Avenue of Remembrance, Sittingbourne ME10 4NN
Our Mission
Brewing connection, support, and strength in the heart of Sittingbourne.
The Heart of Heather House
The volunteers and staff who make Heather House feel like home.
Contact Us
We’d love to hear from you, let’s stay connected.
Welcome to Heather House Community Cafe! We’re more than just a cafe; we’re a vibrant, beating heart in the community of Sittingbourne. Our mission is deeply rooted in connection, support, and empowerment, creating a welcoming space where everyone feels valued.
Our Mission
Heather House Community Café began in Spring 2024 with a simple yet powerful idea: to build a place that not only serves great coffee and delicious food but also actively strengthens our local area. We saw the need for an accessible, friendly hub that could address various community challenges, from food insecurity to social isolation.
Heather House
Ave of Remembrance, Sittingbourne ME10 4NN
Hours of Operation
M – S 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Phone:
(01795) 483419
The idea partnered Swale Community Care Project with Sittingbourne & Sheppey Helping Ukraine – Two Charities with a strong focus on community and wellbeing.
This vision led to our unique model in October 2024: a bustling cafe that directly supports our integrated emergency food bank. Every cup of coffee and every meal enjoyed helps provide vital provisions to individuals and families facing hardship in Sittingbourne. This approach ensures sustainability for our food bank while offering dignity and a less stigmatizing way for people to access help. Recent additions include our free community fridge, discounted community freezer and children’s toy area.
Beyond the cafe and emergency food bank, our commitment extends to being a central point for wider community well-being. Our dedicated Trail Suite (our versatile back room named after The Trail Group who kindly donated their support to refurbish the Community Cafe) plays a pivotal role. It regularly hosts a diverse range of local charities and groups, allowing us to offer crucial workshops and support sessions. These cover everything from basic cooking skills and gaining financial control to essential mental health and mental well-being sessions. We’re also excited to be launching new Art Therapy workshops for teens, providing creative avenues for emotional expression.
Our Team
Our operations wouldn’t be possible without our incredible team, especially our dedicated volunteers. These amazing individuals are the backbone of Heather House, working across all areas from serving in the cafe and assisting in the kitchen to managing the emergency food bank and supporting our various community groups.
We’re committed to supporting our volunteers and ensuring they feel valued and equipped. We’re working towards providing them with official uniforms to help customers easily identify our team, fostering trust and clarity, particularly for those with additional needs. We also continuously seek to provide essential training and resources to empower them in their vital roles.
Our Impact
Heather House is continually evolving to meet the evolving needs of our community. We’re proactive in seeking resources to enhance our services, including:
- Public Safety: Seeking funding for a Bleed Control Kit to be available at the cafe for emergencies.
- Enhanced Volunteer Support: Investing in further training for our volunteers to equip them with specialised skills.
- Emergency Provisions: Aiming to provide temporary accommodation packs (pillows, duvets, etc.) and homeless emergency kits (tents, sleeping bags) for individuals in immediate crisis.
Every coffee sold, every meal shared, and every group hosted helps us make a tangible difference right here in Sittingbourne and across the surrounding areas. We are deeply grateful for the support of our customers, partners, and volunteers who make Heather House a true community asset.
Testimonials
“Heather house is a lovely little cafe and the volunteer staff are so friendly and welcoming I try and pop in at least once a week for a coffee and lunch. I also feel comfortable breastfeeding my little boy here. prices are really cheap and I always feel welcomed and comfortable.”
“Visited HeatherHouse CC for breaktast with my boys. Lovely community cafe with even lovelier volunteers. Dropped some bits off for their foodbank which I’ll do regularly They have a community fridge and freezer if anyone is in need… They have a pay it forward option which is great. Really nice little play area for children There is so much more to this amazing place too – go check it out”
“I visit Heather House whenever I am in town for a cuppa and something to eat also to leave something for pay it forward. amazing place and staff/ volunteers are fantastic love place to go to. if u not been go u will always be made to feel welcome”
We actively combat loneliness and foster connections through initiatives like our popular 50+ Coffee Morning and the welcoming Chatty Cafe. We witness firsthand the profound impact of loneliness on individuals, and these sessions are a key part of our efforts to support mental health and suicide prevention. Every conversation, every shared smile, and every connection made helps us build a stronger, more resilient community, one interaction at a time.