Community Engagement Officer for Maidstone – please contact the following officers in the first instance:
By email: emma.carey@kent.gov.uk or allison.allan@kent.gov.uk
By telephone: 07833 232670 or 03000 415770 / 07920 526550
By post: Room G37, Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone, Kent. ME14 1XQ
Contact Emma or Allison for more information about:
· Community engagement in Maidstone
· KCC Member funding for local community projects
· Local strategic partnership arrangements in Maidstone
Useful links:
Current Consultations (by Kent County Council)
NEWS
News items will be posted here as they arise. Please do check back regularly for updates.
The County Council has elected Mike Harrison as the new KCC Chairman (for 2015/16), with Tom Gates as Vice-Chairman.
Consulting and Engaging with Local People in Maidstone
We value your ideas and comments on the things that matter to you in Maidstone.
Current Consultations
One of the ways you can let Kent County Council (KCC) know what you think is to take part when we consult on proposals to change how we do things.
KCC’s Consultation Directory is available here.
Maidstone County Members
You can also contact your local County Councillor about matters that are important to you in the area where you live.
Information about the nine Kent County Council Members who represent divisions in the Maidstone district area is available here, including their contact details.
KCC’s Community Engagement Team on Social Media
Follow us on Twitter @communityengage
Like us on Facebook /communityengagementkcc
Kent Older People and Seniors Forum
The Kent Older People and Seniors Forum has been set up to enable information to be shared across districts and feedback local issues. The Forum is made up of representatives from the local district forums, including the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Maidstone Older Person’s Forum.
Papers for the meetings of the Kent Older People and Seniors Forum papers are published on KCC’s website and are available here, as well as the Kent Older People and Seniors Newsletter.
KCC Combined Member Grant Scheme
Kent County Council (KCC) Members can recommend local projects for financial support. In 2015/16, under the Combined Member Grant Scheme, each County Councillor (Member) has £25,000 to allocate, either as community grants, or for local highway projects, or a combination of both. *
* The Member Community Grant, Local Schemes Grant and Small Community Capital Projects funding streams ceased at the end of March 2014.
Community grants are available to properly-constituted organisations (with a current bank account) for projects that benefit local communities. All projects must contribute to KCC’s priorities and represent value for money. Grants are one-off, discrete awards. There is no funding for any ongoing or future costs.
Who can apply for a Combined Member Grant?
YES – voluntary and community organisations; charities; out-of-school clubs; youth groups; older people’s groups; sports and leisure clubs; parish councils; residents groups; faith groups; social enterprises etc.
NO – individuals; party political groups; profit-making organisations.
What types of projects or organisations/groups have been successful previously?
A summary of all the grant awards allocated under the KCC Local Member Grant Schemes in the Maidstone district area for each of the last two financial years prior to 2014/15 is published below. Please note that the grant awards listed were awarded under the old funding streams, although the eligibility criteria are largely unchanged.
KCC Local Member Grant Awards 2013/14 – This summary lists all the projects that the Maidstone County Members supported in the 2013/14 financial year.
KCC Local Member Grant Awards 2012/13 – This summary lists all the projects that the Maidstone County Members supported in the 2012/13 financial year.
Is there a deadline?
Applications can be made until early 2016 or until the funding has been fully allocated (whichever comes first).
Where can I get more information?
The Combined Member Grant Scheme web page is available here. An information sheet about how the scheme operates in the Maidstone district area is available here.
Check with the local Member or Community Engagement Officer if you are unsure if your group or organisation is eligible and to find out how to apply.
Alternative sources of funding or advice about funding *
‘Find Out About Funding’ Seminar Resources Pack
Voluntary Action Maidstone, Maidstone Borough Council and Kent County Council organise a joint funding information event from time to time.
For more information about past and future events, please contact the CVS Manager at Voluntary Action Maidstone on 01622 677337.
Funding Information, Advice and Searches:
Inside Track (funding newsletter)
Kent 4 Community (community funding support website for the Kent county area; provided by Kent County Council)
Maidstone 4 Community (community funding support website for the Maidstone district area)
The Big Exchange (local matching website that connects voluntary/community groups seeking support with businesses)
EU Funding Tracker (search for funding; provided by the Local Government Association)
Kent Community Foundation (search for local funding schemes)
Funding Central (search for grants, contracts and loans)
Funding for All formerly Funding Buddies (funding advice and bespoke fundraising mentoring support)
Case Kent (external)
Grants Online (search for funding)
National Lottery Good Causes (search for funding)
Natural England (search for funding)
NCVO European Funding Network (EU funding advice and search for funding)
Princes Trust (links to funding for community projects)
Kent County Council Funding Programmes:
Kent County Council’s community grants and funding support
Sports grants distributed by KCC – see Kent Sport website
Local Funders:
Golding Vision Community Chest (Golding Homes)
KM Charity Team (Kent Messenger Group)
Maidstone Borough Council (email for more information about Community First and other funding opportunities)
Neighbours4U (Hope in the Community)
National Funders:
Active Communities (People’s Health Trust)
Awards for All (Lottery funding)
Arts Council Funding Programmes
Community Development Foundation funding programmes
Heritage Lottery Fund (Lottery funding)
Sport England funding programmes
Charitable Trusts and Foundations:
Trustfunding.org (Directory of Social Change)
Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust
Community Plus (Santander Foundation)
The Co-operative Membership Community Fund and The Co-operative Foundation
Galaxy Hot Chocolate Fund (Mars Incorporated)
Yorkshire & Clydesdale Bank Foundation
Funding for Businesses:
Business is Great (HM Government)
Business Finance Guide (British Business Bank and Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales)
Business loans and funding (Kent County Council)
Kent 4 Business (funding support website for the Kent county area, provided by Kent County Council)
The Co-operative Enterprise Hub and The Co-operative Loan Fund
Funding for Community Facilities:
Landfill Community Fund providers (ENTRUST – Object D only: The provision, maintenance or improvement of a public park or other general public amenity)
Let’s Colour (Dulux)
Funding for Community Rights and Neighbourhood Planning:
Community Assets and Services Grants (The SIB Group)
My Community Rights: Our Place Programme (Locality)
Neighbourhood Planning Grants (Locality)
New Councils’ Programme (National Association of Local Councils)
Funding for Educational Projects or Schools:
Let’s Colour (Dulux)
MSE Charity (MoneySavingExpert)
Funding for Environmental Projects:
Landfill Community Fund providers (ENTRUST)
Funding for Individuals:
Kent Support and Assistance Service (Kent County Council)
Funding for individuals (Princes Trust)
Grantsforindividuals.org.uk (Directory of Social Change)
Funding for Policy and Research Projects:
Funding for Religious/Faith Projects:
Landfill Community Fund providers (ENTRUST – Object E only: The repair, maintenance or restoration of a Place of Worship or a Place of Architectural Importance)
Together in Service (FaithAction)
Funding for Specific Communities / Groups:
Grants for disabled people (Disability Grants)
Funding for Sports Projects:
Cash 4 Clubs (Betfair and SportsAid)
Fundraising Online:
* Kent County Council is not responsible for any external sites. The inclusion of a link above is purely for information purposes and should not be considered a recommendation, endorsement or validation by Kent County Council.
If any of the links on this page are broken, please advise anne.charman@kent.gov.uk.
Support officer: Emma Carey / Allison Allan. Email: emma.carey@kent.gov.uk Email: allison.allan@kent.gov.uk