Across Kent and Medway, people and communities are facing very real challenges.
From the cost of living and barriers to employment, to health inequalities, isolation and pressure on local services, those challenges affect people in different ways every day.
But this is only part of the story.
Every day, we also see what can happen when people have the right support, communities are trusted to lead, and local organisations are given the resources to make a difference.
One year. Thousands of stories. One shared purpose.
Our 2025–26 Social Impact Report tells some of those stories.
Stories of people finding confidence and moving towards work. Young people discovering new opportunities. Communities becoming healthier and more connected. Families accessing affordable food with dignity. Volunteers finding purpose. And grassroots organisations receiving the investment and support they need to create change where they live.
Our impact at a glance
More than £1 million distributed directly to grassroots organisations
Nearly 2,800 learners supported to develop new skills
More than £920,000 invested through our Social Impact Gateway
177 tonnes of food saved from landfill
Thousands of people supported through health and wellbeing programmes
The people behind the numbers
There are some big numbers in this year’s report.
But the numbers are not the part we are most proud of. It is the people behind them.
Every statistic represents someone taking a step forward, a family receiving support, a volunteer giving their time, a community finding its voice or a local organisation creating opportunities where they are needed most.
We hope you will take a little time to read their stories and see what social impact can look like when communities, businesses, funders, partners and the VCSE sector work together.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of it.
What comes next
From impact to action
Our Social Impact Report looks back at what has been achieved. But the bigger question is what we do next.
On Thursday 5 November 2026, we are bringing people together for the Social Enterprise Kent Conference 2026: Social Value in Action, Building Stronger Places Through Partnership, Innovation and Impact.
The day will explore how social value can help create healthier communities, stronger local economies and better outcomes for people, particularly at a time when organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors are being asked to deliver more impact with fewer resources.
With keynote speakers from The King’s Fund, Better Society Capital and Plinth, alongside sector leaders and community voices, we will explore place based collaboration, social investment, impact measurement, innovation and the role of AI in helping organisations evidence the difference they make.
If you work in local government, health, business, social enterprise or the wider VCSE sector, this is an opportunity to connect, share ideas and explore how we can turn social value into meaningful action for people and communities.
Thursday 5 November 2026
9am to 4pm
Aylesham Community Trust, Aylesham, Canterbury
Tickets: £10 per person, including refreshments, lunch and conference materials
Spaces are limited, so early booking is recommended.
The report tells the story of the impact already happening. The conference is about how, together, we create even more of it.
Every day, we shape a better tomorrow.