Heather House Community Cafe
Based in Swale, Kent - Our Charity's aims are to support those in our community hit by Poverty and Financial Hardship through providing access to both physical and mental support. Working collaboratively with others to maximise our effectiveness.
Project Overview
Swale in Kent has some of the highest levels of child, fuel and financial poverty in Kent. Regions such as Murston, Sheppey, Leysdown & Teynham have consistently been in the county and national top 10% for poverty since 2015. This is without the impact of the pandemic and current cost of living crisis. 10% of those living in Swale are also categorised with Fuel Poverty. With 152,000+ population in 2021 this means that 1,500+ are living with financial and fuel poverty. Of these 29000+ are over the age of 65 (20% population). Many of these over the age 65 live in the more rural areas of the borough and often have mobility or transport challenges.
In our first 6 months of running our services from our community cafe we have:
- welcomed over 800+individual visitors,
- received £547 donations for our "Pay it Forward" scheme,
- Provided 1,040 affordable warm meals,
.- delivered over 280emergency food parcels,
- collectively distributed 7.3 tonnes of food through our foodbank, community fridge & freezer and felloworganisations,
- hosted over 63 group sessions in conjunction with local charities or organisations,
- trained and supported over 20 new volunteers.
Why are we fundraising
Even after 6 months of working within the community, running various group and not for profit organisation open days the most regular feedback we get is "what a lovely, welcoming and friendly space" followed by "we didn't know you were here". So that's our next challenge raising the community awareness of the services and support that is on their doorstep. Increasing the number of people that we have a positive impact on their well being and day to day living. Engaging with those residents to understand their needs and evolve our services to better meet them.
Our two main goals are:
1) to enhance our community room "the Trail Suite" based on user feedback. Adding improved privacy and functional storage to enable a wider range of public uses without reducing the useable space.
2) Promoting the Community Cafe through enhanced marketing and public engagement. This would include building external signage, van livery and mobile pavement signage as well as online web update. supported by re-printed literature and distribution. This will provide a greater visible presence which can attract greater footfall, increase support effectiveness, greater income security (goods and financial)and improved visibility for volunteer attraction. Enhancing our sustainability and expanding awareness of our available services within the community.
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