Sevenoaks Town Council continues to support local voluntary organisations through its grant funding programme, recognising the valuable contribution they make to the community. The Town Council’s grants help charities in Sevenoaks to continue delivering activities, services and projects that benefit residents.
In September, the Finance & Delivery Committee and Youth Services Committee awarded grants to the following organisations:
| Organisation Name | Purpose of Award | Grant Award |
| Age UK Maidstone, Sevenoaks & Tonbridge | To support the delivery of information and advice service for older people living in Sevenoaks Town, contributing to staff costs and volunteer expenses | £2,500 |
| Baby Umbrella | To provide free specialist 1:1 support from qualified lactation consultants and breastfeeding counsellors | £1,000 |
| Hi Kent | To run free hearing aid clinics in Sevenoaks Town for a year | £1,000 |
| The Lewis Project | Annual rental costs of House in the Basement for volunteer-led music charity | £2,740 |
| Sevenoaks PHAB | Contribution to annual rent of a hall for weekly club for adults with either learning disability and/or physical disability | £500 |
| Sevenoaks Counselling | To subsidise clients unable to afford recommended contribution towards cost of counselling services | £2,000 |
| Sevenoaks Three Arts Festival, Young Musician of the Year Competition 2027 | Towards administration costs, notably the first prize which is named the Sevenoaks Town Prize. | £750 |
| The Sevenoaks Unit of the Sea Cadet Corps | Towards the purchase cost of branded waterproof coats for volunteers. | £1,250 |
Sevenoaks Town Council will also be providing additional support to Sevenoaks Rugby Club. The current annual rent to the Town Council for the land under their clubhouse at Knole Paddock is £3,750. Councillors have decided the rent should be consistent with other sports clubs in Sevenoaks using similar Town Council facilities. Councillors resolved that, after the upcoming rent review on 25 December, the rent payable by Sevenoaks Rugby Club will be reduced to just a peppercorn rent.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Claire Shea, commented, “This is the first rent review for the rugby club since the lease was renewed by the last council, and it was the right opportunity to ‘level the playing field’ on clubhouse ground rent. We are working closely with the club on improving the playing fields, too, and know that there is much the Club plans to invest in around sustainability and the women’s game, in particular. I hope this will be a contribution to that growth.”
Steve Fitzmaurice, Co-Chairman of Sevenoaks Rugby Club, said, “Sevenoaks Rugby Club is hugely grateful to Sevenoaks Town Council for its continued support. The grant funding for improvements to the Paddock pitches alongside the peppercorn rent on the clubhouse make a real difference, allowing us to invest more of our resources directly into rugby, our facilities and the wider community. With hundreds of junior and senior players, our Club remains at the heart of local life, and the support of Sevenoaks Town Council helps us to ensure that we are accessible, welcoming and sustainable for everyone.”
The next round of Sevenoaks Town Council grant applications will be considered in February 2027. Applications must be submitted by Friday 8th January 2027. The application form and guidance notes can be downloaded at www.sevenoakstown.gov.uk/grants-information
