Each year, the Town Council makes a significant number of grants to organisations whose activities are of direct benefit to the residents of Kendal. Historically, two types of assistance are offered: General Grants and Festival Grants; a standard set of criteria apply to both types: Grants Criteria 2021-22 in November 2020 a Biodiversity Grant was launched and is outlined below.
General Grants
General grants are available for charities and not for profit organisations, such as clubs and associations. No grants are made to individuals, political organisations, religious bodies, local schools or parent/teacher organisations. The Council welcomes applications to fund projects as well as running costs, but expects the organisation to raise significant funds itself.
A wide range of organisations have benefited from our funding, from the Brewery Arts Centre and Citizens Advice Bureau to smaller voluntary groups and clubs such as the Lads and Girls Club and the Lions Club.
Organisations are invited for the financial year starting in April 2021. We encourage early applications, preferably by 31 September 2020, so that we can assess the impact on the Council’s budget.
Applications must be accompanied by a recent set of audited accounts.
Festival Grants
The Town Council supports key festivals throughout the year, such as the Torchlight Procession, Kendal Mountain Festival and the Comic Arts Festival to name just a few.
Applications must be accompanied by a recent set of audited accounts.
2019/20 Grants
In 2019/20, the Council approved the following grants:
General Grants
Organisation
Grant
£
Services
“One Voice” Kendal & South Lakes Centre for Independent Living
1,500
1127 Squadron (Kendal) Air Training Corp
1,000
Abbot Hall – Lakeland Arts Trust
3,000
Fairoak Housing Association
500
Great North Air Ambulance
750
Growing Well
500
Kendal Brewery Arts Centre
10,000
Kendal Brewery Arts Centre
500
Kendal Community Theatre
500
Manna House
3,000
North West Air Ambulance
750
Outside In
2,000
Right2Work
290
South Lakes Hydrotherapy Pool
3,000
South Cumbria Breastfeeding Support
1,000
South Lakes Citizens Advice Bureau
5,000
South Lakes Equality & Diversity Partnership
100
The Birchall Trust
750
The Quaker Tapestry at Kendal
2,000
Clubs & Societies
10th Kendal Scouts
500
Abbot Hall Bowling Club
50
Danceability
100
Kendal Lads & Girls Club
450
Kendal Millenium Playing Fields
500
Riversiders Trust
750
With Singing in Mind
500
Total
38,990
Festival Grants 2019/20
Organisation
Grant
£
Services
Kendal Torchight Procession
5,000
Lakes Arts Festivals
5,000
Kendal Mountain Festival
5,000
Mary Wakefield Festival
500
Kendal Windows on Art
750
Christmas Tree Festival – Kendal Parish Church
500
Lakes Alive – LDNPA
5,000
AWAZ Cumbria – Kendal Unity Festival
2,000
Kendal Rugby Club – Winter Festival
1,500
Kendal Wool Gathering
2,500
Kendal Torchlight Anniversary
1,000
Mountain Film Festival Anniversary
1,000
Total
29,750
Educational Grants
Town Councillors act as the Trustees of the Schools of Science and Arts Charity, which is able to make modest grants to people or organisations within Kendal for the purpose of the promotion of education in the town. The current capital value of these funds is around £14,000; grants are paid using the income from investment of this money.
Grant requests from people or organisations from within Kendal will be considered by the Council, providing the planned use is linked to the promotion of education within Kendal. Application is by letter to Kendal Town Council Treasurer.
Formed between 1992 and 1993, the Schools of Science and Art charity is the result of an amalgamation of seven older charities all with the common aim of promoting education in Kendal.
