CHARITY
Coronavirus Emergency Fund Raises £950,000
to Offer Financial Lifeline to Charities
Kent Community Foundation has
raised an amazing amount of
£950,000 since it announced the
launch of its KCF Coronavirus
Emergency Fund. The fund, which
includes a £400,000 donation from
the National Emergencies Trust, is to
support charities and community
groups facing extreme difficulties
including closure, as the impact of
social distancing puts a stop to crucial
fundraising activities.
Natalie Smith, director of grants and
impact, said “The Kent Community
Foundation grants team has received
over 255 applications for the
Coronavirus Emergency Fund since
it launched on 23 March and we have
been working at speed to distribute
funding to charities and community
groups who are desperate for support.
We have to date supported 145
charitable organisations with grants
totalling over half a million pounds.
The work doesn’t stop here of course,
as we begin to look ahead and consider
how these incredible charities will also
play a part in the recovery from the
worst of the pandemic.”
Beneficiaries of KCF Coronavirus
Emergency Fund include: £3,000 to
Kent Search and Rescue
www.ksar.co.uk, the organisation
dedicated to assisting the emergency
services in the search for and rescue
of vulnerable missing persons; £7,000
to HomeStart Dover www.home-
startdoverdistrict.org.uk, the voluntary
organisation that is committed to
promoting the welfare of families with
at least one child under five years of
age; £4,000 to Hypo Hounds
www.hypohounds.co.uk, which helps
children and adults with Brittle Type
1 Diabetes whose pet dogs have the potential to become a Diabetic Alert Dog;
£2,000 to 2makeit www.2makeit.org, who rehabilitate prisoners and ex-prisoners
by offering them creative expression through programmes in skills such as music,
art and writing; and £7,500 to Walderslade Together CIC
www.facebook.com/waldersladetogether who aim to reduce social isolation and
improve employability within Walderslade.
For more information about the KCF Coronavirus Emergency Fund visit
www.kentcf.org.uk/funding/Coronavirusemergencyfund.
ellenor’s Accumulator Challenge
raises over £36,000 for hospice care
Local organisations from across the county have helped raise thousands of
pounds for Kent hospice charity ellenor, thanks to an innovative fundraising
challenge. Broadditch Farm Shop were crowned champions for the second
year running and raised a grand total of £5,673 for the charity.
New date for Race for Life
in Maidstone
Having had to postpone Race for
Life events this spring and summer
across the UK to protect the
country’s health during the
coronavirus outbreak, Cancer
Research UK are pleased to
announce that the empowering Race
for Life 5K, 10K, Pretty Muddy and
Pretty Muddy Kids events in
Maidstone have been rescheduled
for 22nd and 23rd August.
Participants who had already signed
up for the Race for Life event in July
can transfer their entry to the new
August date, and entries are also
open for more people to join at
raceforlife.org
Lucy Hayward, Cancer Research
UK event manager for Maidstone,
said: “We’re sending a heartfelt
message to everyone to seize the
opportunity and come join us to
Race for Life in Maidstone this
August at Mote Park.
“We hope men, women and children
will unite against cancer and
make Race for Life Maidstone the
best yet this August. Together we
can beat cancer.
“Since it began, Race for Life has
raised over £890m for Cancer
Research UK’s life-saving work.
We’re incredibly grateful to everyone
who has taken part and hope their
support will continue throughout
these unprecedented times.”
Money raised through Race for Life
helps to make long-term research
and pioneering trials possible, leading
to new tests and kinder treatments,
which could save the lives of more
men, women and children across the
South East
For more information,
visit raceforlife.org or call
0300 123 0770.
The Accumulator saw 45 local organisations being tasked with a three 3-
month challenge to raise as much money as possible, from an initial investment
of £50 generously sponsored by Tunbridge Wells-based Studio 44, to support
families facing terminal illness. The challenge offers the opportunity for
organisations to invest a small amount of money in a variety of creative,
original fundraising and entrepreneurial activities to generate funds for ellenor.
“The support of companies in
our local community is
invaluable for ellenor. They play
a huge role in helping to support
people to live as fulfilling lives
as possible and receive the very
best care at the end of life. It is
truly fantastic working with local
organisations especially for this
challenge. The participants came
up with some very creative and
profitable ways to raise money. Their support has been overwhelming and
we want to thank everyone across Kent who got involved” says ellenor
corporate and community fundraiser Leah Poppy.
Lindsey Lucas, Broadditch advertising and marketing manager added: “So
many of our customers and staff have been touched by the incredible work
ellenor does, looking after patients and families in the most difficult of times.
We could not have raised this amazing sum if it were not for the support and
generosity of our farm shop customers, event visitors and our fantastic staff
giving up their time and participating in our fundraising efforts for this
amazing charity”.
The ellenor Accumulator Challenge will return in September 2020. For more
information, or to register your interest, please call 01474 320007 or email
ellenor interim corporate and community fundraising manager Jemma:
[email protected].
51