Arts, Heritage and Communities
What we fund
We fund arts, heritage, and community projects, working primarily in London and Kent. These can range from one-off events, through to multi-year projects. Arts and heritage projects include local projects which help communities conserve and restore their landmarks, landscape, traditions and culture. Performing and visual arts work include projects across the arts – from performance and drama to music and art. Community projects can be broader, bringing together and supporting local people, but must still include an arts or heritage element.
Grants of up to £5,000 per year are available for projects and/or capital items, with awards for three years open to consideration.
Funding Criteria
- Arts, heritage, and related local community projects
- Working primarily in London and Kent
- Projects that show clear public value where successful outcomes can be evidenced
- Projects run by a registered not-for-profit organisation, with at least one set of audited or independently examined annual accounts
- The organisation’s annual turnover does not exceed £300,000
Funding Priorities
- Fully funding requests where possible rather than only funding part of the amount requested.
- We are keen to see the impact of our grants so are unlikely to make a small contribution to a much larger funding pot.
- A non-exclusive focus on: the City of London, Hackney, Hounslow, and Enfield boroughs in London. The Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells, Folkestone, and Hythe Districts of Kent.
What we don't fund
- Projects that have no community or charitable element
- Community projects with no Arts or Heritage component
- Retrospective funding, deficits, or loans
- Organisations which are not a registered not-for-profit organisation
- Organisations with an annual turnover above £300,000
- Organisations with reserves of more than 12 months’ expenditure
- Organisations which applied to us unsuccessfully within the previous 18 months
- Services which are a statutory responsibility
- Projects that are primarily for the advancement of religion or politics (this does not exclude faith-based charities; however, we may ask for a copy of a non-proselytising policy)
- Overseas work
- Individuals
- Projects in hospitals, nursing, or residential care settings, which are a statutory responsibility – or for medical research
“We’re so grateful for the support of the Foundation, and it’s work to help organisations such as ours. It is invaluable for us, and the service we provide!”
West Kent Community Radio
Applications & Awards
Applications & Deadlines
- Before submitting a full application, please email us with a short outline of the project.
- If you are eligible, we will be in touch with full details of how to make a complete application.
- Applications will be considered at our committee meetings, held in spring and autumn.
- The next meeting will take place on 20 October 2026. The deadline for initial expressions of interest is 5pm on 28 August 2026, with the deadline for full applications falling a week later, on 4 September 2026.
- During our assessment, we may request a visit, online meeting or telephone conversation to find out more about your work.
- We will communicate all decisions in the week following the meeting.
The use of AI in applications to the Skinners’ Charity Foundation
- We recognise that generative AI tools are increasingly a part of everyday life. They can save time, allow you to explain your work confidently and help make the process of applying for a grant less daunting – particularly if you are not used to doing this or if English is not your first language. We understand why people would want to use an AI tool, and it will not disadvantage your application to us should you choose to use one.
- However, AI-generated applications can often be generic and lack the detail that we need to understand who you are, why your work is important and what motivates you to do it. If you decide to use AI, we encourage you to read through what has been generated carefully before submitting your application. You should ensure that your application really does communicate what makes your organisation and approach unique, how the project you are planning will meet a need in your community, and the experience you have that means you will be able to do this effectively.
Awards
- If an award is made, the terms of our grant will be included with notification of our decision.
- This will include end-of-year monitoring, with any future instalments of our grant conditional on this.
