Kent Community Foundation

They support children, young people, and families through mental health counselling, after-school clubs, mentoring, and family support addressing physical wellbeing, anxiety, depression, and crisis prevention. Vulnerable adults benefit from peer support groups and social inclusion programmes, while elderly individuals receive befriending schemes and transport services. Employability initiatives include skills training and enterprise development, and environmental projects focus on community-led green space improvements and local food redistribution. Funded activities span project grants, core costs, capacity building, and emergency crisis response, often delivered through outreach, drop-in centres, creative arts, and sports. All work is rooted in Kent and Medway, prioritising hyper-local needs.

Registered charities, charitable incorporated organisations, community interest companies, community groups, and social enterprises based in Kent and Medway can apply. The foundation prioritises grassroots organisations deeply embedded in local communities, particularly those serving children at risk, families in crisis, vulnerable adults facing exclusion, isolated elderly, unemployed youth, and disadvantaged residents. They favour smaller organisations with lived experience leadership and community-led models. Unsolicited applications are welcome.

They exclude statutory provision, retrospective funding, and non-local activities. This means they do not support services that are the legal responsibility of public bodies, projects that have already taken place, or work outside Kent and Medway.

They offer project grants, core costs, capacity building, and emergency crisis response, with an emphasis on unrestricted funding and blended finance. Their approach is holistic and preventative, often supporting early intervention and person-centred, trauma-informed work. They welcome unsolicited applications and value authentic relationships with grantees.