Since 1970 Earth Day has been marked annually on 22 April to encourage people to take time to appreciate the environment around them.
As part of their environmental strategy, launched on Earth Day 2021, grant-maker Kent Community Foundation has pledged to support local voluntary groups protecting the county’s countryside and coastline. Given its compelling link to creating more resilient communities and helping to address a multitude of social issues for local people, the environment is one of the Foundation’s five priority areas of funding. In three years, Kent Community Foundation has awarded £228,970 to community projects that deliver better outcomes for people in Kent and Medway through their work to create a more ecologically sustainable county.
(Picture credit John Hunt)
One project which has benefitted from funding from Kent Community Foundation is Earthwatch Europe. Earthwatch applied to Kent Community Foundation for funding towards their clean water project and was awarded a grant of £1280.00.
Emily Flatt, Philanthropy Coordinator at Earthwatch Europe said, “Every drop of water is precious. But pollution, climate change, and over exploitation have brought fresh water systems to crisis point. We want to transform our rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, wetlands and reservoirs , into clean, thriving habitats for people and wildlife. Through the FreshWater Watch programme, we use the power of citizen science* to give communities the tools to monitor water quality, identify problems and fight for improvements.”
Only 14% of the UK’s rivers, are considered to be in good ecological health and every single one of them fails to meet the required chemical standards, including the Medway.
(Picture credit John Hunt)
Emily Flatt continued, “The award from Kent Community Foundation will allow us to purchase water quality testing kits for eight of our volunteers so that we can monitor the quality of water in the Medway.”
(Picture credit Jennifer Lanham)
Josephine McCartney, Chief Executive, Kent Community Foundation said, “Our Environmental strategy forms one of our five funding priorities which aim to create strong local communities and empower organisations and charities in Kent and Medway who make a real and positive difference to people’s lives. Understanding the potential future impacts of warmer, wetter winters and hotter, drier summers is crucial for the future prosperity, environmental quality, and health and wellbeing of our local communities. As one of the largest grant-makers in Kent and Medway we have an important part to play in combating these challenges. 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 will reap.”
To contact Kent Community Foundation about funding for charities and community groups call 01303 814500, email admin@kentcf.org.uk or visit www.kentcf.org.uk/funding
To find out more about Kent Community Foundation’s environmental strategy visit www. kentcf.org.uk/commitment-to-the-environment
Kent community Foundation funding priorities –
- Children, Young People & Families
Supporting disadvantaged children and young people’s physical and mental health, encouraging positive choices and staying safe. - Vulnerable Adults
Helping those who may need extra care dealing with challenging issues or those at risk of social exclusion or discrimination.
3.Elderly and Isolated
Enabling elderly adults to stay well, healthy, independent and free from social isolation.
4. Employability, Skills & Enterprise
Creating opportunities to develop skills and confidence and have a positive impact in areas and groups of people with high unemployment.
5. Environment
Encouraging community action to improve and protect local spaces with support sustainable ways of living.
About Earthwatch Europe
Earthwatch is an environmental charity with science at its heart. We drive the change needed to live within our means and in balance with nature. We do this by:
- connecting people with the natural world
- monitoring the health of our natural resources
- informing the actions that will have the greatest positive impact.
About World Earth Day
Since 1970, Earth Day has been mobilising people to protect the planet. On Earth Day 2024, they are unwavering in their commitment to end plastics for the sake of human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in the production of ALL plastics by 2040.
About Kent Community Foundation
Experienced grant-maker Kent Community Foundation is the organisation behind the organisations and has been finding, funding, and supporting some of the smallest voluntary groups in the county for over twenty one years. In this time, it has distributed almost £55 million to support thousands of small charities and deserving causes where a modest sum of money can make a significant impact.
Kent Community Foundation is 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.
