We have been very grateful to receive a number of much needed grants over the last financial year in order to enhance the services we provide across all our projects. Here are recent examples.

New wheels for Naomi project

The grant we received from a local Trust to fund a new minibus for the women at the Naomi project in Hawkhurst is helping to provide meaningful leisure activities and skills development opportunities. This will equip the women with more tools to further their recovery and reintegration.

New bedrooms for Gravesend supported housing project

Thanks to a wonderful grant of £5,000 from Northfleet and Gravesham Neighbourhood Forum and a Member’s Grant of over £1,000 from Councillor Leslie Christie, we were able to refurnish all five bedrooms at our move on project in Gravesend. We thank Jane Cribbon and John Burden at Gravesend Borough Council and Councillor Harold Craske for their support.

Life Skills Building at the Lighthouse Project

Thanks to the generosity of several grant making Trusts and the Big Lottery Awards for All, we have been able to take the young residents to a theatre and sight seeing trip to London, an activity week in North Wales culminating in climbing Mount Snowdon - other highlights were sea traversing, canoeing, fire lighting a la Ray Mears and gorge scrambling – and many more activities such as Go Ape at Leeds Castle. This has helped them to gain confidence in their own abilities and well as social and life skills.

New garden for Lighthouse Project

The new garden at the Lighthouse was officially opened by Russell Race from the Rochester Bridge Trust, who made a £3,000 grant towards the work.

The aged concrete yard at the rear of the property had been an eyesore, but it has been transformed into a delightful garden with new fencing, relaxation areas and raised beds full of flowers and vegetables.

Russell said: “We are very pleased to have contributed to the development of this garden. It not only improves the quality of life at the Lighthouse, but is helping residents acquire new skills through growing vegetables and preparing meals for each other with their own produce.”