22nd February 2024

Launching in September 2021, the We Make Camden Kit is now in its third year. Since launch, it has awarded £528k plus in small grants, the majority of which has gone to Camden Citizens leading amazing projects for their communities.

We regularly seek feedback from grantees, panellists and our alumni on what they feel is working and where the fund could be improved. Over the last year, we’ve consistently heard that some projects need larger grants to develop even further. That’s why we’re working with alumni to make improvements to the ‘We Make Camden Kit’ that support great citizen ideas to grow.

This also supports other challenges, such as returning grantees competing against new ideas for funding and applicants with formed project plans only being able to run short projects due to funding restraints when ideally, they would like to run longer projects.

Now, onto the exciting part, we’ve listened, and following a vote from our alumni, they have voted to increase the maximum amount that can be awarded as part of the ‘We Make Camden Kit’.

The original ‘We Make Camden Kit’ will remain the same, following the same current process, and award up to £2,000, but will now be called a ‘Seed Grant;’. From March 2024, there will be an additional fund of up to £5,000, which will be known as a ‘Growth Grant’.

Key information:

• These changes will come into place from 14th March 2024.

• ‘Seed grants’ awards will continue to be awarded fortnightly by panels of Camden

  residents for new applicants.

• ‘Growth Grant’ awards, for returning applicants, will be made quarterly, with the first two award meetings set for Tuesday 23rd April 2024 and Tuesday 16th July 2024.

• A new application form will be available online at www.camdengiving.org.uk/we-make-camden-kit from 14th March 2024.

The We Make Camden Kit will remain focused on enabling resident’s ideas that tackle and contribute to achieving the missions set out in the We Make Camden vision. The 4 missions are:

Diversity

By 2030, those holding positions of power in Camden are as diverse as our community – and the next generation is ready to follow.

Young people

By 2025, every young person has access to economic opportunity that enables them to be safe and secure.

Food

By 2030, everyone eats well every day with nutritious, affordable, sustainable food.

Estates and Neighbourhoods

By 2030, Camden’s estates and their neighbourhoods are healthy, sustainable and unlock creativity

If you have any questions, the Camden Giving grants team run a monthly drop in. If you would like to speak to someone about setting up an organisation in order to apply for a ‘Growth Grant’, Voluntary Action Camden run regular online sessions.

Sincerely,

The Grants Team Camden Giving