We’ve been absolutely overwhelmed by the fantastic number of nominations for our community £500 giveaway! It’s been truly inspiring to see so many of you highlight the incredible groups, charities, and community organisations that make such a positive difference right here in our community.
We wanted to shine a light on every single one of these nominated organisations, and while they all can’t be finalists and winners we wanted to share a little about them.
As we know what it’s like to always be last, we’ve listed these fantastic nominations in reverse alphabetical order.
We encourage you to explore these local champions and consider how you might support them – whether it’s through volunteering, donations, or simply spreading the word.
Celebrating Our Nominated Community Groups (Reverse Alphabetical Order)
Wynsdale Community Connect CIC – Kent – help vulnerable adults, families and pets living in poor housing conditions where health and safety are a concern.
Woodvale Volunteer Group – Brighton & Hove – a diverse and passionate local group, are transforming local cemeteries by improving grounds, safety, and accessibility, restoring historical features, fostering community connections and mental well-being.
West Hill Primary PTA – Kent – is dedicated to creating vital outdoor learning environments, including a forest school and outdoor classrooms, on their urban school site to significantly boost children’s education and mental well-being.
West Faversham Community Association – Kent – offers a wide range of free or low-cost activities and vital support services, including a community fridge and free weeknight meals for young people, all aimed at enhancing the physical and mental well-being of local residents.
We Are Beams – Kent – offers vital respite care for families with SEND children in North West Kent, providing a safe and stimulating environment with a unique, fully accessible sensory and play garden.
Vertigirls – Brighton & Hove – a small, inclusive women’s rock climbing club focused on empowering all women, particularly those with additional needs, through a supportive community.
Unstoppable Girls – Kent – supports teenage and young adult females with ADHD through in-person youth groups in Ashford and Maidstone, alongside online communities and courses for both girls and parents, all achieved with minimal resources to empower young women to thrive.
Tunbridge Wells YfC – Kent – offers a vital, warm, and welcoming after-school safe space for young people providing refreshments, engaging activities, and support from well-trained youth workers.
Tunbridge Wells Sea Cadets – Kent – provides a safe and structured environment for young people aged 10-18, focusing on building confidence, life skills, and offering equal opportunities through diverse activities and nationally recognised qualifications.
Treat Me Right – Kent – Preventing domestic abuse through innovative, creative support that puts economic empowerment, safety and wellbeing at the heart.
TogetherCo– Brighton & Hove – creates vital connections through befriending, social prescribing, and volunteering with the aim that no one in the city should ever feel isolated.
Third Moon Women- East Sussex – a welcoming and positive group for women navigating menopause, fostering a supportive community for all members through active participation in local events.
The World Food Project– Brighton & Hove – offering affordable monthly classes like “Cook Around The World” and “Cook Around The Community,” bringing diverse locals together to learn new skills, share meals, and combat loneliness through their contagious passion for food.
The Well Community Cafe – Kent – a safe, welcomingcommunity hub, offering “pay what you can” drinks, a free food pantry, combating isolation and food poverty by creating an inclusive space where everyone feels valued and supported.
The Princess Project – Kent – helps mums and their families to thrive by providing a holistic package of physical, emotional, social and spiritual support.
The ND Harbour – Kent – provides inclusive, in-person safe spaces across Kent where neurodivergent adults and children can find acceptance, build friendships significantly reducing social isolation
The Danny Gallivan Trust – Kent – helps Veterans from all conflicts to get back on their feet after fallen on hard times.
The Community Store House – Kent – Paddock Woods Food Bank enabling those who have to share with those that don’t have.
The Beehive Dover – Kent – a women’s second-hand clothing boutique and café that partners with local services to offer free clothing and support, aiming to create a space where women can thrive.
The Autism Apprentice CIC– Kent – aimed at empowering autistic individuals and their families to overcome significant social, economic, and health disparities.
Thanet Wanderers Rugby Club – Kent – offering inclusive rugby for all ages and genders, including SEND and walking rugby, while actively engaging the local community.
Thanet Gymnastics Club – Kent – a welcoming, family-oriented club for all ages and needs, offering recreational and squad training, focusing on children’s well-being and affordability, and nurturing future coaches.
Thanet Big Sing Community Choir CIC – Kent – enriching social lives by fostering strong friendships and a sense of community among members.
Thanet Athletics Club CIC – Kent – volunteer-led athletics club coaching over 150 individuals, fostering life skills and national talent despite facility challenges.
Tenterden Mindfulness – Kent – teaching evidence-based mindfulness skills to improve emotional well-being, foster community connections, and provide vital coping mechanisms
Swale Community & Voluntary Service – Kent – Networking, sharing, communicating, learning, building – towards a stronger Voluntary Sector.
Swale Community Care Project – Kent – a friendly, safe community space that provides wrap-around services to address the cost of living crisis, tackling food poverty.
Sussex Cancer Fund – Brighton & Hove – provides comprehensive support for cancer patients across Sussex by funding research, essential equipment, facility refurbishments, and free holistic therapies.
Survivors’ Network – Brighton & Hove – a service offering life-saving, and life-changing support for survivors of abuse
STAK.Life CIC – Kent – offer free parent support, professional training, and workshops for neurodivergent individuals, alongside bereavement support, empowering families and fostering understanding.
St Wilfrids Hospice – East Sussex – doing excellent work in the community, caring for adults with palliative conditions both within their hospice building and across the wider area
St Philip’s Church Community Larder– Kent – provides fresh food weekly to those in need, cuts down on food waste, and offers a free coffee shop for community connection.
SPIN (Single Parent Information Network) – Brighton & Hove – providing non-judgemental support, resources, and community for single parents, helping them combat isolation and improve their quality of life.
Southborough & District Lions Club– Kent – Lions clubs are formed by community minded individuals to help the less fortunate members of a community.
SNAAP– Kent – encourages, and supports parents and carers of children with disabilities, focusing on the whole family to provide assistance and enable them to offer the best possible help to their children.
Sevenoaks Larder – Kent – independent food bank that empowers users with choice-based access to fresh, nutritious food rescued from local surplus, while also signposting to wider support services.
Sadeh Farm– Kent – a farm and environmental community centre engaging young people in environmental education.
Romney Marsh Community Centre – Kent – Going the extra mile, they offer a public launderette, mobile food bank, seasonal produce exchange, extending compassionate support to anyone in need regardless of age.
Rising Sun – Kent – offering outreach services, Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs), free counselling for adults and children, and safe housing for pregnant women fleeing abuse.
Raystede Animal Rescue – East Sussex – rescues and rehomes animals at its accessible sanctuary, improving countless human lives through pet ownership and community engagement
Rainbow Centre – Kent – dedicated to supporting and empowering individuals and families experiencing deprivation and hardship, aiming to provide them with a future of stability, dignity, and hope.
Pyramid Project – Kent – aims to help people build a positive self-image, have a positive outlook and become the best person they can possibly be.
Pilgims Hospice – Kent – Pilgrims helps thousands of people in east Kent each year who are facing incurable illness to live well in every moment.
People Matter – East Sussex – can help with job searching, job applications, career advice and interview practice.
Pelican Parcels – Brighton & Hove – takes new and preloved donated items from families who no longer need them, and gifts them to families who do.
Pegasus Playscheme – Kent – provide a Good Quality support and services for children with a variety of severe and complex disabilities. They operate a 3-week summer playscheme, offering activities for children with disabilities and severe learning difficulties.
Pavilion Youth and Community Cafe – Kent – a 3 day per week youth club with a community café.
Pathways to Health – Brighton & Hove – a high quality, low-cost ear acupuncture service for people affected by stress, anxiety and depression, mental health issues, drug and alcohol dependency, and those living with HIV.
Oasis Domestic Abuse Service – Kent – help people in East Kent, Medway and North Kent find the strength and support to leave an abusive relationship.
Network of International Woman – Brighton & Hove – A safe space for women from diverse cultures and backgrounds to come together, share experiences and knowledge, and support one another.
My Birth Support CIC – Kent – offering perinatal mental health support events in groups at a more affordable rate for all.
Music and Arts for the Shepway Community – Kent – brings music and the arts to everybody in Shepway .
Multiple Intelligence Hub CIC – Kent – providing vital day care services in a rural setting for special needs young people, including those with challenging behaviours, offering endless patience and support.
Mid Kent Mind – Kent – promote social inclusion for people who experience mental health problems.
Medway Puzzles – Medway – engage adults with learning disabilities and help them develop their life, work and softer skills and reduce their feelings of isolation
Medway Ghanaian association– Medway –Promote health and wellbeing among Ghanaians living in Medway.
Mayas Community Support Centre – Kent – provides essential food, clothing, household items, and furniture to anyone in need, while also significantly reducing landfill waste.
Making Miracles – Kent – providing compassionate care & support for families coping with birth trauma & bereavement.
Maidstone Hackspace – Kent – a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Maths) educational hub fostering creativity, innovation, and collaboration.
Maidstone Community Support Centre – Kent – providing office space and services for various charitable organisations and affordable meeting space for local community groups and businesses.
Lunch Positive – Brighton & Hove -provide welcoming supportive peer-led HIV community spaces with a wide range of ‘wrap around’ support and wellbeing projects.
Lily’s Social Kitchen – Kent – empowers individuals with disabilities through internships in their “pay-as-you-wish” cafes, offering valuable experience and affordable community spaces.
Lighthouse Dementia Support Group – Kent – creates vital support and shared memories for carers and individuals living with dementia through engaging activities and outings, combating loneliness and isolation.
Kenward Trust – Kent – saves lives every day from alcohol and drugs, homelessness and crime.
Kent High Weald Partnership – Kent – aims to connect people and nature through conservation, education, and wellbeing.
Keep Talking Services – Kent – dedicated telephone befriending service committed to providing support to individuals grappling with loneliness and often experiencing poor mental health.
Involve Kent – Kent – committed to providing holistic health and wellbeing support to people of all ages and circumstances
Includes us too – Kent -Listening, supporting, empowering disabled children and their families
Imago – Kent – support to improve health and wellbeing and access the services and support.
Home start Sittingbourne and Sheppey – Kent – service responding directly to families’ individual needs providing a lasting and positive impact on the development of children, and health and welfare of families.
HERVoice – Kent – a safe and supportive environment where women can come together to enjoy a hot drink, connect, and share in meaningful conversation
Heather House Community Cafe – Kent – offering a crisis food bank and clothing to those in need, while fostering community spirit and providing a welcoming environment that helps people connect.
Headway Sussex– East Sussex – provides reablement and support for individuals with acquired brain injuries and their families
Hangleton and Knoll Youth Project – Brighton & Hove – collaborates with young residents to access opportunities, develop skills, and create positive change as identified by our communities.
Grow – Brighton & Hove – welcoming people to get outdoors, reconnect with nature and improve their wellbeing.
Grace Eyre – Brighton & Hove -dedicated to supporting individuals with a learning disability and autistic people to live the lives they want.
Friendly Faces of Kent – Kent – supporting the lives of those experiencing the effects of isolation and lonelinesss
Folkestone Rescue – Kent – providing first aid and valuable water safety information and delivering education programmes.
Flourish Gardening Project at Crossways Community – Kent – believe that gardening is one way of helping to achieve good mental health.
Faversham Umbrella – Kent – providing friendship and support to all members of the community.
Faversham Foodbank– Kent – helping local people in crisis.
Faversham Community Networking Group – Kent – bringing the voluntary sector of Kent together.
Every Step Counts – Kent – low intensity well being group based in Sevenoaks.
Eden Valley Museum – Kent – A social history museum in West Kent
ECT – Kent – provides a social outlet for school year 6 to 18 years of age in the Edenbridge area
Eastbourne Area Parents Action Group – East Sussex – give adults with learning disabilities the opportunity to receive training within a realistic working hotel setting
East Kent Rape Crisis Centre– Kent – provides a vital safe space for survivors of sexual violence across East Kent, offering both therapeutic and practical support to help individuals rebuild their lives.
Early Childhood Project – Brighton & Hove – provide information, resources and support to all those people involved in young children’s care, play and education.
Different Strokes – Kent – Working to enable working-age stroke survivors in West Kent to live well after stroke
DAVSS – Kent – provide vital support to clients who are experiencing domestic abuse.
D’vine Singers – Kent – informal group who meet to sing for fun, with a strong focus on mental wellbeing.
Crosslinks Community Centre – Kent – a safe space for young people to socialise, learn new skills and get involved with activities including afterschool clubs, youth clubs and one to one support with job hunting.
Creative Sense – Kent – art education allowing every person as an individual to develop as a member of a supportive community.
Creative Future – Brighton & Hove – where the arts are inclusive, diverse, representative and accessible to everyone.
Crampton Tower Museum – Kent – the tower formed part of the first Broadstairs public water supply and now acts a community space and museum.
Coombersewell Training CIC – Kent – supporting autistic individuals , families or businesses to achieve the best.
Compaid – Kent – supporting disabled and vulnerable people with door to door transport and digital skills training.
Community Kitchen – Brighton & Hove – connects people through food with gardening, cookery sessions and nature activities.
Community Driving School CIC – Kent – supporting people facing hardship with driving lessons and employability skills.
Community Clothes Bank – Kent – Proving clothes for anyone that needs them.
Club Ausome – Kent – A safe haven for those dealing with autism.
Charlie’s Angels – Kent – reducing food waste and repurposing surplus with meals.
Change Grow Live – Sussex, Brighton & Hove, Kent – supporting people with varying issues across the areas.
Carers’ Support East Kent – Kent – supporting all carers looking after relatives or friends.
Canterbury and District Early Years Project – Kent – encouraging healthy children to grow and achieve.
Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats – Kent – a loving home for rescued abused, abandoned and neglected goats, as well as animals simply in need of a new home.
Brighton Unemployed Centre Families Project – Brighton & Hove – providing support, education and advice to those on low incomes and experiencing poor wellbeing.
Brighton Care Collective – Brighton & Hove – spaces to share knowledge, resources and joy.
Black Mums in Kent – Kent – community for Black mothers across Kent to feel supported, connected and represented.
Bexley Provision Football Club – Bexley – newly formed Football club in Bexley
Beavers – St Lawrence – Kent – hosting two beaver colonies and encouraging 6 – 8 year olds to learn new skills.
AWANetwork – Kent – using culture , sport and education to build communities.
Arden Theatre – Kent -This amateur theatre group operates its own 98-seat venue, offering a diverse programme of shows, events, children’s theatre, workshops, and play readings.
Amber Foundation – Kent – supporting young adults to transform their lives.
Amaze – East Sussex, Brighton & Hove -Supporting families with disabled children and young people in Sussex
All Directions – Kent- offers social programs to help students develop their social and interaction skills.
