A crowdfunding scheme will be piloted by a local authority to help dozens of community groups struggling financially from the pandemic, it has emerged.

Kent County Council (KCC) has pledged to launch an online fund next month to support cash-strapped local groups that work for the benefit of the residents in the 12 districts and expand volunteering opportunities.

It has been forecast that around £10,000 could be raised for organisations from public donations, which KCC has pledged to "match fund".

County Hall councillors universally welcomed the proposal during a virtual debate involving KCC's policy and commmittee earlier today.

KCC's cabinet member for communities, Cllr Mike Hill (Con), said the response of the voluntary sector amid Covid has been "magnificient" while his Ashford counterpart, Cllr Paul Bartlett (Con), said the crowdfunding idea is "exciting".

West Malling county councillor, Cllr Trudy Dean (Lib Dem), also offered her support, describing the online funding scheme as "timely". She said: "I have been involved in a few crowdfunding exercises which have been very good.

"There are people who have a great more disposable income now because they are not spending so much on things like transport."

Last month, the Kent community railled to help stranded lorry drivers trying to get home just before Christmas when the French shut its borders for 48 hours.

Sikh group, Gravesend's Gurdwara, delivered more than 800 free hot curry meals to HGVs stuck on the M20 and Ramsgate's Manston Airport. The Salvation Army provided snacks while some Dover hotels gave out free wifi.

However the coronavirus crisis has made it more difficult for small groups to raise funds through traditional means, such as cake sales and summer fetes.

So far, KCC has allocated £1.7million of Covid emergency funding, over the last 10 months, to support residents most in need, including £200,000 to the Kent Community Foundation, who aim to improve the lives of the most vulnerable.

But cash grant bids have become "oversubscribed" as charities seek help from local authorities and the government, who are struggling to provide payouts.

To combat this, KCC has spearheaded the crowdfunding scheme with Spacehive, an online financing group. They specialise in providing cash support to community groups in council areas, including London.

At today's meeting, Cllr Hill said: "The sector saw an increasing demand for their services as hard pressed families grappled with the impact of COVID-19.

"There are people who have a great more disposable income now because they are not spending so much on things like transport..."

"We aim to support these groups and co-ordinate their activities. The response of the voluntary sector to the pandemic has been magnificent.

"They have been fast and flexible and one of the few pluses to come out of this disaster has been the excellent partnership working of many local communities."

KCC's crowdfunding scheme is expected to see the first installments of cash provided to community groups in the Spring after a pilot launch in February.

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