Funding development has become a big challenge to voluntary and community organisations, but is an achievable one. With good intention, research, solid planning and ever-precious time behind it, an application has every chance of success.

So, why do organisations like KiS need Friends, a dedicated group of committed givers and advocates who regularly, or indeed irregularly, hand over small and large amounts of hard-earned cash?

Without its Friends, KiS may not have survived its first decade and its first seven years as a registered charity. The money itself provides security, it signals commitment, interest, support and, actually, care. It requires a genuine act of motivation and regard to take the steps necessary to become a Friend of any organisation.

Friends that come on board are activating their belief in what the organisation is doing, or could do in the future. When service users become Friends, even more importantly, they are saying : 'I liked what you did, and now I want to give back'.

The income generated from Friends is the money that sees good practice happen, that means new ideas are possible, planned and researched, that can even mean appropriate time is given to making sure the organisation operates within the law.

Friends enable spontaneity, creativity and security.

KiS Funders

KiS is able to deliver quality services thanks to support from:

• Big Lottery Fund
• The King's Fund
• City Parochial Foundation
• Westminster Primary Care Trust
• Voluntary Action Westminster
• Baring Foundation
• Peter Moores Foundation

Friends Scheme

Organisations that are dedicated to supporting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, like Kairos in Soho, can struggle to access funding from both the government and private sources.

There are far fewer dedicated funding streams because there is far less recognition of the significant and different needs faced by the community.

KiS relies in part on the generous regular and one-off donations provided by individuals. We currently have forty regular givers and a large number of Friends who make one-off donations when they can.

We are very grateful to these people who make a significant contribution to the work. This form of funding provides the opportunity for KiS to be more imaginative and creative in finding solutions and surviving through difficult funding times.

We are able to increase the value of any gift made by a taxpayer by claiming Gift Aid from the Inland Revenue.

A LGBT community centre and 500 givers

There is a growing aspiration for much improved community resources by and for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and friends.

Multiple and diverse groups are sharing a small peaceful space tucked between the Apollo Theatre and the Soho red light district, growing and developing, seeking a supportive developmental space to nurture organisations and meet the needs of different and diverse communities.

There is a growing desire for something more.

500 people 1 mission

Will you join in?

You can play a major role in supporting KiS’s work towards this shared vision:

a collaborative project and
dynamic centre for LGBT social action.

• Become one of our 500 new friends, donating on average £10 per month direct from your bank (fill out our ‘Appeal Card’

• Make a donation immediately on line Using the link at the top of this page

• Send a cheque, payable to ‘Kairos in Soho’, Unit 10, 10 – 11 Archer Street, Soho, London W1D 7AZ

• Undertake a fundraising event specially for Kairos in Soho

• Nominate Kairos in Soho as a recipient charity for gifts and bequests

• Join the community fundraising sub-group

• Send some positive energy towards the vision

• Write in to support development of a LGBT community centre