Community grants help boost local charities | Sevenoaks District Council

Community grants help boost local charities

Published: Tuesday, 23rd March 2021

Sevenoaks District Council will again be supporting local charity and voluntary groups by allocating £154,675 to help them continue their valuable work across the District.

The grants will support organisations that provide services to Sevenoaks District residents, particularly those in greatest need. The funding from this year’s grant scheme will be particularly welcome to the charity sector after an incredibly challenging year.

Funding totalling £51,135 will be made to 19 local groups who support volunteers, run community transport, help older people and people experiencing mental health problems and assist families across the District.

Amongst the organisations that will benefit from the grants are West Kent Mind, Imago and Domestic Abuse Volunteer Support Services.

This year, several new charities and groups have been granted funding including Baby Umbrella, an organisation providing online and face-to-face support to vulnerable families and new parents in Sevenoaks and the surrounding areas. Another new organisation being awarded a grant is The Layberry Foundation, which provides mentoring for young people who have been in care.

A further £103,540 will be given to Citizens’ Advice across the District at Edenbridge and Westerham and North and West Kent (Sevenoaks and Swanley). In addition to this, both the Sevenoaks District Arts Council and the Sevenoaks District Sports Council will receive funding of £2,500 each.

The Council’s Cabinet Member for People and Places, Cllr Dyball says, “After an unprecedented year, I am really pleased we can offer much needed support to the incredibly valued voluntary and community sector across the Sevenoaks District. The last year has hit everyone hard, but charity and volunteer organisations have really struggled to stay afloat.”

Cllr Dyball adds, “Residents’ wellbeing is one of our top priorities and our grants allow these wonderful charities and groups to continue helping our most vulnerable residents.”

 

The Council’s Cabinet agreed the Community Grant funding at its meeting on Thursday 18 March 2020.

Below is a list of the organisations receiving funding:

The D’Vine Singers - £500

North West Kent Volunteer Centre - £4301

Eden Christian Trust - £1,750

Sevenoaks Counselling (District-wide) - £1,000

Imago - £3,500

Age UK Sevenoaks & Tonbridge - £4,807

Sevenoaks PHAB - £500

Sevenoaks Volunteer Transport Group - £500

West Kent Mediation - £5,000

BRIDGES - £960

DAVSS - £5,000

Salus - £1,500

The Hygiene Bank - £2,267

Council for Voluntary Service North West Kent - £900

The Layberry Foundation - £2,000

West Kent Mind - £3,322

We Are Beams - £4,214

Baby Umbrella - £4,307

Sevenoaks Samaritans - £4,307

Parish of Fawkham and Hartley £500

 Community Grants are one of the Council’s key decisions and are subject to a five-day call-in period by Sevenoaks District Council Members.