project run by Custom Folkestone CIC and The Folkestone Youth Project at The Shed, with the Foundation’s Development Manager Sophie Hosking, to see first-hand the difference those who set up funds with Kent Community Foundation are making across the county.
Folkestone based projects like Locavore Growing Project and The Folkestone Youth Project are vital to give younger people, often from deprived communities purpose, direction and something positive to do with their time. Both organisations have received grants from one of the over ninety philanthropic funds that Kent Community Foundation administer.
Locavore Growing Project which is run by Custom Folkestone CIC is working at the intersections of art, food, agroecology and activism to connect people with where their food comes from, how it’s grown and its role in social, environmental and climate justice.
Through their Patchwork Farm vision, they are supporting a new generation of community leaders from marginalised groups to access land and develop the skills, creativity and confidence to be the change needed for a sustainable future. At the heart of this project is their work with children and young people, particularly in East Folkestone and Folkestone Harbour, wards which fall in the top 10% multiple deprivation index.
The Folkestone Youth Project at The Shed is based in a challenging and deprived part of Folkestone where crime, especially violent crime, is of concern. The Shed provides a free safe space for young people aged 10 -25 years with free activities and advice to support the social, emotional and physical development of some of the most vulnerable and at-risk young people. They work in a holistic way, promoting kindness, positive contribution and putting mobile phones away and engaging.
Sophie Hosking, Development Manager, Kent Community Foundation said, “Kent Community Foundation is unrivalled in its knowledge of local causes and we are very proud to assist individuals, families, and businesses, who want to help, to establish their own charitable fund within Kent Community Foundation. Visiting the projects that we support is not only a pleasure but gives us valuable information and insight about the huge difference that our fund-holders make to communities across Kent.”
Robert Sackville-West DL, Chair of Kent Community Foundation Trustees, and a fund-holder said, “Kent Community Foundation has been finding, funding, and supporting some of the smallest voluntary organisations in the county for over twenty one years and in this time, has distributed almost £60 million to support thousands of small organisations. Meeting the people who run the projects that are supported by Kent Community Foundation is so valuable to better understand the difficulties they are facing and how grants are making such a difference to their work. There is a lot of information on the Foundation’s website about the positive impact this financial support makes and I would encourage those who might like to discuss what becoming a fund-holder entails, to contact the Development Team.”
If you would like to find out more about opening a Fund with Kent Community Foundation, please contact amy@Kentcf.org.uk
To find out more about the organisations visit –
Locavore Growing Project which is run by Custom Folkestone CIC – www.customfoodlab.org/locavore-growing-project
The Folkestone Youth Project at The Shed www.originalshed.org.uk
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 one years. In this time, it has distributed almost £60 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.
