About Us
Sunlight Development Trust is a community led charity based in the old Sunlight commercial laundry in North Gillingham which closed in 1987 as a result of the closure of Chatham Dockyards. Sunlight has operated since 2000, following community action to redevelop the derelict site in the heart of a residential area into a local facility and focal point. Beginning as “Project Sunlight”, developed by the local Council for Voluntary Services, Sunlight was supported to independence and in 2006 incorporated as an independent charitable company and Development Trust. From the inception Sunlight used genuine community development to affect change and as a result gained the trust and support of communities that felt let down and disengaged from mainstream services in both the statutory and voluntary sectors.
The Sunlight Centre is now a large vibrant community centre, accommodating a GP practice, family centre, Cafe Sunlight, a community radio station, an industry standard recording studio, a large hall, four community rooms, a carers support service for families effected by dementia, and accommodation for other charities and community groups.