Press Release - Community grants help boost local charities

23 March 2022

Sevenoaks District Council will again be supporting local charity and voluntary groups by allocating £153,340 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.

Funding will be given to 18 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 The Hygiene Bank, North Kent Mind and Age UK Sevenoaks and Tonbridge.

This year, several new charities and groups have been granted funding including Protection Against Stalking (PAS), a charity working to raise public awareness and support victims of stalking through providing specialist support services. The grant money will help PAS expand their volunteer-led service in Sevenoaks which will enable them to support people at risk.

As well as the charity and volunteer groups, additional funding will will be given to Citizens’ Advice across the District, the Sevenoaks District Arts Council and the Sevenoaks District Sports Council.

The Council’s Cabinet Member for People and Places, Cllr Dyball says; “We know the last two years have hit the charity and voluntary sectors really hard so we’re very pleased we can continue to offer much needed financial support to these incredible organisations.

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 people.”

ENDS

The Council’s Cabinet agreed the Community Grant funding at its meeting on Thursday 17 March 2022.

Below is a list of the organisations receiving funding:

Citizens’ Advice - £98,540

Sevenoaks District Arts Council - £2,500

Sevenoaks District Sports Council - £2,500

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with Sevenoaks League of Friends at Sevenoaks Hospital - £3,616.25

Baby Umbrella – £1,900

Swanley Scouts (Swanley District Scout Council) - £2,916.25

The Lewis Project - £1,000

Home-Start South West Kent (HSSWK) - £875

Sevenoaks Volunteer Transport Group - £500

PMRGCAuk (Polymyalgia Rheumatica & Giant Cell Arteritis UK) - £1,400

West Kent Mediation - £5,000

North Kent Mind - £390

Protection Against Stalking - £4,680

BRIDGES - £2,740

The Hygiene Bank - £3,916.25

Sevenoaks Counselling - £1,200

Age UK Sevenoaks and Tonbridge - £5,000

Domestic Abuse Volunteer Support Services (DAVSS) - £5,000

Kenward Trust - £4,666.25

Imago - £3,500

Project Salus - £1,500