Royal Borough Of Kingston's Community Resilience Fund

Quick Stats

• Total Fund: £720,000
• Success Rate: Approximately 60% (60+ applications in Phase 1, 37 funded)
• Decision Time: 6-8 weeks (based on tranche timelines)
• Grant Range: £180 - £24,000
• Geographic Focus: Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
• Status: CLOSED (ran April 2023 - February 2024)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.kingston.gov.uk/leisure-and-community/community-grants/community-resilience-fund

Email: strategy@kingston.gov.uk

Phone: 0208 547 5000

General Grants Email: grants@kingston.gov.uk

Overview

The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames launched the £720,000 Community Resilience Fund in April 2023 as a one-year programme to support community, voluntary, and cultural organisations through the cost-of-living crisis. The fund operated across three tranches between April 2023 and February 2024, awarding grants totalling over £566,000 to 72+ local organisations. The fund focused on helping organisations maintain services, cover increased operational costs, and develop new approaches to support vulnerable residents. Phase 1 awarded £290,527 to 37 organisations, while Phase 2 distributed £275,928 to 35 organisations. The fund is now closed, but demonstrates Kingston Council's commitment to supporting grassroots community resilience through targeted grant-making.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Route 1: Core Costs (up to £3,000)

• Reimbursement for increases in rent or energy bills
• Designed to help organisations survive rising operational costs
• Applications via short application form

Route 2: Small Projects (up to £5,000)

• Projects to maintain or develop community resilience responses
• Required a short proposal outlining project aims and impact
• Rolling basis within each tranche period

Route 3: Larger Projects (up to £20,000)

• Development of new approaches to community resilience
• Exceptional applications over £20,000 were considered
• Required detailed proposal with clear measurable outcomes

Priority Areas

The fund prioritized projects addressing:

• Food security and access: Community kitchens, food banks, emergency food provision for families in temporary accommodation
• Mental health and wellbeing: Befriending services, support lines, counselling for underserved populations
• Support for vulnerable groups: Refugees, immigrants, carers, elderly, people with disabilities
• Social isolation prevention: Community cafes, clubs, intergenerational activities
• Youth and families support: Skills development, vocational training, family support services
• Equal access to services: Projects targeting communities facing barriers to mainstream services
• Diverse community support: Specific focus on Hong Kong, Korean, North Korean, Tamil, and other immigrant communities

What They Don't Fund

• Activities normally undertaken by statutory organisations
• Minibuses
• Endowments
• Political activities
• Historic activities (retrospective funding)
• Infrastructure or capital projects (IT infrastructure, major building works)
• Rent for larger premises (except community kitchens as a key priority)
• Re-granting to other organisations or individuals
• Projects where the community is charged for services
• Expansion of existing for-profit businesses

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Governance and Leadership

Council Leader: Andreas Kirsch led the Community Resilience Fund initiative.

Leadership Quotes

On Phase 1 awards, Councillor Andreas Kirsch stated: "We had over 60 applications to phase 1 of the Community Resilience Fund and I'm immensely proud that we are able to fund 37 fantastic projects that will make a real difference in our neighbourhoods."

He added: "Kingston's voluntary, community and cultural organisations are vital to the resilience and cohesion of the whole borough. These grants fund projects that will support our residents and communities through the challenges they are facing with unprecedented rises in the cost of living."

Regarding Phase 2 focus, Councillor Kirsch emphasized: “Phase 2 is an opportunity to focus on projects that will support our residents during the winter months. So now is the time for organisations to draft their applications for projects that enable communities to work together to provide practical support for food, money, health, wellbeing, community spaces and equal access to services for our residents, families, communities and those who are vulnerable or have special needs.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications were submitted through an online application form on the Kingston Council website. Organisations could apply for both Core Costs and either a Small or Large Project in the same tranche, though dual success in both Small and Large Projects was unusual.

Tranche Timelines:

• Tranche 1: April 18 - May 31, 2023
• Tranche 2: September 1 - October 16, 2023
• Tranche 3: January 3 - February 12, 2024

Applicants could contact strategy@kingston.gov.uk or call 0208 547 5000 for application support.

Decision Timeline

While specific decision timelines were not published, the fund operated on a tranche basis with applications reviewed after each deadline closed. Based on similar Kingston grant programmes, decisions were typically communicated within 6-8 weeks of the application deadline.

Appeals Process

A three-stage appeals process allowed applicants to seek clarification:

• Stage 1: Officer review response within 10 working days
• Stage 2: Head of Service review within 20 working days
• Stage 3: Final reassessment within 20 working days of second review request

Success Rates

Phase 1 received over 60 applications and awarded 37 grants (approximately 60% success rate). The fund awarded a total of 72+ grants across three tranches from a £720,000 budget, with £566,455 distributed in Phases 1 and 2 combined.

Reapplication Policy

Organisations could apply in multiple tranches if unsuccessful or for different projects. The fund allowed applications for both Core Costs and project funding simultaneously within the same tranche.

Application Success Factors

Eligibility Requirements

Geographic Focus: 80% or more of service users must be Kingston residents. Organisations did not have to be based in Kingston but needed to demonstrate service delivery within and for Kingston's community.

Faith-Based Organisations: Welcome to apply, though grants could not be used for promotion of a single faith.

Limited Companies: Required to demonstrate:

• No charge to the community for services
• New or different offer (not expanding existing business)
• Clear measurable benefits to the local community

Examples of Funded Projects

The fund supported diverse initiatives including:

• Mind in Kingston, Kingston Bereavement Service, Oxygen - Mental health and wellbeing support
• Save the World Club, Vegecoopia C.I.C. - Community meals and food security
• Refugee Action Kingston, Migrant Advocacy Service - Support for immigrant communities
• Creative Youth, Kingston Beats - Youth skills development
• Kingston Carers' Network - Support for carers
• Barnfield Riding for the Disabled, Yorda Adventures - Disability services
• New Era Community Projects, Friends of Anstee Bridge - Community spaces and activities

Key Success Factors

Focus on Community Resilience: Applications needed to demonstrate how they support the borough's resilience through cost-of-living crisis support.

Measurable Outcomes: Clear, quantifiable benefits were essential, particularly for larger projects.

Service to Kingston Residents: Strong emphasis on serving local community members facing challenges.

Winter Support (Phase 2): Projects providing practical support during winter months were prioritized.

Diverse Communities: The fund showed strong support for projects serving immigrant communities and underserved populations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic targeting is critical: Ensure 80%+ of beneficiaries are Kingston residents, even if your organisation is based elsewhere
• Demonstrate resilience impact: Show how your project helps communities cope with cost-of-living pressures and builds long-term resilience
• Be specific with costs: Core Costs route required clear evidence of rent or energy bill increases; project routes needed detailed budgets
• Consider multiple applications: The fund welcomed applications for both Core Costs and a project route in the same tranche
• Time-sensitive opportunities: Tranche-based funding meant organisations needed to be ready when windows opened
• Community kitchen priority: Infrastructure costs generally excluded, but community kitchens were specifically highlighted as an exception
• Measurable benefits essential: Particularly for larger grants, clear metrics for community impact strengthened applications
• The fund is now closed: Organisations should explore Kingston's ongoing grant programmes including Borough-wide Community Grants (up to £2,000) and Neighbourhood Community Grants (up to £3,000)

References

• Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. “Community Resilience Fund.”. https://www.kingston.gov.uk/leisure-and-community/community-grants/community-resilience-fund

• Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. “Community Resilience Fund Grants Awarded.”. https://www.kingston.gov.uk/leisure-and-community/community-resilience-fund-grants-awarded

• Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. “From Community Fridge to Money Buddies, Kingston Community Resilience Fund awards £290,527 to local organisations.” News article, 2023. https://www.kingston.gov.uk/news/article/428/

• Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. “Community Resilience Fund awards £276,000 for projects supporting babies, teens and families, carers and the elderly.” News article, 2023. https://www.kingston.gov.uk/news/article/461/

• Fundsfor NGOs. "Kingston Council's Community Resilience Fund – United Kingdom.". https://www2.fundsforngos.org/latest-funds-for-ngos/kingston-councils-community-resilience-fund-united-kingdom/