Southeastern supports families in Woolwich through new community café

Notes to editors

Notes to Editors

The CCIF has now supported 38 projects in total, ranging from mentoring at-risk young people to helping people with additional needs travel independently.  

This year’s funded projects are:  

Canterbury BID – Design a Tapestry for Canterbury Castle  

Inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, local people from all walks of life in Canterbury will come together to create artwork celebrating the city’s heritage as part of the Year of the Normans celebrations.  

Catching Lives – Creative Connections   

Providing adults who are homeless or are insecurely housed with a calm, structured environment for creativity, social connection, and skill development. The project aims to improve mental health, reduce isolation, and prevent repeat homelessness.   

Dover Vineyard – The Beehive Dover  

Funding will replace unsafe flooring in the café area to ensure continued safe operation and service delivery for a non-profit organisation which provides clothing, toiletries, and support to vulnerable women.   

Eynsford Parish Council – Improving access to and from Eynsford station  

Working in partnership with Kent County Council and Darent Valley Community Rail Partnership, a new footpath and signage will be installed to provide safer access to Eynsford station, benefitting local residents, schoolchildren, commuters, and visitors to local attractions.   

Kent and East Sussex Railway (KESR) – Community Planters  

The KESR will create 10 wheelchair-accessible planters at Tenterden Town station, crafted by Tenterden Men’s Shed and planted by local community groups.   

Kent and East Sussex Railway – Volunteer Recruitment Event Kit  

Supporting the KESR to recruit additional volunteers ahead of the railway’s planned extension to Robertsbridge in 2028. The mainline connection, on Southeastern’s Hastings line, will help attract more visitors to this popular local attraction.  

Kent County Council – Kent Forces Launchpad  

In partnership with the Kent Foundation, funding will support a year-long pilot supporting partners and spouses of Armed Forces veterans, service leavers, reservists, and their families to start microbusinesses or become self-employed.   

Life Cycle – Bikes Beyond Bars  

Bikes Beyond Bars is a rehabilitation and employability project led by Life Cycle UK inside HMP Thameside, near Plumstead station. Current prisoners - many with no qualifications or history of stable education – will receive structured vocational training, accredited industry standard qualifications, and mentoring that builds confidence, soft skills, and pathways to employment.   

Mama2Mama Baby Essentials – Dignity by Design  

Funding will support the fit out of a new community café hub in Woolwich, enabling the charity to expand its dignity first baby essentials bank and wellbeing services. The project will create a trauma informed, multiuse community anchor that promotes connection, dignity, and hope.  

Millmead Children’s Centre – Next Stop…Independence  

Young people in Margate will be supported to gain confidence and skills in using the railway for future education, employment and volunteering opportunities. The programme will teach safe travel, ticket purchasing, planning routes and budgeting.  

Swale Borough Council – Swale Bicycle Hangars  

New bicycle hangars will provide dry, safe, low cost storage for commuters and support the growing demand for secure cycling facilities. The project promotes healthier lifestyles, improved air quality and stronger integration between cycling and rail travel.   

Triumph of Grace – Safer Tracks for Tomorrow  

A 12-month youth focused project in Maidstone designed to reduce antisocial behaviour and improve rail safety, wellbeing and confidence among young people.   

Urban Synergy – Empowering future talent in South East London  

Targeted towards disadvantaged young people, the project aims to close the social mobility gap by providing career insight seminars, one to one vocational mentoring, employability workshops, and access to high quality work experience with major UK employers.  

Wild Rangers - Creating Grove Park’s first Community Wellbeing & Growing Skills Gardening Project  

Funding will transform currently disused allotments near Grove Park station into a haven of biodiversity for the benefit of the whole community. The project will promote community stewardship, sustainable gardening and positive mental health.