See here for more information on the fund criteria.
We are looking to support community initiatives within our most disadvantaged communities, particularly coastal communities
Specifically, this may include:
Projects to support people living with financial difficulty due to cost-of-living pressures or those in poverty that seek to improve their health and wellbeing, and/or support them to help alleviate financial hardship
Projects to support children and young people living in our most disadvantaged communities to ensure they have the best start in life
Projects to reduce health inequalities through community-based initiatives
Projects that support community-based initiatives aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of the local community
We also want to support community initiatives aimed at tackling social isolation and improving health and wellbeing in rural communities.
Specifically, this may include:
Projects to deliver innovative ways to support people in their local area seeking to reduce social isolation, reduce the impact of cost-of-living pressures and improve health and wellbeing
Projects aimed at addressing the specific challenges of access to support and services within rural communities
Projects to support people to proactively manage their own health and wellbeing and enable them to live fulfilled lives
The CrowdFund Kent NHS Fund has been designed to specifically provide funding of up to £10,000, or a maximum of 50% of an organisation’s crowdfunding target.
Where multiple 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.
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 Crowdfund Kent - NHS Fund opperates 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 Crowdfund Kent 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 £10,000/50% of your target from the Crowdfund Kent - NHS Fund.
6. HIT YOUR TARGET AND DELIVER YOUR PROJECT
Funds are usually released 10 working days after you have reached your target.
The Involving Medway and Swale small grants pot is now open for applications
Grants of up to £2,500 are available to community groups for initiatives which help beat social isolation and encourage people in Medway and Swale to participate in community activities. This year we are particularly interested in groups and organisations which have involved local communities to generate ideas and carry out research into what matters to local people.
Involving Medway and Swale is funded by NHS Kent and Medway to support healthier communities and to make sure local people have more of a say in health and care in Medway, and in the Sheppey and Sittingbourne areas. Since 2017 more than 70 organisations have received grants for running choirs, holding woodwork classes, taking local people on special outings and setting up community gardens. Activities have benefited over 4,000 local people.
