KENT-WIDE
Stronger Kent Communities is one of a number of organisations supporting the VCSE (Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise) sector across Kent, which include:
Funding for All is a registered charity focused on supporting all Kent and Medway VCSEs with your funding and fundraising. We do this through online training, face-to-face training, 1-2-1 funding advice sessions and also our tailored mentoring scheme, which gives you direct support with the funding and fundraising needs that your organisation has.
Whether you are planning approaches to grants and trusts, seeking to source corporate sponsorship or donations from individuals, using social media and crowdfunding for fundraising, getting your head around Gift Aid, thinking about legacies, contracts, or tenders, or building a fundraising strategy, we can support you, free of charge.
Get in touch at info@fundingforall.org.uk.
Charity Mentors Kent and Medway
Charity Mentors Kent and Medway provide free, high-quality strategic mentoring to leaders of local charities and not-for-profit social organisations.
Our mentors are experienced senior managers and leaders who provide short-term, strategic and focused support to enable strategic thinking and improve the resilience, effectiveness and social impact of VCSE organisations.
Contact: justin.byrd@charitymentorskent.org
CVS NWK exists to serve communities and voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations (VCSE’s) across Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley. We focus and offer in leadership, representation & advocacy, practical support, capacity building, volunteering, partnerships & collaboration. We strengthen and champion local action and act as enablers and facilitators encouraging local communities to thrive.
Contact Sarah Maybourne, Head of Community Infrastructure Services, sarah@cvsnwk.org, 07467 405364.
Connects communities in Thanet, Dover district and Folkestone and Hythe through volunteering and community-led projects.
- Supports VIOs (Volunteer Involving Organisations) such as charities and community groups to promote their volunteer opportunities and find volunteers.
- Peer-sharing sessions on topics of interest to VIOs such as recruitment management and retention of volunteers, youth volunteering, promoting volunteering and more.
- Bespoke best practice training, guidance and templates on issues around volunteering for VIOs or groups of VIOs.
- DBS service.
- Introductory training for individuals who perhaps need a confidence boost to take those first steps into volunteering.
- Good Neighbours befriending service.
- Community Transport Service.
Contact info@kcv.org.uk or phone on 01304 436 7898.
Kent Volunteer Partnership has been funded by KCC to develop volunteering across the county. They offer guidance to organisations and to volunteers’ they also manage an online platform where organisations can post their volunteering roles and individuals can search for volunteering opportunities. Contact info@kentvolunteerpartnership.org.uk visit About Us – Kent Volunteers.
Active Kent & Medway (formerly known as Kent Sport) is the local active partnership for Kent & Medway. It is one of 43 Active Partnerships in England who work collaboratively with local partners to ensure the power of physical activity and sport can transform lives.
Vision: More people, More active, More often
Mission: To improve lives through sport and physical activity
They run a number of different programmes encouraging people to become more active and also provide support, including small grants, to local groups and clubs to grow membership, develop coaches, improve facilities, and deliver projects.
Contact activekent@kent.gov.uk
Imago offer support to community groups and charities operating in the Kent Districts of Sevenoaks, Tonbridge & Malling, Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Ashford and Folkestone & Hythe including:
- Bi-monthly networking sessions.
- Newsletter summarising discussion points and outcomes of networking sessions.
- Direct support to individual voluntary organisations.
- Training sessions.
For more information take a look at www.imago.community/Community-Services or contact charitysupport@imago.community
Safer Communities Alliance CIC
The Safer Communities Alliance has provided a range of bespoke Infrastructure support for three years. They have experience in collaborative working, guidance, training across areas including fundraising, governance, and mentoring.
Through their new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) support initiative they are delivering:
- One-on-One support
- Events That Celebrate
- Connecting Communities
For more information email info@safercommunitiesalliance.org
Social Enterprise Kent is a Community Interest Company (CIC) and social enterprise operating for over 35 years, with the overarching vision of “Improving Lives, Supporting Communities”. They provide business support advice and guidance to social entrepreneurs, start-ups and established enterprises, as well as support and mentoring to VCSE CEOs, SMT and Boards.
For more information contact support@sekgroup.org.uk
CAP Enterprise is offering a Kent Social Enterprise Club for community groups, local charities and social enterprises, a free 12-week online social enterprise start-up programme.
The programme is ideal for pre-starts (people wanting to start up new social enterprises), new starts (social enterprises running for less than 2 years) and established VCSE organisations wanting to develop new income streams or to become more enterprising.
To find out more email info@capenterprise.co.uk
West Kent Mind and Mid Kent Mind
West Kent Mind, in association with Mid Kent Mind, have secured funding from Kent County Council’s Infrastructure Support Fund (via Kent Community Foundation) to present a new learning programme that brings together voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises to share the challenges facing the sector relating to recruitment and retention of staff. These ‘Communities of Practice’ will enable us to share ideas, explore new thinking, experiment and push the boundaries of how we achieve better results to create thriving workplaces.
To find out more email vicky.giannakis@westkentmind.org.uk
UK-WIDE
There are also national organisations providing support to the sector, including:
Free Data First Aid support for charities from Pro Bono Economics
Pro Bono Economics (PBE) is a charity which can provide other charities, voluntary organisations and community groups with pro bono support from a dedicated volunteer economist to help with ad hoc data needs including data analysis or visualisation, spreadsheet tasks or short pieces of research and analysis.
PBE is available to help right now. Tell them what you need on their website so they can match you with the right expert.