Resources
Local support
- All
- Advice
- Befriending
- Clothing
- Cost of Living Support
- Employment Support
- Financial Advice
- Food Support
- Furniture
- Homeless Support
- Housing Support
- Pay it Forward
- Support with Children
- Transport
- Warm Spaces
Canterbury Foodbank
Canterbury Food Bank can provide a food parcel that would last you (and your family) for at least three days and can cater for special dietary requirements. If you have allergies please check the ingredients as we cannot guarantee that the food parcel will be allergen free.
Staff are available to take calls between 9am and 2pm weekdays:
T: 01227 936 450W: https://canterburyfoodbank.org/
Canterbury Housing Advice Centre
Canterbury Housing Advice Centre (CHAC) provides free, confidential independent and impartial advice on most housing matters including eviction, housing applications and homelessness.
Weekly clinic at Whitstable Umbrella Community Centre, Thursdays 1pm – 3pm
Drop-in or by appointment, contact:
W: https://www.chac.co.uk/
Christians Against Poverty
For free help getting out of debt, budgeting, making your money go further, or help finding a job, browse our services to find the right one for you.
If you’re looking for help, whether that’s help to get out of debt, find a job or gain vital life skills, Christians Against Poverty provides a range of free professional services across the UK through local churches.
T: 0800 328 0006W: https://capuk.org/
Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice drop in advice clinic, no need to book.
Every Wednesday 10.15 am – 1pm
In the lounge at Whitstable Umbrella Community Centre
(through the yellow doors at the side of the building)
E: admin@canterburycab.cabnet.org.uk
W: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/local/canterbury-district/
Community Clothes Bank
The Community Clothes Bank is a community non-profit project covering East Kent. It is based in Whitstable, in partnership with Whitstable Umbrella Community Centre.
Community Clothes Bank collect donations of clean, preloved or new clothes at pre-arranged events to then gift them to other members of the community who need them.
For upcoming Community Clothes Bank events being held at Whitstable Umbrella Community Centre see our events listings here
For details on accessing free clothes, donating clothes and other events throughout East Kent please see Community Clothes Bank Facebook or Instagram or email:
E: communityclothesbank@umbrellacentre.co.ukW: https://www.umbrellacentre.co.uk/our-projects/community-clothes-bank/
Food Friends
Connects neighbours, providing a warm home cooked meal for someone in need.
Can provide regular warm meals on arrangement.
Contact:
T: 01227 250410 / 07496 464 966E: hello@food-friends.co.uk
W: https://food-friends.co.uk/
Growbaby Riverside Church
We would love to meet you.
Please come along to Riverside on a Monday between 10:30am and 2:30pm where one of our lovely volunteers will help you choose some items for you baby or toddler – no referral needed.
Riverside Church, Thanet Way, Whitstable, CT5 3JQ
Contact:
T: 01227 250240E: growbaby@riversideuk.org
W: https://www.riversideuk.org/growbaby
Homeless Support at The Haven
if you are homeless and require food, clothing, hot showers or laundry, you are welcome at St John’s Methodist Church, Argyle Road on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 2pm – 4pm.
Email:
E: Jackie.haven@btinternet.com
Kent Together
You may be struggling because of the impacts of COVID-19 or for other reasons. Different people will be facing different sorts of challenges and Kent Together is here to help you find the support that’s right for you.
If you need help using this information, call Kent Together on 03000 41 92 92 (text relay 18001 03000 41 92 92). If you need access via British Sign Language, you can contact the Sensory Services Team via SMS on 07920 154 315 or via SignLive VRS on the community directory.
The Kent Together helpline cannot provide you with any financial advice, but we can help direct you to a service that can help.
National Debtline
National Debtline is a charity.
We give free and independent debt advice over the phone and online.
We will never cold call you and will not pass your personal information to other companies.
Get in touch
Call us for free debt advice on
0808 808 4000
Webchat with an adviser. This is the fastest way to speak to an adviser.
Monday to Friday 9am – 8pm and Saturday 9:30am – 1pm
If you’re self-employed Business Debtline can help.
W: https://www.nationaldebtline.org/
Necessary Furniture
Re-distributing pre-loved household goods to those in need.
They offer delivery to Whitstable for a small fee.
Self referral available via email:
T: 01227 712680
E: necessary_furniture@hotmail.com
W: http://www.necessaryfurniture.org.uk/
Red Zebra
We offer services which enable people to be involved and active in their communities, and to remain independent in their own homes.
Social Prescribing: helping people to improve wellbeing and quality of life by supporting them to access useful services and groups in the community.
Volunteer Car Service: enabling people over the age of 55 living in CT5 postcodes to attend essential appointments and services.
Support for Organisations: supporting local Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector organisations, helping people to set up new groups and helping established groups in a number of areas including applying for funding, developing necessary policies and procedures, promoting their work, networking with other groups, and accessing training for their staff and volunteers.
T: 01227 262313E: info@redzebra.org.uk
W: https://redzebra.org.uk/
Riverside Café
E: info@riversideuk.org
W: https://www.riversideuk.org/riverside-cafe
St Vincent de Paul Society
St Vincent de Paul society Provide support for families and people living alone, befriending, with home visits and occasional grants for one-off items.
They offer help with food, advice, budgeting and run a small foodbank.
E: info@svp.org.uk
W: https://www.svp.org.uk/
The Magic Wardrobe
We collect quality nearly new clothing and people can come and collect clothing free of charge.
Even though we have times when we are open, if it is an emergency then we will make up bags of clothes for you at any time.
Contact:
T: 07776 425512E: standrews.whitstable@hotmail.com
W: http://standrewsplaygroup.org/
The Prince’s Trust
Here for young people
Join a free programme to develop your skills and confidence to find a job or start a business.
W: https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/
Turn2Us
Support with the Cost of Living
Find out what help may be available to you through benefits, grants and other sources of support.
Warm Spaces
Places to be warm, welcome and safe this winter.
Whitstable Community Wardrobe
A community initiative to recycle school uniforms for Whitstable area schools.
Run by Churches Together in Whitstable.
Contact:
T: 01227 276923E: Jane.myhill@btinternet.com
Whitstable Team Ministry – Fare Share
Supermarket donated food available for anyone to pick up.
Mondays & Thursdays: Seasalter Christian Centre, Faversham Road 9-11am
Tuesday & Fridays: St Johns Centre, Herne Bay Road 9-11am
Wednesdays & Sundays: St Alphege Church, High Street, Whitstable
For further details email:
W: https://www.swalecliffestjohns.co.uk/team-ministry