Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector Grants

Value of grant

Small grants available of up to £5,000 per year.

Large grants of up to £10,000 per year.

(The funding period is three years, and the application needs to outline how the funding will be spent over the three year funding period. There are two one-year extensions that are optional for both the council and the grantee).

About the grant

The council has the ambitious targets of achieving net-zero emissions in its operations by 2030 and supporting the whole borough to become net-zero by 2038.

The Council’s Climate Action Plan outlines measures that will be taken to achieve those targets, and commits the council to tackle the wider ecological emergency, as well as to help the borough become more resilient to the impacts of climate change. The council cannot tackle climate change alone, and this effort will require community-wide cooperation and buy-in.

Project awards are available to maintain an existing project, expand an existing project or develop a new project.

Your project must clearly demonstrate how it supports one or more priorities of the Climate Action Plan as set out for the grant:

• Supporting energy efficiency and emissions reduction
• Increasing generation and access of renewable energy
• Using natural systems to enhance biodiversity and reduce the impacts of climate change
• Reducing waste and driving forward a circular economy
• Encouraging sustainable diets, preventing food waste and creating resilient food systems
• Promoting active travel and reducing emissions from transport
• Developing our local "green economy"
• Increasing Kingston's resilience to the impacts of climate change.

Green Grants will aim to support a variety of projects across different priorities. The council reserves the right for this to be reflected when considering grant applications.

The council reserves the right to withdraw or reclaim part or whole of the grant awarded in event of the organisation failing to carry out the work for which the grant was awarded.

Organisations can submit one or more applications.

Any questions should be directed to climate@kingston.gov.uk.

Download the full guidance (PDF, 136KB). If you need an accessible version of this PDF, contact strategy@kingston.gov.uk.

Application support

Some applicants may be less confident making applications digitally. This fund operates an application support service, through which you can access a face to face or video call appointment to complete the digital form.

Translators are also available through this service.

Email strategy@kingston.gov.uk or call our Contact Centre on 020 8547 5000 if you would like more information about this support.

Applications will be assessed and scored against questions to identify how they meet the priorities set out for the specific grant, as well as how the applying group will support the objectives of this strategy.

Applicants will also be required to demonstrate how they will monitor the delivery of these priorities and outcomes.

What you need to apply

You are not able to save the form to come back to it later. Make sure that you have time to complete the application before starting. It is estimated that this will take about an hour to complete.

You will need to have the following documents ready to support your application:

• A delivery plan, including the key milestones for your project for all requests for funding over £5,000
• Evidence to demonstrate how you publicise your organisation or community group. If you do not have a web page or social media presence, you will need to upload a poster or leaflet
• Your Safeguarding Policy (if you have one).

Questions in the application

Organisation details

• Name of the organisation or community group
• Address of the organisation or community group
• Where can we find your organisation or community group online?
• Main contact name and details / second contact name and details
• Which of these people should we contact about the financial details of the organisation?
• Structure of the organisation or community group
• What does your organisation or community group do?
• Does the organisation or community group target support towards residents with a 'protected characteristic' or priority group?

Screening Questions

• Do you support the whole borough, a neighbourhood or a community?
• Yes or no questions
  • Does the organisation or community group have a written constitution or memorandum and articles or set of rules that establishes that it is a voluntary, community, faith or other not-for-profit organisation?
  • Does the organisation or community group have a management committee or board of trustees with at least three members?
  • Does the group have a lead for Safeguarding who is responsible for ensuring that volunteers and staff are appropriately and regularly trained and skilled in safeguarding? Please upload your safeguarding policy if you have one
  • Does the organisation or community group have a bank or building society account in the name of the organisation?
  • Does the organisation or community group have at least two unrelated people to authorise cheques and make withdrawals?
  • Does the organisation or community group have an accounting system such as annual accounts to record income and expenditure?

Prioritising projects for support - the Voluntary and Community Sector Strategy

• How does the organisation or community group support Kingston's principles, building community resilience by reaching out into communities and working alongside them?

Project details

• Demonstrate how you are going to meet the priorities and objectives as set out in the description of the grant you are applying for.
• What are the outcomes you aim to achieve with this funding, and how do you propose to achieve them?
• Please set out the milestones you plan to achieve with this funding. For all requests of over £5,000 please also attach a project plan
• Provide an estimated breakdown of costs, clearly outlining what you intend to spend the grant funds on, and how the project will deliver value for money.
• Set out how you will demonstrate and monitor progress
• Does your organisation currently have the skills and capacity required to deliver this project? If not, how do you intend to develop them?
• Do you agree to provide an annual report to the council and attend an annual grant review meeting?
• What is the value of funding you are seeking?
• Do you agree to the funding declaration?

Funding Declaration

Does the organisation or community group agree to the Declaration?

• I confirm that I am the main contact in relation to the request for grant funding and that I am authorised to sign this application on behalf of the applicant organisation or community group.
• I confirm that I understand it will be a condition of any grant awarded that the grant will only be used for the purpose for which it is awarded. I undertake to use the award only for that purpose and to repay to the council any grant money that I may use for any other purpose on demand.
• I undertake to inform Kingston Council of any changes to the project, management or organisational circumstances that would affect this application post submission.
• I confirm that the organisation or community group will adhere to all Public Health England Coronavirus guidance on social distancing, self-isolation as well as advice on protecting staff, volunteers and service users.
• I confirm that any funding received from the Royal Borough of Kingston will not be used to fund activities normally undertaken by statutory organisations, major building works, minibuses, endowments (to provide a source of income), political activities, historic activities or events.
• I confirm that any funding received will enable us to carry out work with the community that is not primarily of a religious nature and does not exclude people from other faiths, or those who have no faith.
• I confirm that this funding will not be used as an endowment, e.g. to further distribute to other organisations or individuals as grants
• Please note if the application is successful an award agreement will be sent for you to sign confirming this declaration.

Who can apply

Eligible groups are:

• Not-for-profit organisations
• Voluntary or community sector organisations
• Faith groups
• Social enterprises

Only organisations or community groups that meet the following eligibility criteria are able to apply.

You will need to have:

• A written constitution or memorandum and articles or set of rules that establishes that it is a voluntary, community, faith or other not-for-profit organisation
• A management committee or board of trustees with at least three members
• A bank or building society account in the name of the name of the organisation or community group
• A safeguarding lead, or plans to establish a safeguarding lead and policy for their organisation
• At least two unrelated people to authorise cheques and make withdrawals
• An accounting system such as annual accounts to record income and expenditure

The council is keen to support capacity building that would enable grantees to deliver projects matching the priorities set out for the grant. Any organisation that is interested in applying for these grants, but doesn't meet these criteria, can contact strategy@kingston.gov.uk for support.

Apply for a VCSE Green Grant

Fill in the application form to apply for the VCSE Green Grants. The closing date is 12 January 2024.

You will not be able to save the application once you have started.

VCSE grant application form

What the funding can be used for

See the descriptions of the grants to find out more about what they can be used for.

These grants will not fund activities normally undertaken by statutory organisations, minibuses, endowments (to provide a source of income), political activities, historic activities or events. The council takes an inclusive approach to funding so this council grant cannot be used for the promotion of a single faith and we encourage applications that are inclusive.

A portion of the grant award can support capacity building and skill development to enable the grantee to deliver projects matching the priorities set out for the grant. Rental of spaces or buildings will only be considered where it is proportionate, provides value for money and is directly linked to project delivery.

Organisations cannot bid for funding to further distribute to other organisations or individuals as grants.

See the funding declaration for further information about the terms of this funding.

Contacting the council for further information

The project team will continue to update this guide with frequently asked questions. If you have any questions, or would like any of this information in another format, contact: strategy@kingston.gov.uk or call our Contact Centre on 020 8547 5000.