Richmond Upon Thames Voluntary Fund

The Richmond Upon Thames Voluntary Fund is an independent charitable trust established by Richmond Council in 2019, enabling local residents and the community to donate directly to charities supporting vulnerable people in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Managed by independent trustees with council facilitation but no control over grants, its mission is to fill gaps left by reduced statutory funding, delivering targeted financial support to voluntary organisations that enhance lives for those at risk of disadvantage or exclusion. Its distinctive approach involves annual trustee-led selection of a specific vulnerable cohort—often young people and children—based on local consultations, followed by invitations for expressions of interest (EOIs) to ensure responsive, place-based philanthropy rooted in transparency, localism, and community accountability.

The fund prioritises projects addressing mental health, wellbeing, young carers, bereavement, family illness, food insecurity, substance abuse, and poor body image, supporting services like advocacy, resilience-building activities, and opportunities for healthy development. Past beneficiaries include Crossroads Care Richmond & Kingston, Dose of Nature, ADHD Embrace, Home-Start Richmond, and Off the Record Twickenham, focusing on targeted interventions that demonstrate proven impact exclusively for borough residents.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities with an established local presence, financial accountability, and delivery capacity; small to medium-sized organisations are preferred, with no strict income limits but a requirement for clear evidence of community benefit. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—EOIs open annually in autumn (e.g., 8 January 2025 for 2025/26), with full applications invited for shortlisted groups; grants typically range from £5,000 to £15,000 for project delivery, not core costs or capital unless theme-aligned. It excludes statutory duplication and non-local activities, standing out for its resident-funded model and adaptive thematic focus on Richmond's evolving needs.