We support charities working with people who are elderly and isolated, particularly in rural areas. This may include activities to help improve people’s lives, or meal services, befriending, advice or other support.

Below are some of the charities who have recently received a grant:

Folkestone Nepalese Community – Awarded £8,286 towards the salary of the Activity Co-ordinator

Folkestone Nepalese Community was set up to support British Gurkha Veterans and their families in Folkestone, with elderly Gurkha Veterans making up one of the largest groups. Many face challenges due to limited English language and digital skills, making it difficult to access services and activities. The charity offers a range of support including advice and information surgeries, health awareness, exercise sessions, language classes and cultural events.

Maha Rai, PhD; General Secretary, Programme & Centre Manager said: “The support from the Philip and Connie Phillips Foundation has been invaluable in helping our charity deliver tailored services for elderly Gurkha Veterans and their families. With the help of a dedicated bilingual Senior Activity Co-ordinator, we have been able to improve access to essential services, promote wellbeing, and bring our community together through cultural and educational activities.”

Dover Smart Project – Awarded £9,432 towards a ‘Smart Angel’, wellbeing co-ordinator

Dover Smart Project is a local charity transforming lives through art and creativity. The charity runs weekly sessions for people who are elderly and those living with dementia called ‘The ART of Age’.

CEO, Dawn Foulkes said “with the support of the Philip and Connie Phillips Foundation over the past three years we have been able to fund our Smart Angel – who is a Wellbeing Coordinator. The Smart Angel is an essential part of this weekly session and is always available to talk to those who may need some additional support. They help to reduce loneliness and isolation in our older community and improve health and wellbeing.”

Caring Altogether on Romney Marsh – Awarded £16,000 over two years towards befriending services for elderly or isolated residents of Romney Marsh and surrounding areas.

Caring Altogether on Romney Marsh (CARM) tackles loneliness and social isolation, offering a number of services across its operating area. The Philip and Connie Phillips Foundation supported this work with a grant toward the befriending service. This provides friendship to those that might otherwise go days without a visitor or conversation. CARM’s volunteers don’t just visit, they build a friendship, that makes a real difference to people’s lives.

Beneficiaries of the service have said: “For that time I feel cared for and important to someone’ and ‘[I] feel much better since I’ve had someone come to visit, [I] felt so lonely before I started having visits or phone calls.”

We fund charities who support people living with disabilities and long-term health conditions, as well as supporting peoples’ mental health.

Below are some of the charities who have recently received a grant:

Hi Kent – Awarded £9,950 towards the Technology Support Outreach Project 

The charity supports people who are deaf and hard of hearing. The grant helped to provide an Outreach Programme of free Technology Support for older people living with hearing loss. This aims to encourage confidence and the independent use of technology to manage their own affairs, book online appointments and services, and ensure they do not miss out on social connections with family and friends.  

Slide Away – Awarded £9,871 towards staff costs to support children and young people 

Every year, Slide Away provides bereavement support to more than 300 of Kent’s children and young people, their families and schools; helping children and young people adjust to a life that has changed and feel confident about their future again.

Katherine Jary, Operations Manager at Slide Away said: “With the support of funders like The Philip and Connie Phillips Foundation, we provide a safe place where bereaved children can meet with others who have been bereaved, and where our professional team can help them to understand and express their feelings, hold onto their memories and manage on difficult days.”

FASD Awareness (Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders) – Awarded £15,000 over two years towards core costs 

FASD Awareness was established in 2018 to support the FASD community and raise awareness of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). It provides support and friendship groups, activity days, education, training, and information to the FASD community and the wider population.

Andrew Keeping, CEO said: “As a small charity dedicated to raising awareness of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and providing essential support to those affected, this funding has enabled us to expand our reach and deepen our impact within the community. In today’s climate, where many charities face increasing difficulty securing the funding needed to sustain vital services, your support has been especially meaningful. Thanks to your generosity, we have been able to deliver crucial services—from support and friendship groups to educational programmes and family activity days—that help keep families together, reduce stigma, and empower individuals living with FASD to thrive.”

We support charities who help people who are homeless, lack stable accommodation or are in insecure or vulnerable housing.

Below are some of the charities who have received one of our grants:

Catching Lives – Awarded £10,000 towards the salary costs of the Volunteer Coordinator 

Catching Lives is a day centre based in Canterbury, open 7 days a week to support people who are homeless and insecurely housed. It provides essential facilities (including food, showers, and laundry) alongside individual support to improve housing, health and social connection.

Georgia Jefferson, Fundraising Officer at Catching Lives says: “The Philip and Connie Phillips Foundation has made a vital contribution to our work by helping to fund the position of our Volunteer Co-Ordinator. This role is central to the success of our services as it oversees recruitment, training and ongoing support of the dedicated volunteers who play a crucial part in our organisation.”

Maidstone Churches Winter Shelter – Awarded £8,000 towards staff salaries for the winter shelter 

Maidstone Churches Winter Shelter was set up in 2013 with the aim of providing overnight accommodation, meals and support to the town’s local homeless community over the three coldest months of each winter.

Mandy Fuller, administrator at the charity says: “With the incredible support from funders and volunteers, many lives have been saved over the last 12 winters. Volunteers prepare and cook hot evening meals from local church buildings in the town, then overnight accommodation is provided from those same church buildings in a dormitory style arrangement. Homeless guests are also given advice and support throughout the three months the shelter is open, to enable them to obtain housing and a more secure future”. 

We support charities to improve people’s health and wellbeing. This could include providing access to services, supporting people and families facing financial hardship (such as foodbanks and debt advice) or helping to combat isolation (such as befriending services or social inclusion projects). 

Below are some of the charities who have recently received a grant:

Citizens Advice Bureau Swale – Awarded £10,000 towards services on the Isle of Sheppey and Sittingbourne 

Our grant is supporting the charity’s outreach work in Sittingbourne and the Isle of Sheppey, helping to reach the most vulnerable residents where they are.

Jude Lee, Chief Officer says: “this funding enables us to offer in-depth support on income maximisation, debt, benefits, and energy. Many clients face complex issues, and this outreach work will ensure they receive tailored advice and quick referrals to specialist teams. By being more accessible, we will be able to provide meaningful support that makes a real difference.”

Mama to Mama – Awarded £8,000 towards core costs

Mama to Mama Baby Bank supports families in Thanet who are living below the poverty line – offering practical, social and emotional help during the early years of a child’s life – when it matters most.

Rachel Ward from Mama to Mama said: “Our mission is to ease the pressure on families facing financial hardship and give every child the best possible start, no matter their background. The grant from The Philip and Connie Phillips Foundation has been a vital part of making this happen. By being one of the first funders to contribute towards our essential core costs, the grant sustained the charity at a really important time and allowed us to focus on providing essential childcare equipment, as well as grants and signposting to other services, and wellbeing workshops for parents and children.”