Twenty-one local projects — from mobile food supermarkets to specialist advice services — will share £374,759 in government crisis funding across the Swale borough.
Residents across Swale struggling with bills, food costs, housing or employment now have access to a network of 21 funded projects after the borough council awarded £374,759 from the government’s Crisis and Resilience Fund. The money is split four ways: food and wrap-around support, advice services, a joined-up One Swale network, and skills and employment.
On the Isle of Sheppey, Age UK is running Sheppey Food for Independence — a free three-week meal support programme for Isle of Sheppey residents aged 50 and over — the Salvation Army is providing a warm space and a drop-in hub called the Pit Stop, and Oasis Youth and Community Hub is operating a mobile social supermarket running every Tuesday in Leysdown and Sheerness. In Faversham, West Faversham Community Association’s Just Cook project offers free cooking sessions, while Faversham Umbrella is running a Community Resilience Hub focused on skills and training. Immediate help and longer-term support, side by side.
The advice strand covers a wide range of pressures. Children and Families is running a Fuel and Water Advisor Service to help households cut their bills, Mid Kent Mind is offering money and mental wellbeing courses, and Streetlight UK is providing specialist support for women affected by the sex industry, sexual violence, exploitation or trafficking. SATEDA’s service offers free, confidential support for women aged 18 and over experiencing or recovering from domestic abuse. The Autism Apprentice CIC is running drop-in sessions for autistic young people aged 11 to 25 and their families.
The One Swale network — delivered largely through Swale CVS and Citizens Advice North East Kent — pulls money, wellbeing and jobs advice together, including a new digital ‘one front door’ to make it easier for residents to find services. And for young people aged 16 to 24 not in education, employment or training, The Pyramid Project CIC and Oasis Community Hub are offering face-to-face support to gain maths and English qualifications.
The council is also using the funding directly to cover short-term housing payments for people on benefits struggling to find or keep a home, and to back the Swale CVS Loneliness Project, which trains community champions to connect isolated residents with local activities.
Cllr Hannah Perkin, chair of the housing, health and communities committee, said the funding aims to provide both immediate crisis support and build longer-term financial resilience across the borough.
Key information
- Residents in Swale can find the full list of projects and how to access them on the council’s crisis and resilience webpages at swale.gov.uk
- Food, cooking and pantry projects are available for immediate help with food costs
- Specialist advice is available on energy and water bills, domestic abuse, autism support, and money and mental health
- Young people aged 16 to 24 not in education, training or employment can access face-to-face support for maths and English qualifications through The Pyramid Project CIC and Oasis Community Hub