Kingston Giving

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £167,379 (year ending March 2023)
• Total Income: £181,991 (year ending March 2023)
• Decision Time: End of each month for rolling applications
• Grant Amount: £750 per grant
• Maximum Grants Per Year: Up to 3 grants per organisation
• Geographic Focus: Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, London

Contact Details

Website: www.kingstongiving.org.uk / www.kingstoncf.org.uk

Email: hicky@kingstoncf.org.uk

Phone: 020 8255 6056

Address: Siddeley House, 50 Canbury Park Road, Kingston upon Thames KT2 6LX

For Grant Enquiries:

Justine Belcher, Community Lead and Grants Manager

Email: justine@kingstoncf.org.uk

For Impact Stories:

Shelley Heath, Impact Reporting Lead & Marketing Manager

Email: shelley.heath@kingstoncf.org.uk

Overview

Kingston Giving (charity number 1190241) was registered on 3 July 2020 to address local need in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. The organisation has become a vital part of the London Funders movement, supporting local charities and volunteer organisations that tackle inequalities across Kingston. Their vision is clear: “a resilient community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.” The organisation supports charitable organisations working in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames through its small grants programme.

Funding Priorities

Current Grant Programme

• Small Grants Programme: £750 per grant
• Rolling basis with applications considered at month's end
• Organisations can receive up to 3 grants per year (separate applications required)
• Application method: Online form via Kingston Charitable Foundation Grants Application Form

Priority Areas

Kingston Giving champions equity and particularly focuses on:

• Nourishing meals and food support
• One-to-one support for stress and isolation
• Safe spaces for community connection
• Practical assistance for individuals/families facing hardship

Funding Focus

• Direct support for individuals and families facing hardship
• Projects run by charitable organisations
• Initiatives that alleviate community hardship
• Programs creating "care & connection" in the community
• Support addressing immediate survival needs

Eligibility Requirements

• Work must be legally charitable
• Must support residents of the Borough of Kingston upon Thames
• Organisations do NOT need to be registered charities
• Must provide an organisational bank account
• Income restrictions:
• Under £250,000 annual income: Can apply for project support OR individual/family hardship grants
• Over £250,000 annual income: Can ONLY apply for grants to directly support individuals/families facing hardship

What They Don't Fund

• Applications from individuals/families directly (must come through a charitable organisation)
• Organisations not supporting Kingston upon Thames residents
• Work that is not legally charitable

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Governance and Leadership

Staff Team

• Hicky Kingsbury, CEO (hicky@kingstoncf.org.uk)

Board of Trustees

• Nikki Earthrowl, Chair of Trustees
• Sam Page, Trustee
• Lucy Richards, Trustee
• Paul Greensmith, Trustee
• Tony Mills, Trustee

Patrons

• Sir Edward Davey, MP

How to Apply to Kingston Giving

How to Apply

1. Complete the Kingston Charitable Foundation Grants Application Form (online)
2. Applications accepted on a rolling basis
3. Contact Justine Belcher at justine@kingstoncf.org.uk with any questions before applying

Decision Timeline

• Applications considered at the end of each month
• Rolling programme with monthly decision points

Post-Award Requirements

If successful, recipients are asked to:

• Provide impact stories, photos, and testimonials
• Tag Kingston Giving on social media when announcing the grant
• Share how the funding made a difference in the community

Reapplication Policy

• Organisations can receive up to 3 grants per year
• Each grant requires a separate application
• Contact justine@kingstoncf.org.uk for guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful application

Application Success Factors

What Makes Applications Stand Out

Direct Impact Focus: Kingston Giving prioritises projects that directly address immediate needs. Their funded example - Kingston Churches Against Homelessness - provided sleeping bags, underwear, and socks for 80 people, with the impact quote emphasising these goods “provided warmth, comfort and hygiene to people in need and in the most extreme cases at -5 temperatures they may well have saved lives.”

Alignment with Priority Communities: Applications should clearly demonstrate support for their equity champions: communities experiencing racial inequity, people with disabilities, LGBT+ individuals, families in poverty, or people experiencing homelessness.

Mental Health and Wellbeing: The foundation highlights their focus on mental health, belonging, and community connection. The “Mindful Space” initiative emphasises projects that ease stress and strengthen wellbeing.

Practical Support: They value tangible assistance - one example grant for a Recycling Officer at Kingston Environment Centre aided 47,000 people by addressing local recycling needs, showing they support both crisis intervention and broader community improvement.

Working Family Awareness: Recognition that 75% of families experiencing poverty in Kingston are working families - demonstrate understanding of “in-work poverty” rather than assumptions about unemployment.

Language and Terminology They Use

• “Resilient community”
• “Tackle inequalities”
• “Championing equity”
• "Care & connection"
• “Hidden weight of poverty”
• “Opportunity to thrive”
• “Meaningful positive changes”
• “Alleviating hardship at the heart of our communities”

Recent Funded Projects Examples

1. Kingston Churches Against Homelessness - Winter shelter essentials (sleeping bags, underwear, socks for 80 people)
2. Kingston Environment Centre - Recycling Officer position (supported 47,000 people)
3. Various organisations through their “Everyone Deserves a Better Christmas” campaign focused on families experiencing poverty

Application Tips

• Keep applications simple - their process is “created to support local organisations who alleviate hardship”
• Focus on direct impact and specific beneficiaries
• Clearly state how your work supports Kingston residents
• If applying on behalf of individuals/families, explain your organisation's existing relationship with them
• Don't hesitate to contact Justine Belcher with questions before applying
• After receiving a grant, share your impact story - this builds relationship for future applications

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Small but Accessible: £750 grants may be modest, but organisations can apply up to 3 times per year (maximum £2,250 annually), making this a reliable regular funding stream for ongoing work.

1. Equity Champions First: Applications clearly aligned with their priority equity groups (racial equity, disability, LGBT+, poverty/homelessness) will be strongest. Don't just mention these groups - demonstrate how your work addresses barriers they face.

1. Monthly Opportunities: With rolling applications decided monthly, you can reapply relatively quickly if unsuccessful. This is a funder worth building a relationship with over time.

1. Direct Impact Over Innovation: Their funded examples show preference for practical, immediate assistance (sleeping bags, recycling services, food support) over complex theoretical change models. Focus on tangible outcomes.

1. Size Matters for Eligibility: If your organisation has over £250,000 annual income, you can ONLY apply for grants supporting specific individuals/families, not general projects. This is a strict restriction to be aware of.

1. Relationship-Focused: They ask for photos, stories, and social media tags post-grant - this isn't bureaucracy, it's relationship building. Strong reporting on a first grant positions you well for future applications.

1. Monitor for New Opportunities: Monitor their website and news for new opportunities that may offer different funding amounts or priorities.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Wakefield And Tetley Trust
• The Hampstead Wells And Campden Trust
• Elft Charity
• Hampton Fuel Allotment
• Sir Walter St. John's Educational Charity
• Richmond Foundation
• St Andrew Holborn And Stafford's Charity
• Newcomen Collett Educational Foundation
• The Kensington And Chelsea Foundation
• St Giles-in-the-fields And William Shelton Educational Charity

References

1. Kingston Giving official website - https://www.kingstongiving.org.uk - Accessed 30 October 2025
2. Kingston Charitable Foundation website - https://kingstoncf.org.uk - Accessed 30 October 2025
3. Kingston Giving grant application page - https://www.kingstongiving.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant - Accessed 30 October 2025
4. Charity Commission Register - Kingston Charitable Foundation (1190241) - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/1190241 - Accessed 30 October 2025
5. Kingston Giving “Who We Have Supported” - Vital Goods for Homeless - https://www.kingstongiving.org.uk/who-we-have-supported/vital-goods-homeless - Accessed 30 October 2025
6. Kingston Giving Latest News - https://www.kingstongiving.org.uk/news - Accessed 30 October 2025
7. Giving is Great Charity Factsheet - KINGSTON CHARITABLE FOUNDATION - https://givingisgreat.org.uk/database/charity-factsheet/?regNo=1190241 - Accessed 30 October 2025