Your County - Putting Kent First

Kent 4 star Council

County and local schemes

External funding

Our External Funding Unit is able to provide funding advice for a wide range of projects including: youth, rural, sport, children and families, educational, health and social care, arts, village and community halls and community projects. They also organise a Funding Fair each year.

For further information visit the External Funding Unit website or call 01622 694384.

See the full list of our funding contacts.

Small Community Capital Projects Fund

The Small Community Capital Projects Fund is open to new projects requiring a capital expenditure up to a maximum of £20,000 for any single project. The fund can only meet capital costs and does not cover staffing or running costs. Your project would need to demonstrate clear benefits to a local community.

Criteria for awards are:

  • the project promotes and support the development of young people
  • helps vulnerable and older people to live independently
  • promotes activities which encourage and celebrate cultural diversity and participation in the civic life of Kent
  • encourages active participation in local community life
  • helps make Kent a safer county
  • improves Kent's physical environment

Local Grants Scheme

Local Grants Scheme Awards can be made for revenue projects of minor capital schemes. All are one-off grants.

Criteria for awards are:

For more information about the Small Community Capital Projects Fund or the Local Grants Scheme, go to our Local Boards pages or contact local Community Liaison Manager Bill Ronan by emailing bill.ronan@kent.gov.uk or calling 01622 696889.

Open4community

The open4community website (link opens in a new window) is supported by our External Funding Unit and provides a free search facility to find out which grants you may be eligible to apply for. Browse for general information or use the quick and simple search facility. For more information call 01622 694055.

Councils for Voluntary Service

The Councils for Voluntary Service around Kent offer a full package of fundraising support for voluntary and community groups, including advice and on-going project development support. For local contact details see the local and national contacts page.

Funding Buddies

Funding Buddies (link opens in a new window) operates throughout the Mid Kent Leader+ area, concentrating on the Isle of Sheppey and Romney Marsh. Advisors visit groups to assist with developing new and existing projects and investigate funding options using Grantfinder. The advisor will assist with bid writing and subsequent financial recording and output monitoring. Through the scheme a range of training options are also available.

Neighbours4u

The Neighbours4u scheme (link opens in a new window) scheme funds residents projects which tackle crime, poor housing and unemployment in the community. The scheme has a small grants programme that is able to fund suitable projects up to £10,000. For more information call 01634 899937

The Kent Community Foundation

The Kent Community Foundation offer help to apply for and access funds, large and small which help create and sustain a sense of local community across Kent and Medway.

Currently the foundation distributes funds from:

  • The Local Network Fund, providing grants of between £250 to £7,000 to local charities and community groups working with young people up to the age of 19 (25 for those with learning disabilities)
  • Sport Relief awards grants of between £250 to £5,000 to projects in Kent that use sport and exercise to tackle the exclusion and isolation experienced by some of the poorest and most disadvantaged communities
  • The Phillips Fund seeks to protect, conserve and enhance the use and character of the rural landscape and its communities. Grants up to £500 are available to charities, groups and organisations providing benefit in Kent and Medway
  • The Community Champions fund has been specifically designed to support individuals who wish to generate community activity where there has been very little before. Grants of up to £2,000 are available. Priority areas are Dover, Shepway, Swale, Dartford, Gravesham and Medway
  • The Land Securities Link Fund support local charity and community projects in North Kent. Grants of between £250 to £5,000 will be considered for applications that relate to Job Opportunities, Lifelong Learning, Community and Culture

For further information on any of the above visit the Kent Community Foundation website (link opens in a new window).

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