Grants of up to £50,000 are available for organisations to provide exciting activities for children and young people next year.
Kent County Council is making up to £1million available through its Reconnect: Kent Children’s and Young People programme for a new county grants scheme.
The money can be used for activities, events or projects that address gaps in learning missed, promote health and happiness, encourage the take-up of sports or other outdoor activities, help children and young people reconnect with friends, family or communities or generate more work-related opportunities.
Reconnect has already committed £2.5milllion to its locality grants scheme to enable small local organisations to deliver activities for children and young people, with £1.8million allocated so far.
The new scheme enables organisations to apply for a grant to deliver projects across at least three district areas or across the whole of Kent by the end of August 2022.
Organisations can submit up to four bids although none will be awarded more than three grants. The maximum amount, which together will be limited to no more than £100,000.
There are two rounds of funding for the county grants scheme – this round which will allocate £850,000 and a separate round totalling £150,000 specifically for Economic Wellbeing Grants, where businesses and organisations can bid for up to £20,000 for projects that support young people to bridge the gap between education and work.
Full details of the application process, funding criteria and the online form to apply are available on the Reconnect website.
The deadline for applications is midnight on Sunday, 9 January.
Sue Chandler, Cabinet Member for Integrated Children’s Services, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to announce this latest round of funding that will see even more children and young people reconnect to the things they love or try out new activities.
“Our passionate and committed community already provides a wide range of activities for children and young people. By applying for the additional Reconnect funding, groups and organisations can build on their great work and give even more children and young people the chance to do fun activities with friends, enjoy new experiences, take up new hobbies or enjoy outdoor pursuits.”