Involving Medway (kent Community Foundation)

Quick Stats

• Grant Amount: Up to £2,500
• Administrator: Kent Community Foundation
• Success Rate: 75% (KCF overall rate for 2023/24)
• Decision Time: 4-6 weeks (Micro route)
• Grant Range: Up to £2,500
• Geographic Focus: Medway only

Contact Details

Kent Community Foundation

• Website: https://kentcf.org.uk/funding
• Phone: 01303 814 500
• Email: admin@kentcf.org.uk
• Address: Evegate Park Barn, Evegate Park, Station Road, Smeeth, Ashford, Kent TN25 6SX

For pre-application support, contact the grants team who can provide assistance via phone, email, or in-person visits.

Overview

Involving Medway is a targeted grant program administered by Kent Community Foundation, established to support grassroots community organisations delivering projects specifically in the Medway area. The fund focuses on short-term or one-off activities that increase opportunities for better physical or mental health, encourage the growth of local resident-led initiatives, and support residents of different ages, cultures, and faiths to come together across estate boundaries. Kent Community Foundation, founded in 2001, has distributed nearly £60 million in grants across Kent and Medway, operating as part of the UK-wide accredited network of 47 Community Foundations. In 2023/24, the foundation achieved a 75% success rate on applications, representing an 8% increase from the previous year.

Funding Priorities

Grant Program

• Involving Medway Fund: Up to £2,500 per application (rolling basis when open)

Priority Areas

The Involving Medway fund specifically supports:

• Physical and Mental Health: Short-term or one-off activities that increase the range of activities to improve physical or mental health
• Community-Led Initiatives: Projects designed and run by local residents, encouraging growth of grassroots initiatives
• Community Cohesion: Activities that bring together residents of different ages, cultures, faiths, and backgrounds across estate boundaries
• Medway Geographic Focus: Projects must be delivered in the Medway area

The broader Kent Community Foundation priorities include:

1. Children, Young People & Families
2. Vulnerable Adults
3. Elderly and Isolated
4. Employability, Skills & Enterprise
5. Environment

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations with income exceeding £3 million
• Non-constituted groups
• Projects outside Medway (for this specific fund) or outside Kent County Council/Medway Council jurisdictions (for KCF generally)
• CICs or Companies Limited by guarantee with PSCs with unequal powers
• Schools (though school-linked groups like PTFAs may apply for extra-curricular activities)
• Statutory bodies (unless the state has no obligation to fund the project)
• Retrospective funding (only future projects)
• National or regional organizations without local track record (lower priority)
• Groups with strong faith bias that may inadvertently exclude certain communities (lower priority)
• One-off festivals without substantial community engagement before and after (lower priority)
• Organizations holding unexplained reserves of approximately 9+ months (lower priority)

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Governance and Leadership

Kent Community Foundation Leadership

Board of Trustees:

• Robert Sackville-West DL (Chair)
• Gail Hall (Vice Chair)
• Emilia Falcetti Boscawen
• Munya Badze
• Russell Race JP DL
• Kate Fenwick DL
• Kruti Shrotri
• Trevor Minter OBE DL
• Cheryl Chan
• Penny Harris (appointed February 2025)

Patrons & Vice Presidents:

• The Lady Colgrain (Patron, Lord-Lieutenant of Kent)
• Lady Anne-Marie Nelson CBE DL (Vice President)
• Rt Rev Dr Jonathan Gibbs (Vice President, Bishop of Rochester)

Senior Staff:

• Catherine Glover – Chief Executive (appointed 2025), with over 20 years of non-profit sector experience and “a strong track record of building high-impact partnerships.” Previously held senior positions at the Eden Project and CDP.
• Natalie Smith – Director of Grants & Impact and Deputy Chief Executive
• Angela Davis – Head of Finance & Governance (25+ years in charity financial roles)

Leadership Perspective

Simon MacLachlan MBE DL, founding Chair of Trustees, reflected in 2021: “Little did I expect back in 2001 that the Foundation would, over 20 years, distribute £45million to good causes in Kent and Medway. Many congratulations are due to my successors as Chair of the Trustees and their trustee colleagues, to our Chief Executives and all members of staff, as well as the loyal fund-holders and donors without whose generosity none of these achievements would have been possible.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

• Current governing documents (constitution/trust deed)
• Recent bank statement (within last 3 months)
• Most recent annual accounts (not older than 12 months)
• Safeguarding and other operational policies
• Project budget with supporting quotes
• Professional references
• Photo permissions if submitting images

1. Pre-Application Support: Contact the grants team if uncertain about eligibility or need assistance with the online form

Eligibility Requirements

All applicants must meet these criteria:

• Work to achieve charitable aims within Medway (for Involving Medway fund)
• Possess robust governing documents with charitable objectives
• Have at least three unrelated trustees/directors
• Maintain a bank account with two unrelated signatories
• Have current operational policies (e.g., safeguarding)
• Maintain annual income below £75,000 (for grants up to £2,500)
• Have final accounts not older than 12 months

Decision Timeline

• Micro Route (for grants up to £2,000, including Involving Medway): 4-6 weeks from submission once all required documentation is received
• Grant Payment: Approximately one month from award announcement

Success Rates

• Overall KCF Success Rate: 75% (2023/24), up 8% from the previous year
• Unsuccessful Applications: Around 1 in 4 applications are unsuccessful, typically due to ineligibility, poor quality, or insufficient funds

Reapplication Policy

• Applicants can submit one application every six months
• This applies to both successful and unsuccessful applicants
• Unsuccessful applicants should request feedback (not provided automatically) to improve future applications

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Foundation

1. Contact Before Applying: “Contact us before filling out a form” if uncertain about eligibility - the grants team actively encourages pre-application conversations.

2. Don't Submit Multiple Applications: Do NOT submit multiple forms for the same project thinking it will improve chances. This wastes time and is counterproductive. The foundation will match your single application to appropriate funds internally.

3. Demonstrate Organizational Sustainability: Ensure accounts are current and properly filed, demonstrating good governance and financial management.

4. Professional Documentation: Provide well-documented project budgets with supporting quotes and professional references validating your group's competence.

5. Request Help if Needed: The grants team offers personalized assistance via phone (01303 814 500), email (admin@kentcf.org.uk), or in-person visits.

Recent Funded Projects in Medway

Examples from 2024 funding rounds:

• Walderslade Together CIC (WALT): Community organisation improving quality of life in the ME5 postcode area
• King's Church Medway T/As Caring Hands: Providing safe space for homeless and vulnerably housed individuals
• Hygiene Bank Medway: Working to reduce effects of hygiene poverty
• Gillingham Street Angels: £3,600 for core costs supporting homeless and vulnerable people, including foodbank operations
• Medway Voluntary Action: £7,500 for 'Couch to Community' programme for isolated individuals
• Medway Plus: Social activities for isolated elderly people

Key Success Indicators

• Projects with clear community benefit and measurable impact
• Strong governance and safeguarding policies
• Realistic, well-costed budgets
• Grassroots, locally-led initiatives
• Projects promoting health, wellbeing, and community cohesion

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Use the Single Application Route: Complete one application through the Kent Community Foundation eligibility checker - don't try to game the system with multiple submissions. They will match you to Involving Medway and other relevant funds internally.

1. Pre-Application Engagement Pays Off: With a 75% success rate, the foundation is highly accessible, but contacting them before applying ensures you don't waste time on ineligible applications.

1. Documentation is Critical: Have your governance documents, recent accounts (within 12 months), safeguarding policies, and project quotes ready before starting your application.

1. Small Grants, Quick Decisions: The Involving Medway fund offers up to £2,500 with decisions in 4-6 weeks - ideal for short-term, community-led initiatives that don't require lengthy planning.

1. Focus on Community Impact: Successful Medway projects demonstrate clear benefits to physical/mental health, are resident-led, and bring diverse community members together.

1. Learn from Rejection: Only 1 in 4 applications fail, but if yours does, actively request feedback to strengthen your next application (you can reapply after 6 months).

1. First-Time Applicants Welcome: The foundation aims for 20% of grantees to be first-time applicants, so don't be intimidated if you haven't applied before.

References

1. Kent Community Foundation - Funding Page. https://kentcf.org.uk/funding

1. Volleyball England Foundation - Kent Community Foundation Involving Medway Fund Details. https://www.volleyballenglandfoundation.org/grant-finder/kent-community-foundation-involving-medway-medway

1. Kent Community Foundation - Application Process. https://kentcf.org.uk/apply/process

1. Kent Community Foundation - Frequently Asked Questions. https://kentcf.org.uk/apply/faqs

1. Kent Community Foundation - What We Can't Fund. https://kentcf.org.uk/funding_support/what-we-cant-fund

1. Kent Community Foundation - About Us. https://kentcf.org.uk/about

1. Kent Community Foundation - Leadership and Trustees. https://kentcf.org.uk/about/trustees

1. Kent Community Foundation - Team. https://kentcf.org.uk/about/team

1. Kent Community Foundation News - “Medway charities receive funding from local businesses”. https://kentcf.org.uk/news/articles/medway-charities-receive-funding-from-local-businesses-2024-09-23

1. Kent Community Foundation News - “Farewell to our first Chair and Vice President”. https://kentcf.org.uk/news/articles/farewell-to-our-first-chair-and-vice-president-2025-05-06

1. Kent Online - “New boss at Kent Community Foundation aims to double number of companies supporting its work.” https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent-business/county-news/kent-community-foundation-new-chief-executive-124178/

1. Rochester Bridge Trust - Kent Community Foundation Grants Information. https://rbt.org.uk/grants/kent-community-foundation-grants/