Kitchen Table: support and funding to help you make a difference

Got an idea to help your community? We want to back you.

The best ideas for tackling the cost of living don’t come from boardrooms. They come from conversations around kitchen tables, in community spaces, at school gates, and in WhatsApp groups where people share their struggles and solutions. The challenge is that many people with brilliant ideas never get the funding or support they need to turn them into action.

That’s why we — alongside our colleagues across Adur & Worthing Councils and Funding People — are testing a new way to fund and support community-led change. Kitchen Table is an experiment in doing things differently. Instead of making you jump through hoops, we’re offering small, flexible grants and practical support to help you get started.

This isn’t just about funding — it’s about backing people who want to make a difference. If that sounds like you, read on to find out how to get involved.

Who is Kitchen Table for?

Kitchen Table is for anyone in Adur or Worthing who has an idea to support their community through the cost of living crisis. You don’t need to be part of a formal group or have a big plan worked out — we’re here to help you take the first step.

Maybe you want to:

• Start a community food project, like a shared cooking group or food pantry.
• Set up a repair café to help people fix clothes, bikes, or household items instead of replacing them.
• Create a peer support network, whether for parents, carers, older people, or anyone struggling with rising costs.
• Offer energy-saving advice or practical help for people struggling with bills.
• Do something completely different that you know would make a real impact.

If you’ve got an idea that could help people in your area, Kitchen Table is here to support you.

How it works: Simple, flexible support

We know that applying for funding can be complicated. We’re making it easy.

🔹 You tell us your idea. No long forms, no complicated questions — just a simple way to explain what you want to do and why it matters.

🔹 We offer small grants to help you get started. The funding is flexible — you can use it for what you need, whether that’s materials, space hire, or even just covering your time.

🔹 We connect you with others. If you want, we can introduce you to people working on similar projects, provide advice, and help you build your idea.

🔹 We keep it light on admin. There’s no need for formal reports — just conversations about how it’s going and what’s working for you.

Why are we doing this?

We know that people in our communities have amazing ideas — but too often, funding and support aren’t set up in a way that works for them. We want to learn from this experiment and use it to change the way we work in the future. This is about testing a more human approach to funding and supporting communities — one that’s based on trust, flexibility, and removing barriers.

We’re not there yet, but Kitchen Table is our first step in making it easier for people to turn good ideas into action.

How to apply

Applying is quick and simple.

1️⃣ Go to Kitchen Table and tell us about your idea. 2️⃣ We’ll have a chat — on the phone, in person, or however works best for you. 3️⃣ If it’s a good fit, we’ll get you the funding and support you need to get started.

This is just the beginning — join us

We know this way of working is different. We’re trying something new because we believe that communities should have the resources to lead their own change.

So if you’ve got an idea that could make a difference, or if you know someone who does, get in touch.

Let’s make change happen — one idea, one conversation, one kitchen table at a time.