Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector Grants

You will need to read all information provided before you apply for any grant. You will not be able to save your application form once you start.

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.

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:
  • Registered Charity
  • Community Group
  • CIC Limited by Guarantee
  • Company Limited by Guarantee
  • Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
  • Registered Social Landlord
  • Unincorporated Charitable Organisation
  • Other
• What does your organisation or community group do? (Maximum 500 characters)
• Does the organisation or community group target support towards residents with a 'protected characteristic' or priority group? (Multiple choice - tick all that apply)

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 establish 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?

The Voluntary and Community Sector Strategy

The Council wishes to support organisations and community groups that work to achieve the aims of the Kingston Voluntary and Community Sector Strategy, Empowering People, Strengthening Communities.

This strategy has five objectives;

• Work with others to tackle community challenges,
• Identify need using data, evidence and community voices,
• Transform and adapt to meet emerging need and respond to inequality,
• Build on the diverse strengths of communities,
• Actively promote equality, diversity and inclusion and reject discrimination.

Using examples, tell us how you support one or more of these five objectives? *

Maximum 2000 characters

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? (Maximum 2500 characters)
• 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, (unless for a primarily environmental benefit within a Green Grant application - for example, solar panels, insulation or heat pumps) 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
• I confirm that I will provide an annual report highlighting how this funding was used
• If the application is successful an award agreement will be sent for you to sign confirming this declaration.