Get Winter Ready Kingston
Cold Weather Support Grants 2026

Winter funding

About the Grant:

The Get Winter Ready Kingston - Cold Weather Support Grants aim to reduce cold-related harm and increase community resilience during anticipated periods of low temperatures during the Winter of 2026/27.

Extreme cold poses a significant risk to the very young and older residents, and those who are socially isolated, living in poor-quality housing, or managing long-term health and mental health conditions.

The grant will provide a practical, community-led response by equipping vulnerable residents with items to help stay warm and simple, accessible health guidance.

How much can you apply for?

KVA will distribute a total amount of £6,000 funded by RBK-Kingston Public Health.

Each group will be able to apply for £500 to £750, and we will fund 8 to 12 community groups or charities.

These grants will enable groups to:

  • Purchase and distribute cold‑weather support items*
  • Deliver light-touch education on cold safety
  • Reach vulnerable, younger and older residents at greater risk due to age, disability, health conditions, housing, or socio-economic challenges
  • Signpost to 'warm places' available in the borough

*Eligible items for distribution may include: 

  • Winter hats, scarves and gloves
  • Thermal socks
  • Blankets, fleece throws or wraps - including those for wheelchairs or mobility scooters
  • Hot water bottles (with covers)
  • Room thermometers
  • Draught excluders
  • LED plug-in night lights
  • Rechargeable torches
  • Hand warmers
  • Insulated flasks or reusable hot drink cups
  • Basic winter wellbeing packs, including tissues, hand sanitiser and lip balm

Please note that you will need to provide the receipt for all winter-weather support items purchases.

Who can apply?  

  • Not-for-profit organisations 
  • Voluntary or community sector organisations 
  • Faith groups  

What you need to have in place

  • a written Constitution or Memorandum and Articles or a set of rules that establishes that you are a voluntary, community, faith or other not-for-profit organisation.
  • a management committee or board of trustees/directors with at least three members 
  • a bank or building society account in the name of the organisation 
  • an accounting system, such as annual accounts, to record income and expenditure  

What you will need to do:

 The fund is to support practical interventions or activities that engage vulnerable Kingston residents to:  

  • Run activities that provide practical support and resources to residents most at risk from extreme cold. This could be an event or a series of activities delivered in your community
  • Typically reach around 20-50 residents. Smaller groups of fewer than 10 participants will also be considered to ensure support is tailored to individual needs
  • Purchase and distribute cold‑weather support items
  • Provide simple cold‑safety education alongside item distribution (share printed or digital cold‑safety guidance, signposts to warm places, etc.)
  • Send a minimum of one person from your organisation who will become a Cold Weather Champion to attend the training and information session
  • Register to receive weather alerts

How to Apply

You can access the application form here: 

Applications are now closed

The Closing date for applications is 30 October 2026 at 6 pm.

Training and support

If your application is successful,  you must send 1-3 people from your organisation to attend an online training and information session delivered by RBK-Kingston Public Health and Kingston Voluntary Action, to be trained as a Cold Weather Champion.

This session will equip your organisation with the key cold‑safety messages to share with your communities, suggested hot‑weather support items, and relevant local information and resource signposting.

The session will be led by Sue Webster, Health Protection Lead at RBK-Kingston Public Health and Kingston Voluntary Action.

The online session will cover:

  • which groups are most vulnerable to the impacts of cold weather 
  • how cold weather events can impact health
  • the actions that need to be taken for winter preparedness and in the event of different weather-health alerts
  • how to keep warm
  • where the relevant resources can be found relevant to your service area
  • what winter vaccination offers are available
  • Eligibility and purchase of cold-weather support items
  • Monitoring and reporting requirements
  • Q&A

A link to a Cold Weather Online Resources webpage will be available to all participants following the session with:

  • Information detailing all the key information shared in the in-person 'training and information session'
  • Leaflets and resources, available in multiple formats including Easy Read 
  • A photo consent form template and a data collection template to support you in capturing the key data from your activities.

How will you capture and evaluate your activity?

Funded organisations will be required to submit:

  • Receipts for all items purchased
  • A brief final 1-page report including:
    • Number of residents reached
    • Types and quantities of items distributed
    • Educational methods used
    • Observed impact or feedback from Cold Weather Champion resulted from the activity, two photos and two quotes from residents are requested - if you can provide these.
    • Basic demographic information such as ethnicity, disability, age, gender and location

How will you receive the funding?

The funding will be released after attendance at the information and training session, once the award letter has been signed and returned together with a bank account statement.

Decision Making

Applications will be reviewed based on the KVA's grant distribution guidance. A minimum of 2 people will be on the grant panel. We may ask for further information before a decision is made.

The decision about your application will be provided by email in the week commencing on 2 November 2026. Feedback will be shared with you if you are not successful. 

For more information, please contact:

Eneida Capaldi
eneida.capaldi@kva.org.uk
VCSE Sector Development Manager

Kingston Voluntary Action
Siddeley House
50 Canbury Park Road
Kingston upon Thames
KT2 6LX 
020 8255 3335 

Key timescales 

Date Stage
12 October 2026 - 12:00 Applications Open
30 October 2026 - 18:00 Applications close
W/C 2 November 2026 Grants Award Letters Going Out

11 November 2026 at 11:00-12:00

Training and Information Session (Online) - Cold Weather Champions Training
November 2026 - January 2027 Grant Delivery - Activities
15 February 2027 - 12:00 Deadline for Complete the Monitoring Form