Kingston Charitable Foundation (KCF), an organisation that looks to fund small-scale community projects in the borough, has revealed it provided 45 grants for such work in 2023.

Formerly known as Love Kingston, the non-profit says the donations have benefitted over 54,000 local people, with 47,000 benefiting from funding for a Recycling Officer at Kingston Environment Centre to help address 'local recycling needs' alone.

KCF grants are typically under £1,000, and go towards small-scale projects of existing charity or community groups.

CEO Hicky Kingsbury says KCF aims to "deliver people-friendly programs beyond local government provision".

Examples include £750 towards a 50-person river cruise for disabled children and their families, 'providing a break from everyday life, new friendships, and lasting memories'.

Another £750 was sent to Chessington Community Fridge to help create a new food bank able to redistribute surplus food in the run-up to Christmas, with one of the over 360 people who benefitted from the scheme saying: "[I'm] really not sure how we would have coped these past few months without the Chessington Fridge & Pantry."

Shradda Balal, co-founder of Namaste Kingston, says her charity received £750 from KCF to help organise a community celebration of Holi, a Hindu festival of colours held in Spring. (Photo: Oliver Monk)

Alongside monetary assistance, the foundation also helps connect Kingston's charities to the borough's businesses, creating a support network that can assist in other ways.

Rick Brookman, Managing Director at local IT service company IQ in IT, told Nub News his team was helping to save computers being replaced by one of its clients from landfill, instead sending them to KCF. 

The foundation is able to redistribute the machines to its network of local non-profits, preventing the creation of e-waste while providing volunteers with computers that were top-spec only a few years ago.

"Being able to help a fantastic non-profit organisation like KCF and improve sustainability by giving these devices a second life is a real win-win for both the community and the environment," added Mr Brookman.

This supportive network also lets charities coordinate with one another, sharing their knowledge with up-and-coming organisations to help avoid common teething issues.

Ms Kingsbury says KCF is working on its strategy for the next three years. (Photo: Oliver Monk)

What's next for KCF? The group is working on its strategy for the next three years, guided by a new research project called What Kingston Thinks, funded by long-standing supporters of KCF, the City Bridge Foundation.

Ms Kingsbury says What Kingston Thinks "will involve local people paid at the London Living Wage to ask residents and businesses what's important to them," with the first findings expected later this year.

"This work is incredibly important to our organisation and our shared community as it will give a clear view of what means the most to local people, how they feel and think; and accordingly what we need to collectively do to facilitate meaningful change," she added.

Those wishing to donate to KCF can do so here, with more information available on the foundation's website here.