Monitoring of main grant programmes 2018 – 2021

 

Whilst statistics can tell us a lot about the impact of our grant programmes, for a full picture also we must look to feedback from grant recipients (grantees).   All grantees are required under the terms of their grant contract to provide interim (if multi-year grants) and final reports.  In their reports, grantees are asked to reflect on the original objectives set out in their grant application and explain the extent to which these have been met.  They are also asked to tell us what has gone well and what, with hindsight, they would do differently.  Grantees are refreshingly honest providing candid information about their failures as well as their successes.    Out of a total of 257 grants made across the four main programmes, 116 interim and 105 final reports had been received by 31 March 2021.

Final reports are required nine months after a final grant payment.  Only two organisations failed to provide their report, both because their charity closed as a result of Covid-19.  Of the 105 final reports, only 9 (8.5%) had not spent their grant in full, nine months after their last payment.  All nine were due to delays caused by the pandemic and in every case the grantee sought permission to retain the funds and they provided a workable solution for their future use.

In answer to the question “Do you believe that the grant has helped you achieve the objectives set out in your application?  all but three grantees replied with a resounding “yes”, providing details of how the grant had made a tangible difference to their service and its beneficiaries.  Words such as “vital”, and “transformative” were used, as well as grantees explaining that that the grant made them “stronger”, “more resilient” and that they were “proud” of their achievements.  A couple referred to their imminent closure being averted by CFCT funds.

August 2021

 

The Colyer-Fergusson Million Pound Match Challenge which matched £1 million in donations via Kent Community Foundation, has awarded its first grant.

 

Kent charities and social enterprises will be excited to learn that new match funding of £2 million has been invested in perpetuity via Kent Community Foundation and the income gained every year will be used for charitable grant making to support young people in Kent and Medway.

The first grant of £3,600, has been awarded to, Uprising Youth and Community, who support young people, families, and communities, facing significant challenges to achieve improvements in life, resulting in personal and community transformation. 

Nicholas Fisher, Chairman of Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust, comments, “In its fiftieth anniversary year, Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust is delighted to be celebrating this important milestone in its history by building a £2 million endowment legacy that will give ongoing support to disadvantaged young people in Kent and Medway.”

Josephine McCartney, Chief Executive of Kent Community Foundation, comments, “We are delighted that Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust made the decision to invest £1m with Kent Community Foundation as a match fund. Thirteen individuals, families, Trusts, Foundations and businesses have taken the opportunity to be part of this and have seen their donations matched £1 for £1. The first grant has been awarded to Ashford based, Uprising Youth and Community and we are looking forward to offering financial support to many more local causes through this new funding.”