Funding partnership delivers almost £100,000 for Dartford communities

A partnership between Dartford Borough Council and Kent Community Foundation has awarded nearly £100,000 to 14 charities and community organisations through the Dartford Borough Council Community Infrastructure Fund.

Using Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding, the programme will support projects expected to benefit more than 2,468 local people across Dartford's unparished areas. The funding will help improve health and wellbeing, strengthen community facilities, enhance green spaces and create new opportunities for residents of all ages.

Working together, Dartford Borough Council and Kent Community Foundation have created a grant programme that combines the Council's local priorities with our grant-making expertise, helping ensure funding reaches the organisations best placed to make a difference in their communities.

Investing in local communities

The Fund has supported a wide range of charities, community groups and social enterprises delivering projects that reflect the diverse needs of local people.

Among the organisations receiving funding are:

• Nathan Timothy Foundation: The Songwriting Charity, which is expanding its Bully Beat programme in local schools

• Emerge Advocacy, providing mental health support for young people

• We Are Beams, supporting families of children with disabilities

• North-West Kent Countryside Partnership, helping restore Dartford Heath for the benefit of both people and wildlife.

Funding has also enabled improvements to community facilities, increased opportunities for sport and physical activity, creative health projects, parenting support, accessibility improvements and initiatives that bring local people together.

A partnership built on local knowledge

We worked closely with Dartford Borough Council to design and deliver the programme, providing support with programme design, promotion, applicant guidance, grant assessment, due diligence and impact reporting.

Alongside promoting the fund through local networks and hosting a dedicated funding advice event, we worked with community organisations throughout the application process, helping ensure funding reached a broad range of projects across Dartford's unparished communities.

Jeremy Kite, Leader of the Council said:

"When development takes place in Dartford, it is important that local communities share in the benefits. That's exactly what this fund is about. By investing Community Infrastructure Levy funding into grassroots projects, we're helping local organisations to tackle real issues, support residents, and improve quality of life across the borough. Our partnership with Kent Community Foundation has been instrumental in ensuring this funding reaches a diverse range of local groups that are delivering real and lasting benefits for communities across Dartford."

Catherine Glover, Chief Executive of Kent Community Foundation, said:

"The Dartford Borough Council Community Infrastructure Fund demonstrates what's possible when local authorities and community foundations work together. By combining local priorities with our knowledge of Kent's voluntary sector, we've been able to ensure funding reaches organisations making a real difference to people's lives. We're proud to work alongside Dartford Borough Council to help strengthen communities across the borough and we look forward to continuing our partnership to support even more community-led projects."

To contact Kent Community Foundation about funding for charities and community groups, or to discuss setting up a philanthropic fund, please email hello@kentcf.org.uk.

The fund has reopened for 2026. Find out more and apply here by 6th November.