Gatwick Airport seeks good causes from Kent for round two of funding

Gatwick Airport has launched round two of its call-out for deserving local causes in Kent.

The Gatwick Foundation Fund has £33,000 available now for Kent projects and is asking local groups which could do with extra support during the cost-of-living crisis to apply by 31 May.

Each year three rounds of grants, totalling £100,000 are made available to beneficiaries in Kent.

Melanie Wrightson, Stakeholder Engagement Manager at Gatwick Airport, said: “We are acutely aware of the extra pressure being placed on those grassroots organisations and voluntary projects that work so hard to help people in need.

“We have funds available, and we would like these organisations to step forward and apply – especially as times are so much tougher than usual.”

The Gatwick Foundation Fund was set up in 2016 to award funding to local groups that work to fight social isolation and tackle disadvantage, raise aspirations and develop skills, improve health and wellbeing, and support children and young people.

The Foundation Fund covers groups operating in Kent across Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks. Money is available to both new and existing projects.

Previous recipient of £6,000 from the Foundation Fund was award-winning charity Migrateful, which supports asylum-seekers, refugees and migrants on their journey to independence and employment in Kent, as well as in Brighton, Bristol and London.

Migrateful interim CEO, Vickie Wambura said: “We used the funding to train nine asylum seekers, refugees and migrants facing challenges in integrating and finding employment in the Kent area to deliver cookery classes to public groups.

“This initial step of their two-year journey with Migrateful was a 10-week training workshop which took them on a journey to become confident cookery class teachers providing a safe, nurturing environment to develop valuable skills.

“We continue to support our Kent-based Migrateful chefs, whether they have moved on to employment or are leading classes at our venues.

“Many have experienced a range of benefits including the opportunity to improve their confidence, English language skills, be part of a supportive community and gain work experience.”

Amani from Syria, who is based in Folkstone and teaches cookery classes online, said: “My experience with Migrateful has been perfect. It has not only been about cooking, it has been about life skills. It’s very helpful. They teach you how to be open, they teach you how to connect with the community.

“I’m proud to be sharing my culture with other people in and outside of the UK. I always have different people join my class from other countries. I am so proud I’m here. I am so proud of myself and that I can share my food. In the past I was a weak person, I couldn’t share any words, but now I can share my stories, I can share my food. So, I’m proud of myself.”

Melanie Wrightson added: “To date, we have contributed to 78 good causes in Kent because we believe it’s important that everyone in the community benefits from the success of the airport.

“We encourage all those who are eligible to come forward.”

The Gatwick Foundation Fund is managed on behalf of Gatwick Airport in Kent by the Kent Community Foundation.

To apply for funding from the Gatwick Foundation Fund in Kent, please go to: https://kentcf.org.uk/

Social media post

Gatwick Airport has launched the latest round of its Foundation Fund, with £33k to support community groups in #Kent

Local causes should apply by 31st May: 

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Editors notes

About Gatwick Foundation Fund

The Gatwick Foundation Fund is managed by individual Community Foundations for Kent, Sussex and Surrey on behalf of Gatwick Airport, which oversees the programme and assesses all applications.

Each year, there are three rounds of grants, which are split equally between Sussex, Surrey and Kent.

Since it was founded in 2016, the Gatwick Foundation Fund has made more than £1m in donations, which support local grassroots community and voluntary projects that make a difference to people’s lives and meet local need. The Gatwick Foundation Fund was suspended in April 2020 due to the pandemic. It operates in Sussex across Crawley, Horsham, Mid Sussex and Wealden, in Surrey across Reigate & Banstead, Tandridge and the Mole Valley area, and in Kent across Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks.

For more information visit: https://www.gatwickairport.com/business-community/community/our-support/foundation-fund/