We work with suppliers and other partners to support projects that promote health, safety and wellbeing in the local community, including physical and mental health and improvements to the environment. Projects that we support include: 

  • volunteering to support residents to set up new community gardens or other outdoor community spaces
  • volunteering to support residents to improve existing community gardens or other outdoor community spaces
  • donating materials and equipment to support this work

Here are some examples:

Community herb garden in Swanley

One of our Community Development Officers had been supporting a gardening club in Swanley. They wanted to start a community herb garden and requested help from Bell, our cyclical decorations contractor. The team from Bell designed and installed three large planters and filled them with soil. The planters are now being used by the group to grow herbs in a public space to benefit the local community. The community will be able to access fresh herbs at no cost. There is also a seating area in the space which makes it a calm space for residents to use. A nearby GP surgery will provide access to water and encourage residents to use the garden. 

Communal garden and play area

Brenwards, our electrical and building contractor, recently transformed a drab and unsafe garden into a lovely communal garden for West Kent families. They worked with Carol Pople (West Kent’s Supported Housing Manager) and Debbi Richards (Domestic Abuse Support Officer from Maidstone Borough Council) to design a space in a new service for survivors of domestic abuse. This included a play area (with new benches) and a separate area with three planters. All costs were funded by Brenwards as a Social Value contribution. They have done this above and beyond their normal contribution.

“The contractors have worked incredibly hard, they were all very respectful and friendly, cleaned up after themselves and have clearly taken great pride in their work. They have really transformed this space into a useable and peaceful environment in a short space of time, and I look forward to starting the gardening club and holding support sessions out there. With the May half term coming up, I have no doubt the tenants will be able to fully enjoy this incredible outdoor space, many of them have already shared with me visions of sitting in the garden in the warm evenings and letting the children have water pistols etc. Please do pass along any feedback to Brenwards. Very grateful for their work.”  - Debbi Richards 

Litter pick event in Edenbridge

Wealdens (cleaning contractor) supported a litter pick volunteering event in Edenbridge in October 2024. Members of our finance and governance team swapped their desks for a litter pick, making a real impact in the local community. Wealdens provided the equipment and supervised the activity. We split into two groups, covering Spitals Cross and the surrounding areas, and received plenty of positive feedback from residents who appreciated the efforts to keep the area clean. By the end of the event , we had collected 15 bags of rubbish.