Supporting community assets and venues in Folkestone and Hythe, that contribute to our local communities and local connections, improving wellbeing. This could include but is not limited to community venues and spaces, that support community activities, sports and the arts and cultural offer. 

We will not be looking to support projects that :
- support private interests or profit making organisations.
- exclude any particular groups in society or those with protected characteristics.
- from political groups.
-that are part of a campaign or promote particular religions/faiths/political ideologies not considered to be inclusive
 We are not able to match fund Statutory provision, Local Authority teams or Council projects.

The Folkestone and Hythe crowdfunding fund has been designed to specifically provide funding of up to £1,000, or a maximum of 50% of an organisation’s crowdfunding target. Where multiple Crowdfund Kent or local authority funds have been used to support the same campaign, the combined value of the fudns cannot be higher than 65% of the total campaign target. 

This funding is focused on community activities and is not intended to support industries in recovering post Covid.

The Folkestone and Hythe fund is focused on giving local organisations and groups the opportunity to take forward projects and ideas to improve their local area. We have seen an incredible response from our communities over the last year and we know the importance of those local connections and groups to improving resilience and wellbeing.

As we start to emerge from the crisis, we hope this programme and the associated funding will enable recovery to be locally led and provide that much needed support to the innovation driven by local groups and networks, which make our communities.

This fund is distributed as part of Crowdfund Kent where there are two funding rounds a year. See here for a breakdown of the current round and associated timeline. 

1.    PROJECT PAGE AND PITCH

Create your project page on Spacehive which will match you to the funds available as part of Crowdfund Kent including the Folkestone and Hythe crowdfunding fund . 

2.    VERIFICATION

The project costs and necessary permissions will be checked and verified. This involves checking quotes for all the major items and if you have landowner permission for your project.

3.    CROWDFUNDING

Begin your crowdfunding campaign. Start by getting lots of small pledges from the community to show local support for your project. This will help unlock bigger pledges.

4.    PLEDGE

The council will review all project campaigns usually a month after the campaign start. Successful projects can expect to receive a pledge of up to £1,000/ 50% of your target.

6. HIT YOUR TARGET AND DELIVER YOUR PROJECT 

Funds are usually released 10 working days after you have reached your target. 

What we can fund:

To be eligible for this fund:

• Your project must be of benefit to the wider community.
• Your group must be constituted in some way, have a group bank account (requiring two signatures) and generally be a not-for-profit organisation designed to deliver benefit to the community (and not designed to create a profit/dividends for shareholders). CICs (Community Interest Companies and CIO (Community Interest Organisations) are deemed eligible as their activities generate revenue which in turn fund activities that deliver community benefit.
• District and parish councils cannot directly apply for funding but can officially partner with a local community group who would apply for the funding. The district and parish council can offer support and can be involved in the delivery of the project but the community group must lead on the project.
• Schools can apply for funding once the project has wider community benifits and provides access to the wider community.  
• Projects must benefit the F&HDC area and residents and priority will be offered to Kent led organisations as long as delivery of the project is within the FHDC area.
• Projects must contribute to improving places, spaces or residents’ quality of lives.
• Projects should demonstrate creativity / innovation.
• We can only match-fund projects that are being delivered by constituted organisations inc community groups, CiC’s or registered charities

What can't we fund:

• Individuals are not eligible for this fund.
• Projects supporting private interests / profit making organisations.
• Projects excluding any particular groups in society or those with protected characteristics.
• Proposals from political groups.
• Projects that are part of a campaign or promote particular religions/faiths/political ideologies not considered to be inclusive
• We are not able to match fund Statutory provision, Local Authority teams or Council projects.
• We cannot fund the purchasing of property and buildings or the building of extensions to existing premises.  We can however, make contributions to adaptations, refurbishment and improvements to properties once purchased or built, where there is a tangible community benefit from the proposed improvements. F&HDC reserves the right to review all project costs and make decisions on a case by case basis. 

To be eligible for this fund your project must be of benefit to the wider community.

Crowdfund Kent is designed to help new ideas get off the ground, therefore we cannot fund the same projects more than once. Organisations who have run a successful campaign and received a KCC pledge are welcome to apply again but any subsequent projects must be distinct from the initial project.

This programme is not intended to fund capital cost items (see eligibility for further details). Where capital projects are developed we will only look to use our funds to contribute towards the activities that are to be delivered as part of the project.

This funding is also not intended to fund one-off or large scale annual events, all projects must be able to demonstrate a tangible and sustainable legacy.

See here for more information on the fund criteria. (Link to here: www.spacehive.com/movement/crowdfund-kent/about)

We are looking to support projects that meet at least ONE of the following objectives:

1.Supporting Families and communities so children thrive
Projects focusing on this objective may include:

• Projects with a focus on support and activities for families where there are issues with mental health concerns for parents and/or children. We would particularly be interested in projects with a “whole family” approach and services designed to help families enjoy activities together and support one another. 
• Projects that provide early intervention and education on the importance of healthy eating and fitness to improve long term improved health and wellbeing, including weight loss/management programmes and tackling inactivity. 
• Projects to help develop parenting skills and/or tackle loneliness in new and young parents. 

2.Supporting People to explore the use of creativity to improving mental health
Projects focusing on this objective may include:

• Projects that focus on destigmatising mental health conditions through artistic expression and provide an opportunity for people to learn new skills as a form of art therapy. 
• Projects that work with those at risk of suicide or self-harm led by using art and creativity interventions as effective coping strategies.
• Projects that look to increase access to creative hobbies to those who are housebound and experiencing mental health issues related to loneliness and social isolation, this could be through the use of virtual teaching sessions.

3.Community initiatives to support  people with addiction
Projects focusing on this objective may include:

• Projects that focus on destigmatising addiction and enabling people to access the support they need. This may include outreach programmes that aim to target particular demographics with “low engagement” of traditional addiction services. Projects would need to evidence how they have chosen the community and how they plan to target and work with them. 
• Projects that provide employability and skills programmes to those with addictions. 
• Projects providing 1-1 guidance and/or peer support on how to overcome addiction. 

This revenue fund is designed to support projects which improve the quality of life of our residents, particularly those most disadvantaged. 

The CrowdFund Kent Public Health fund has been designed to specifically provide funding of up to £5,000, or a maximum of 50% of an organisation’s crowdfunding target.

Where multiple Kent County Council funds have been used to support the same campaign, the combined value of the funds cannot be higher than 65% of the total campaign target. 

See here for more information on the fund criteria, the key objectives of the fund and who can apply. (Link to here: www.spacehive.com/movement/crowdfund-kent/about)

Crowdfund Kent is focused on giving local organisations and groups the opportunity to take forward projects and ideas to improve their local area. Since the introduction of the programme in 2021 we have seen an incredible response from our communities, creating innovative and meaningful projects and proving that when people come together as a “crowd” this can lead to better support and resources for people in Kent.

The next deadline to get your project assessed is the 24th April 2025

If you have a project idea and are interested in finding out more, come to one of our next workshops:

• 11th February 2025 - 12:00 - 13:00. Book Here.
• 27th February 2025 - 12:00 - 13:00. Book Here.

See how to involved below

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Note that the funding available and the objectives of the fund have changed for 2025 as there is new fund from Public Health. Before applying please check that your project meets these new criteria. To see the types of projects we are interested in funding, see the funds page.

There are multiple funds available through the Crowdfund Kent programme, including funds from NHS Kent and Medway (only for projects based in areas of the county covered by KCC) and Folkestone and Hythe District Council.

Eligibility criteria is available in the sections below and on the individual funding pages linked above. 

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1.    SHARE YOUR PROJECT IDEA

Share your project idea here at your earliest convenience. A member of the team will be in touch to provide you with the necessary information and support you may need to help get your project started.  

2.    PROJECT PAGE AND PITCH

Create your online project page which will match you to the Crowdfund Kent fund. Here Kent County Council will ask you some additional questions about your project. 

3.    VERIFICATION

The project costs and necessary permissions will be checked and verified. This involves checking quotes for all the major items and if you have land owner permission for your project.

You must be in verification with all your permissions and costs in place by the deadline of the 24th of April 2025. 

4.    CROWDFUNDING

Start by getting lots of small pledges from the community to show local support for your project. This will help unlock bigger pledges.

5.    PLEDGE

Kent County Council will review all project campaigns roughly 3 weeks after each deadline and successful projects can expect to receive a pledge shortly afterwards.

6. HIT YOUR TARGET AND DELIVER YOUR PROJECT

Please note that the county council will not be the first organisation to pledge to your project and will want to see community support and backing, in the form of smaller pledges from local people, before they pledge to your campaign. 

Your group must be constituted in some way, have a group bank account where the account is managed by at least two unrelated and authorised individuals in your organisation and be a not-for-profit organisation designed to deliver benefit to the community (and not designed to create a profit/dividend for shareholders).

CICs (Community Interest Companies) and CIO (Community Interest Organisations) are deemed eligible as their activities generate revenue which in turn fund activities that deliver community benefit. CIC's must be limited by guarantee not shares. 

District and parish councils cannot directly apply for funding but can officially partner with a local community group who would apply for the funding. The district and parish council can offer support and can be involved in the delivery of the project, but the community group must lead on the project.

If you are unsure if your organisation is eligible pledge email [email protected] or [email protected]

What we can fund

• Projects must benefit Kent (KCC area) residents and be delivered by Kent led organisations.
• Projects should demonstrate creativity / innovation.
• Projects must contribute to one of the three objectives of the fund.
• We can only match-fund projects that are being delivered by constituted organisations including community groups, CiC’s or registered charities.

What can't we fund:

• Individuals are not eligible for this fund.
• Projects supporting private interests / profit making organisations.
• Projects excluding any particular groups in society or those with protected characteristics.
• Proposals from political groups.
• Projects that are part of a campaign or promote particular religions/faiths/political ideologies not considered to be inclusive
• We are not able to match fund Statutory provision, Local Authority teams or Council projects.
• District and parish councils cannot directly apply for funding but can officially partner with a local community group who would apply for the funding. The district and parish council can offer support and can be involved in the delivery of the project, but the community group must lead on the project.
• Schools including independent schools are not eligible for funding.
• We cannot fund capital projects, the purchasing of property and buildings, the building of extensions to existing premises or annual rent / utilities costs.  We may consider small adaptations, where there is a tangible community benefit from the proposed improvements, and they meet the objectives of the fund. KCC reserves the right to review all project costs and make decisions on a case-by-case basis.