Voluntary Sector Support Fund 2027-2030

Introduction

Thank you for your interest in the Voluntary Sector Support Fund (VSSF) grants programme for 2027 to 2030. Please read this guidance before you complete your application. It explains what the Council needs from your organisation to assess your bid.

The VSSF provides core funding to voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations that support residents in Kensington and Chelsea.

In December 2023, the Council awarded VSSF funding to 20 organisations from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2027. 9 smaller organisations also received grants through the Small Grants Fund run by the K+C Foundation for the same period.

The Council will continue the VSSF programme from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030. This will provide another 3‑year package of core funding, totalling £2.6 million, for the local voluntary sector.

Organisations will be able to apply for one of three strands:

• Infrastructure Grant
• Open Grant
• Small Grants Fund

The Small Grants Fund will be managed on behalf of the Council by the K+C Foundation. For information about the fund, including when applications will open, visit the K+C Foundation website.

These pages contain the full programme guidance for the VSSF 2027 to 2030 grants programme, including the frequently asked questions. Please read this guidance before you submit your Expression of Interest (EOI).

The EOI is the first stage of the application process. Only shortlisted organisations will be invited to submit a full application.

For more information, visit our Voluntary Section Support Fund 2027-2030 Information page.

Core aims of the VSSF 2027–30 programme

Through this funding round, the Council aims to support voluntary organisations to:

• help residents earlier so their needs are addressed sooner, reducing the need for Council services
• build a collaborative and resilient voluntary and community sector network in the brough that
• works in partnership with the Council to meet residents’ needs
• improve outcomes for residents experiencing disadvantage or vulnerability
• maximise the impact of Council investment by leveraging additional external funding and capacity

This grant application process will consist of two stages:

• Stage One: Expression of Interest
• Stage Two: Full Application (by invitation only)

Eligibility Criteria

Whether you are thinking about applying as a single applicant organisation or as part of a consortium bid, organisations, including all partners, must meet some essential criteria:

• all applicant organisations must be a constituted organisation that is either a registered charity, Community Interest Company or Charitable Incorporated Organisation
• operational income for organisations applying for an Infrastructure Grant or an Open Grant must not exceed £3m in the last reported financial year
• operational income for organisations applying to the Small Grants Fund must not exceed £250,000 in the last reported financial year
• delivery must commence on 1 April 2027 and end 31 March 2030
• you can only apply for core costs

Additionally,

• infrastructure grant applicants must be able to demonstrate a track record of supporting voluntary organisations in Kensington and Chelsea with capacity building advice, fundraising, volunteering, and have an aim of improving the sector’s resilience

For more information about when the fund will open visit the K+C Foundation website.

Stage 1: Expression of Interest (EOI)

Submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) is the first stage of the VSSF 2027 to 2030 application process. You can submit an EOI between Monday 16 March and 12pm (noon) on Thursday 30 April.

The EOI will help the Council to:

• confirm your organisation’s eligibility
• understand which grant strand you want to apply for
• assess how well your proposal aligns with the Council’s priorities
• shortlist organisations for the next stage

Only shortlisted organisations are invited to submit a full application. The full application will ask for detailed information about outcomes, finances and governance.

Information sessions

Online information sessions will run throughout March and April. They will explain the application process, show how to complete the online form, and offer a chance to ask questions.

Attendance is optional, but you must book in advance using the Eventbrite links in these programme guidance pages.

Important dates

When	EOI Stage
Monday 16 March	Infrastructure Grant and Open Grant opens for expressions of interest
Monday 23 March	Online information session
Tuesday 31 March	Online information session
Thursday 16 April	Online information session
Thursday 30 April	EOI stage closes at 12pm
1-15 May 2026	EOIs are reviewed and eligible applicants are invited to make a Full Application

Guidance for completing the EOI form

The Council has worked with the community impact platform Plinth to design the VSSF 2027 to 2030 Expression of Interest (EOI) form. Each section of the form has a word limit, which is shown on the form and enforced by the system.

If you need an accessible version of the EOI form, email the VCS Partnerships team at: [email protected]

The guidance on this page follows the same structure as the EOI form.

Before you start your EOI, you must confirm that you agree to the Council’s data protection requirements. You will not be able to continue with the form until this confirmation is complete.

Section 1: Organisation Details and Eligibility

About your organisation

You will be asked to provide information about:

• your organisation’s name
• the legal status of your organisation
• any registration numbers
• your contact details
• where your organisation is based
• the percentage of your beneficiaries who are borough residents
• your most recent recorded annual income

Where your organisation is based and where your beneficiaries live

If your organisation is not based in Kensington and Chelsea, or if fewer than 75% of your beneficiaries live in the borough, you will be asked to provide more information.

You will have a maximum of 50 words to explain this.

Confirming you have read the programme guidance

You must read these programme guidance notes, including the frequently asked questions, before completing your EOI.

Before you submit your EOI, you must confirm that:

• you have read the Programme Guidance
• your organisation meets the essential eligibility criteria

Organisations that do not meet the eligibility criteria will not progress to the next stage.

Section 2: Applying for a VSSF 2027 to 2030 grant

Choosing the right grant

You can apply for one grant strand only:

• Infrastructure Grant
• Open Grant
• Small Grants Fund (opening later this year)

For the VSSF 2027 to 2030 programme, funding amounts are fixed for each grant strand. You must apply for the full stated amount.

Awards made through the Infrastructure Grant and the Open Grant will reduce each year. You do not need to provide a budget breakdown at this stage, but you should consider the year‑on‑year reduction when choosing which grant to apply for.

Indicative example of single awards per annum under each strand:

	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Total
Infrastructure Grant	£150,000	£135,000	£121,500	£406,500
Open Grant	£80,000	£72,000	£64,800	£216,800
Small Grants Fund	£25,000	£25,000	£25,000	£75,000

The awards that are made under the Small Grants Fund are smaller so these will not reduce year-on-year.

Applying as a single organisation or as part of a partnership

You must confirm whether you are applying:

• as a single organisation, or
• as part of a partnership bid

Your choice will affect how you complete the EOI. If you apply as a partnership, all organisations involved must meet the eligibility requirements and hold the required policies and documents.

If you submit a partnership application, you must name the lead organisation as the main contact.

The lead organisation is responsible for submitting the EOI and full application, and for managing the grant if your bid is successful.

Summary of funding expectations

You must confirm that you understand:

• funding amounts are fixed for each grant strand. Applications must be made for the full stated amount only.
• funding is for core organisational costs only
• Infrastructure Grant and Open Grant awards will reduce year-on-year over the period 2027–30

Infrastructure Grant and Open Grant awards will reduce each year from 2027 to 2030

Section 3: More about your organisation

You must answer both questions in this section, whether you are applying as a single organisation or as part of a partnership.

3.1 Core purpose and main activities

Briefly describe your organisation’s or partnership’s core purpose and main activities.

Voluntary organisations in Kensington and Chelsea provide many different types of support. Some focus on a single activity or a specific group of residents. Others offer a wider range of services. All organisations have a clear core purpose - usually set out in a mission statement.

Use this space to describe:

• your organisation’s overall purpose
• the main areas of support you provide

You do not need to provide detailed project plans at this stage.

You can use up to 150 words. Partnership bids may use more. Keep your answer clear, concise and in plain English.

3.2 Your primary beneficiaries

Who are your primary beneficiaries, and why?

A beneficiary is someone who directly benefits from your organisation’s support and experiences a positive change as a result.

For Infrastructure Grant applicants, your beneficiaries are the voluntary and community organisations you support.

Explain:

• which groups of residents (or organisations) you support
• why your organisation or partnership focuses on these groups

You can use up to 150 words. Partnership bids may use more. Keep your answer clear, concise and in plain English.

Section 4: Thinking about strategic outcomes

You must answer all three questions in this section, whether applying as a single organisation or as a partnership.

4.1 The difference your work makes

Describe three key outcomes you aim to achieve each year for residents experiencing deprivation in Kensington and Chelsea, and explain how you will measure progress.

An outcome is a positive change or improvement for residents as a result of your work. It is not the activity itself, but the difference the activity makes.

Briefly describe the outcomes your organisation or partnership aims to achieve and how you will track progress. Focus on improvements for residents rather than listing activities.

There is no word limit. Keep your answer clear, concise and in plain English.

4.2 Who you support and why

Which areas of deprivation, early intervention and prevention does your organisation or partnership help to address in Kensington and Chelsea?

Deprivation refers to the challenges residents face when they do not have what they need to live well. This may include:

• low income
• poor or insecure housing
• limited access to services
• health and wellbeing needs
• gaps in local support where people are not currently getting the help they need

Early intervention means offering support at an early stage, before a problem becomes more serious. It focuses on spotting issues as they begin to emerge and helping residents find practical solutions sooner, so they are less likely to need intensive or crisis‑based services, including Council or other statutory services, later on.

Prevention means helping residents avoid problems before they happen. It focuses on building stability, confidence and access to the right support, so people are less likely to face issues that could affect their wellbeing, independence or financial security in the future.

Briefly explain the main challenges your organisation or partnership addresses in the borough.

You can use up to 100 words. Partnership bids may use up to 250 words. Keep your answer clear, concise and in plain English.

4.3 How your work eases pressure on Council services

In alignment with the Council’s priorities or equivalent statutory partners, how will your organisation or partnership help to reduce residents’ demands on services?

Voluntary organisations support residents in the community in ways that help them stay well, connected and independent. This can reduce the likelihood of people needing Council‑provided services in the future.

Explain how your work supports early intervention, prevention or community‑based solutions that may reduce reliance on statutory services.

You can use up to 100 words. Partnership bids may use up to 250 words. Keep your answer clear, concise and in plain English.

Section 5: Service delivery and your equalities commitment

You must answer the question in this section whether you are applying as a single organisation or as part of a partnership.

5.1 How you make services welcoming for all residents

How does your organisation ensure that its services are inclusive, accessible, and meet the needs of people with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, including through culturally appropriate delivery?

The Equality Act 2010 protects people from discrimination. Voluntary organisations must follow the Act by treating people fairly - avoiding discrimination, and making services accessible and inclusive. Only a small number of charities have specific exemptions, and these must be written into their governing documents.

The Act protects people with nine protected characteristics:

• age
• disability
• gender reassignment
• marriage and civil partnership
• pregnancy and maternity
• race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins)
• religion or belief
• sex
• sexual orientation

Inclusive services welcome everyone and ensure no one is excluded because of who they are or their circumstances.

Accessibility means removing barriers so all residents - including those with disabilities, language barriers or other challenges - can use your services.

Culturally appropriate delivery means recognising and respecting the diverse cultural backgrounds of local residents.

Explain how your organisation makes its services welcoming, fair and accessible for all residents, including those who may need extra support. Describe how you ensure your services are culturally appropriate and how you comply with the Equality Act 2010.

You can use up to 150 words for this answer. Partnership bids may use more. Keep your response clear, concise and in plain English.

Section 6: Your track record

You must answer both parts of this section, whether applying as a single organisation or as a partnership.

6.1 Your record of delivery

Outline your organisation’s track record in the following areas:

• collecting and maintaining accurate service‑user data
• keeping policies and procedures up to date
• submitting monitoring and reporting information on time
• maintaining positive and timely communication with funders
• actively fundraising to support and sustain your services
• keeping external regulatory records up to date (for example, Charity Commission or Companies House)
• using service‑user feedback to review and improve services

Your track record is the work your organisation has delivered in the past and how well you have carried it out. It demonstrates reliability, good governance and strong organisational practice.

Describe how your organisation has shown good practice in the areas listed above. Include brief examples where helpful.

You can use up to 250 words. Partnership bids may use more. Keep your response clear, concise and in plain English.

6.2 Verifying your track record

I acknowledge that as part of the assessment process, the Council will verify organisations’ track record, including compliance and delivery under past arrangements with the Council.

The Council will review your organisation’s previous performance to ensure you have delivered work reliably, met your responsibilities and followed the terms of any earlier agreements. This helps the Council ensure public funding is used safely, effectively and for the benefit of residents.

As part of the assessment process, the Council may verify your organisation’s compliance history and delivery record under previous funding arrangements.

Section 7: Organisational policies

You must complete ten checkboxes in this section, whether applying as a single organisation or as part of a partnership.

Documents, policies and procedures

You must confirm that your organisation - or all partners in a partnership bid - has appropriate:

• governance arrangements
• policies and procedures
• insurance cover
• financial management arrangements

The Council requires organisations to have these in place to ensure services are safe, well‑managed and legally compliant. Up‑to‑date policies show that your organisation is responsible, protects staff, volunteers and residents, and can safely receive public funding.

Insurance cover

In some cases, an organisation may not currently hold the level of insurance required for a Council grant. If this applies to you, you may still tick the box to confirm your organisation - or all partners - has insurance in place. Your insurance will be checked again before any funding agreement is issued.

If you are invited to submit a full application, you will need to upload copies of your policies, procedures and supporting documents, or demonstrate that your organisation meets all required standards.

Section 8: Declarations

You must complete four checkboxes in this section, whether you are applying as a single organisation or as part of a partnership.

What you must agree to

You must provide accurate information in your EOI. If any information is found to be deliberately untrue or misleading, your organisation - or partnership - may be removed from the application process.

You must confirm that:

• the information in your EOI is correct to the best of your knowledge
• you are authorised to submit the EOI on behalf of your organisation or partnership
• that submitting an EOI does not guarantee your organisation will be invited to submit a full application
• that the Council may decide not to invite your organisation to the full application stage, and that this decision is final