Supporting community action in Folkestone and Hythe particularly activities that are focused on supporting people who are facing financial difficulties or who are isolated as a result of Covid.This could for example be projects that support people experiencing food and fuel poverty or supporting those population groups who have been particularly impacted by Covid.
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.
Helping to maintain the volunteering offer/social action we have seen during the pandemic post Covid 19. This could for example be support to volunteer led organisations working to improve their local area, or those who support and co-ordinate volunteers across Folkestone and Hythe with an emphasis on growing volunteering across the district.
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 £5,000, 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. EXPRESSION OF INTEREST/ ATTEND A WORKSHOP
Complete our Expression of Interest Form as soon as possible to inform us of your project idea and knowledge of crowdfunding.
2. 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 .
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 landowner permission for your project.
4. 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.
5. 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 £5,000/ 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.
