The trustees of this local Fund are inviting expressions of interest from voluntary and community organisations to be the chosen beneficiaries of the 2025 Charity Appeal.

The Voluntary Fund is an independent charitable trust that has been set up to give the local community the opportunity to donate to local organisations who make a difference to the lives of vulnerable people in the borough.

Every year the trustees select a vulnerable group who have a need for community funding to provide help and support. The charities for 2024/25 are Dose of Nature, Skylarks and the Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation

Children and young people’s mental health support and wellbeing will again be the focus of the 2025 Appeal, and charities already supporting children and young people in the borough, within the priority areas, are invited to apply.

The priority areas are around Special Needs and Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP), early intervention, body positivity, and bereavement and the effect of living with family/carers with serious health issues.

The Fund can support existing programmes of work and previously funded organisations are also able to submit an Expression of Interest.

Based on previous levels of income raised it is unlikely that more than three organisations can be supported.

Out of borough providers will be considered where they are partnering with an organisation currently operating in the borough and where expertise or specialist support within the borough does not currently exist.

For questions about the Fund, email RichmondVoluntaryFund@richmond.gov.uk or call 020 8487 5259.

The closing date to submit interest is midnight on 8 January 2025.

For the full criteria and application form, visit the Richmond Council Richmond upon Thames Voluntary Fund application webpage.