The Medway Corporate Giving Fund, which is administered by Kent Community Foundation, recently awarded vital funding to three groups working in Medway.
The Medway Corporate Giving Fund is a collective fund which pools donations from generous Medway businesses and organisations to support their local community. The Fund, which is administered by Kent Community Foundation recently awarded grants totalling £16,200 to Walderslade Together CIC, King’s Church Medway T/A Caring Hands and The Hygiene Bank Medway.
Walderslade Together CIC (WALT) which works to reduce social isolation amongst the elderly, disabled and vulnerable received £4,500. The funding will be used towards the salaries of two new part time employees as well as a new activity: a weekly six-month program to include Smart Shopping, Healthy Eating and Navigating the Cost-of-Living Crisis.
King’s Church Medway T/A Caring Hands aims to end street homelessness in Chatham. The Caring Hands Day Centre provides a safe place to access basic needs including hot meals, showers, laundry, a clothing exchange and computer access. They were awarded £6,300 to run two projects for their 60-100 guests.
The Hygiene Bank Medway supports those in financial poverty to access hygiene products. They work with local foodbanks and supermarkets to collect and deliver items to those most in need, making sure everyone has access to hygiene products. The Medway Corporate Giving Fund awarded them a grant of £5,400 to support their core annual running costs.
Kent Community Foundation Grants Manager Bruce Topham, who coordinates the Medway Corporate Giving Fund said, “The Medway Corporate Giving Fund is a collective fund which pools donations from generous Medway businesses and organisations to help support their local community. The aim of the Fund is to bring together socially responsible local businesses and connect them with innovative projects, like Walderslade Together CIC, King’s Church Medway T/A Caring Hands and The Hygiene Bank Medway, who are making a real difference in the local community and helping those most in need. The ethos of Kent Community Foundation is to connect those who care with causes that matter and each member of the Medway Corporate Giving Fund makes an annual charitable donation, which is pooled to create an important collective fund that makes a huge difference to organisations supporting the Medway community.”
If you are interested in finding out more about what it means to become a member of the Medway Corporate Giving Fund, please email Bruce Topham at bruce@kentcf.org.uk or to contact Kent Community Foundation about funding for charities and community groups email admin@kentcf.org.uk or visit www.kentcf.org.uk/funding
Walderslade Together CIC (WALT) support people living in the ME5 postcode, focusing on tackling social isolation and addressing loneliness. www.wearewalt.org.uk/contact
King’s Church Medway T/A Caring Hands aim to end street homelessness. Situated in the middle of Chatham, one of Kent and Medway’s most deprived wards, they operate a Day Centre that offers a sanctuary for people who are homeless, sofa surfing, or living in temporary and often insecure accommodation. www.caringhands.org.uk
The Hygiene Bank has been running since 2018, to help support those in financial poverty to access hygiene products. www.thehygienebank.com/give-products/kent
About the Medway Corporate Giving Fund
The Medway Corporate Giving Fund is a collective fund which pools donations from generous Medway businesses and organisations to help support their local community.
The aim of the Fund is to bring together socially responsible local businesses and connect them with innovative projects, which make a real difference in the local community and help those most in need.
Each member makes an annual charitable donation, which is pooled to create a collective fund. It is this collective and proactive approach that enables the organisations to work together to make a bigger impact in the community. Through the Medway Corporate Giving Fund, Corporate Social Responsibility is no longer an activity just for large, multinational corporations. Businesses and individuals of any size can play their part in effective local giving and supporting their community.
www.kentcf.org.uk/give/medway-corporate-giving-fund
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 three 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.
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.
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.
