Agenda and draft minutes

There were no apologies made at the meeting.

To receive any declarations of interest. Members are advised to consider the advice contained within the Declaration of Interest advice attached to this Agenda. If a Member declares an interest, they should complete the Declaration of Interest Form

There were no declarations made at the meeting.

The Chair introduced the item for discussion and said that the purpose of the meeting was to gather information from infrastructure and funding organisations on their experiences regarding working with Thanet District Council and what the Council could do to support efforts for bringing in external funding of voluntary sector activities in Thanet. Members of the working party each asked a question that helped shape the discussion.

Councillor Pope asked the following question:

• What's your experience of working with TDC to help Thanet groups access funding/build their skills to do so?

In the discussion that ensued in response to the questions, infrastructure and funding organisation representatives and members of the working party made the following:

• Funding For All have worked with a number of voluntary organisations in Thanet, embedding confidence so that they become self-sustaining. Training was provided and conferences and webinars were also conducted for these organisations;
• The Social Enterprise Boost Programme helps grow social enterprise groups in the district. This programme comes to an end in December this year;
• The programme was delivered under the Community Champions Programme;
• The Kent Community Foundation has an office in Margate and worked with groups in the district providing infrastructure funding support;
• The Equality Finding and Movement Fund spent about £100k in Thanet. Currently there are scoping activities taking place. A capital works programme is being developed, that includes workforce training for Thanet community groups;
• UKSBF could set up a Thanet Hub to support voluntary groups in the district;
• UKSBF were working closely with the Thanet Community Safety Team and Thanet Games;
• The Kent Coast Volunteering produced a monthly volunteering bulletin to encourage new volunteers to join;

• They also go to the Job Centre to engage potential volunteers and reach out to marginalised communities not well represented in volunteering;
• Six networking and knowledge sessions where community voluntary groups meet to network would start in September 2024;
• There is also a training forum on best practices in addition to networking;
• There is also a TDC funded volunteering activity for young people;
• Birchington Parish Council was not working with TDC at the moment;
• There is a Sports Facilities project that the Parish would like to see how they can work with TDC on this project;
• Funding For All has received funding from TDC for the Community Champions;
• There is a conference that has been planned for October in Ramsgate and another February in Margate;
• Funding For All also provided one on one mentoring for groups and parish councils. This information will be shared with parish clerks;
• They also provide funding applications bid writing support to community groups.

Councillor Edwards asked the following question:

• What works well & what doesn't?

In the discussion that ensued in response to the questions, infrastructure and funding organisation representatives and members of the working party made the following:

·  Good communication was key. Part of the work Funding For All has been doing with Nicola Wood, Shared Prosperity Project Co-ordinator is very good;

·  Nicola Wood has been very supportive to local  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.