Lily's Social Kitchen, Canterbury

Using the power of food, our mission is to bring people together. We do this by championing the skills and employability of neurodiverse individuals, including those with autism and learning disabilities.

Our goal is to give enough training to our staff members to eventually have Lily’s be self- sufficient. This means it will be 100% run by those who are vulnerable…HOW GREAT WOULD THAT BE!
This also gives the opportunity to our staff to choose whether they stay with Lily’s, or use the skills they have learned with us to find a job elsewhere!

Our Canterbury Ciafe is located on Guildhall Street, set within a beautifully restored 17th-century Tudor building, offering a unique blend of historical charm and modern functionality. The site features outdoor seating and a spacious function room that can host meetings, private events, and, most importantly, serve as a training ground for Lily’s expanding workforce of young trainees.

The new Canterbury location not only serves as a vibrant café offering high-quality food made with locally sourced Kent produce but will also play a crucial role in expanding Lily’s training program. Previously, the organisation could accommodate around 25 students per year; the new site will allow up to 40 students to gain valuable training and hands-on experience, significantly increasing the impact of their work.

We also offer professional catering for corporate catering to businesses such as lunches and event catering. Please email andy@lilyscommunity.org for quotes and menus depending on what your event may be.

All our activities are populated by a community of trainees, apprentices and volunteers.