We first met WeThriveTogether in November 2024 at our Funding Conference in Tunbridge Wells. Often considered a low‑priority area by funders, smaller organisations in this part of Kent can miss out on grant funding and support simply because conferences and funder events are less frequently delivered there. Thanks to funding we received through the Kent County Council (KCC) Infrastructure Support Fund, we are able to provide specialist support in Tunbridge Wells – and fortunately, WeThriveTogether were able to attend. Their participation connected them with our Mentoring Programme and opened doors to support they may never otherwise have discovered.

At the conference, they received training in Corporate Fundraising and How to Make the Ask, and met funders face‑to‑face for the very first time.

Following the conference, they attended a Funding for All webinars on funding and income generation for voluntary sector organisations. Afterwards, they reflected that it had strengthened their fundraising understanding in “many insightful ways,” particularly around:

• developing a shared fundraising ethos
• VAT/HMRC considerations
• communicating fundraising messages clearly
• being intentional and proactive about opportunities

This learning encouraged them to take the next step: joining our Mentoring Programme.

As a newly formed Community Interest Company (CIC), WeThriveTogether had never written formal applications before. Their mentor supported them through the fundamentals:

• Understanding what funders’ questions are really asking
• Clearly articulating their benefit and community impact
• Preparing realistic, funder‑ready budgets

This support paid off quickly. The organisation secured its first ever funding award of £5,000 – a milestone that gave them both confidence and momentum.

With their first success under their belt, their mentor then helped them prepare a crowdfund campaign through KCC’s Crowdfund Kent, supporting them in diversifying their income and building long‑term resilience.

After submitting the campaign, the mentee wrote:

“I am writing to express my profound gratitude for the incredible support I received my assigned mentor, in preparing and submitting my Crowdfund/Spacehive application. Her commitment and patience – spending over two hours walking me through the process – meant so much, especially as I dreaded the deadline. Her guidance didn’t just help me complete the application; it has genuinely encouraged me and strengthened my resolve to pursue the vision and goals ahead. Please extend my deepest thanks to her and thank you to Funding for All for making such meaningful support available. It makes all the difference.”

The mentee later reflected on their overall mentoring experience and shared:

• The website guidance on how to enquire was clear
• The onboarding process was smooth and easy to navigate
• Their priorities were to find funders, write strong proposals, and build sustainability
• Mentoring gave them actionable steps, including support with opening a bank account and learning how to track project budgets and evidence impact

They also shared how much they appreciated their mentor’s expertise, openness, and practical examples, as well as the reassurance that they could reach out between sessions if needed.

Looking ahead

With confidence building and systems strengthening, WeThriveTogether Outreach CIC is now preparing an application to The National Lottery Community Fund with the continued support of their mentor.

Their journey so far shows what can happen when emerging organisations are given the right tools, encouragement, and opportunities to grow.