Romney Marsh Community Hub

What Romney Marsh Community Hub does

Romney Marsh Community Hub (RMCH) is a UK-registered charity (Charity no: 1093388) founded in 1975 and headquartered at Sunflower House, Rolfe Lane, New Romney, Kent. The organisation provides an integrated portfolio of support services targeted primarily at adults aged 50 and over living on Romney Marsh, including information and benefits advice, health and fitness classes, social and creative activities, dementia support via Sunflower Memory Cafés, bereavement and peer-support groups, community dining, home support, room hire, retail through two Sunflower Charity Shops, and accessible transport via the membership-based Marsh Bee Dial a Ride service. Sub-brands include Hub on the Beach (Greatstone), the Marsh Bee, Sunflower Memory Cafés, and Sunflower Charity Shops, distributed across five physical sites in New Romney, Greatstone, Rye, and partner venues. Governance is provided by a Board of 11 Trustees, and day-to-day leadership sits with CEO Liz Taylor (appointed May 2023) and Chief Operations Manager Derek Ruby, supported by approximately 29 named staff across wellbeing, administration, transport, kitchen, home support, and Hub operations — making RMCH one of the largest employers on the Marsh.

The organisation generates income through a diversified, multi-stream charity model: donations and fundraising (including a £150,000 Crowdfunder appeal launched November 2025), proceeds from two Sunflower Charity Shops (Rye and New Romney), café and dining revenue (£9 main meals), Marsh Bee annual membership (£20) plus per-journey fees (£5–£15), room hire at £14–£16 per hour across both hubs, corporate sponsorship, legacies and bequests, and the new 1000 Club membership lottery. Customer acquisition is community-led, relying on word-of-mouth, social prescribing referrals from local GP surgeries (Oakhall, Church Lane, Martello Healthcare, Orchard House), Facebook/Instagram outreach, and direct local authority referrals, rather than paid marketing channels. The technology foundation is standard off-the-shelf SaaS: WordPress, BookWhen, Ticket Tailor, Mailchimp, JustGiving, Crowdfunder, UserWay, Google Analytics, and Facebook Ads — there is no proprietary platform or AI capability. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. RMCH is navigating acute financial pressure disclosed in late 2025: a near-£100,000 summer turnover loss tied to the temporary closure of the car park adjoining Hub on the Beach and more than 10% overnight staffing cost inflation, against a backdrop of recent physical expansion and a published five-year strategic plan for 2025–2029 including a planned Skills Hub.

Name

Romney Marsh Community Hub

Legal name

Romney Marsh Community Hub

Website

https://rmch.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Romney Marsh Community Hub is a UK charity providing integrated wellbeing, transport, dining, advice, dementia support, and charity retail services for adults aged 50 and over across Romney Marsh, Kent, operating from two hubs and multiple partner venues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Services for Older Adults

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Community support services
• Charity services for older adults
• Community transport services
• Dementia memory cafes
• Charity retail operations

Headquarters

HQ city

New Romney

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The charity relies heavily on donations from the public, corporate sponsors, and fundraising events. A 2025 Crowdfunder campaign aimed to raise £150,000 to safeguard essential services following a car park closure that cost nearly £100,000 in lost summer turnover and a 10%+ increase in staffing costs from minimum wage and National Insurance adjustments.
2. Charity Shop Proceeds: Two Sunflower Charity Shops (in Rye and New Romney) generate income from the sale of donated goods. All proceeds support RMCH's essential services.
3. Cafe and Dining Services: The Sunflower Room at Rolfe Lane and the Hub on the Beach cafe serve meals and refreshments. Main meals are priced at £9.00, with cakes, teas, and coffees available. Takeaway meals are also offered.
4. Marsh Bee Transport Membership and Journey Fees: The Marsh Bee Dial a Ride service charges an annual membership fee of £20 plus per-journey fees ranging from £5 to £15 depending on destination (GP appointments, local hospitals, or out-of-area hospitals). Non-medical journeys are charged at a minimum of £2 plus £1 per mile.
5. Room and Facility Hire: RMCH hires out spaces at both Hub locations. At Rolfe Lane: clinic rooms and meeting rooms at £14/hour, larger halls at £16/hour. At Hub on the Beach: the main hub space at £16/hour, with a 60-person capacity.
6. Sponsorship: Corporate and local business sponsors can support specific events, programmes (such as the Sunflower Memory Cafe), or become annual partners, receiving brand visibility across RMCH's platforms and events.
7. Legacies and Bequests: The charity actively encourages supporters to leave gifts in their wills, offering residuary gifts, pecuniary gifts, or specific items as legacy options.
8. The 1000 Club: A membership lottery introduced for the 50th anniversary in 2025, with prizes of £150 (1st), £100 (2nd), £50 (3rd), and a £200 special prize drawn quarterly.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Romney Marsh Community Hub is a registered UK charity delivering an integrated portfolio of community services for the over-50s population across Romney Marsh, Kent. Its core offering comprises two physical community hub locations (Hub on Rolfe Lane and Hub on the Beach), the Marsh Bee accessible dial-a-ride transport service, community dining, room and facility hire, Sunflower Memory Cafés for dementia support, Sunflower Charity Shops, and a free Information and Advice service covering benefits, healthcare, energy, funerals, and wills.

Product overview

Romney Marsh Community Hub (RMCH) is a community-driven charity offering a unified portfolio of interconnected services for the over 50s and those in need across Romney Marsh, Kent. Its core consists of two physical hub locations — Hub on Rolfe Lane (Sunflower House, New Romney) and Hub on the Beach (Greatstone) — which serve as community spaces offering dining, room hire, activities, and advice. Adjacent services include The Marsh Bee (dial a ride transport), Sunflower Memory Cafés, Sunflower Charity Shops, Information & Advice, Health & Fitness Classes, and Support & Wellbeing Groups. The offering also spans home support, a launderette, arts and crafts, social activities, and upcoming planned expansion through a Skills Hub. The portfolio functions as a coordinated ecosystem where transport, dining, advice, social activities, and wellbeing support collectively address isolation and independence for older adults.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Marsh Bee: A membership dial a ride transport service for people living on Romney Marsh to access medical appointments, shopping, social activities, and community events. Features fully accessible vehicles with seating for up to 5 people plus one wheelchair.
• Sunflower Memory Cafes
• Sunflower Charity Shops

Products and services

• Hub on Rolfe Lane (Sunflower House) The primary community hub at Sunflower House, Rolfe Lane, New Romney. Provides advice, social activities, wellbeing programmes, dining, volunteering opportunities, and room hire to support the over-50s community of Romney Marsh.
• Hub on the Beach (HOTB) A community cafe and events space at 103 Coast Drive, Greatstone. Fully accessible environment serving meals, refreshments, group activities, and community events for people of all ages. Open seven days a week.
• The Marsh Bee Dial a Ride A membership accessible dial-a-ride transport service for Romney Marsh residents needing to attend medical appointments, shopping, social activities, or community events. Annual membership £20, with journey fees from £5 to £15 depending on destination. Vehicles are fully accessible with seating for up to 5 plus one wheelchair.
• Community Dining at the Sunflower Room Freshly prepared meals served in the Sunflower Room at Rolfe Lane, with takeaway available. Main meals priced at £9.00, with cakes, teas, coffees, and vegetarian options. Weekly changing menu using locally sourced ingredients where possible.
• Room and Facility Hire Flexible hire of clinic rooms, meeting rooms, Sunflower Room/Hall (capacity 80), Wellbeing Room (capacity 60), and main Hub space at Hub on the Beach (capacity 60). Hourly rates £14-£16. Suitable for community gatherings, business meetings, celebrations, and workshops.
• Sunflower Memory Cafés Free, friendly gatherings for people living with dementia and their carers, held at three Romney Marsh venues (The Old School New Romney, St Mary's Bay Village Hall, and Dymchurch Village Hall). Activities designed to stimulate the mind and encourage interaction in a supportive environment.
• Sunflower Charity Shops Two charity shops selling donated goods: Rye (41 Cinque Ports Street) and New Romney (25 High Street). All proceeds fund RMCH community services.
• Information and Advice Service Free, confidential expert advice helping Romney Marsh residents access benefits and support they are entitled to, including Blue Badge applications, Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payments (PIP), Carer's Allowance, Pension Credit, healthcare navigation, energy bills, funerals, and wills. Includes a dedicated Dementia Coordinator (Joseph Parry).
• Donations and Fundraising Programme Public donation programme accepting one-off and recurring donations via JustGiving and Crowdfunder, with corporate sponsorship, legacy giving, and The 1000 Club membership lottery (£150 first prize, quarterly £200 special prize).

Quantifiable outcome

• The Marsh Bee dial-a-ride service helps older residents access GP and hospital appointments, supporting independence and preventing isolation.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Social Enterprise Kent (SEK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner providing organisational support, training, and development resources for the charity.
• Age UK Hythe and LymingeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organisation collaborating on services for older adults in the Romney Marsh area.
• Salvation Army HytheminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partner collaborating with RMCH to support the local community.
• CARM (Community Advice and Resource for Romney Marsh)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community organisation partnered with RMCH for advice and resource sharing.
• Kent Community Safety TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment team partnered with RMCH on community safety initiatives.
• Macmillan Cancer SupportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCancer charity partnered with RMCH to support the Cancer Peer Support Group and related wellbeing services.
• Rockpool CreativecoreTechnology or IntegrationWebsite design and digital marketing agency owned by Jennifer Sinclair, Frances Clifford, and Emily Foster. Works on behalf of RMCH to manage website function, Mailchimp newsletters, Facebook adverts, Google Adverts, and data organisation. All personal information is shared between RMCH and Rockpool Creative for operational purposes.
• Oakhall SurgerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal GP surgery working in partnership with RMCH, regularly offering health advice sessions and wellbeing checks at the Hub. Part of the Primary Care Network.
• Church Lane SurgerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal GP surgery working in partnership with RMCH, regularly offering health advice sessions and wellbeing checks at the Hub.
• Martello HealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal GP surgery working in partnership with RMCH for health advice sessions and wellbeing support.
• Orchard House SurgerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal GP surgery working in partnership with RMCH for health advice sessions and wellbeing support.
• Squiggle ConsultminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing guidance and support for funerals and wills information services.
• Hallet & CominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner firm providing funeral planning and will services information for RMCH clients.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Community Transport Association (CTA): UK membership body for community transport operators, of which The Marsh Bee Dial a Ride would be a typical member. Comparable to RMCH's accessible transport service targeting rural and older populations.
• Community Foundation for Kent (Kent Community Foundation): Kent-based grant-making foundation that already funds RMCH. Relevant as an ecosystem player rather than direct competitor, but representative of the regional grant infrastructure that underpins RMCH's funding model.

Broad incumbents

• Age UK: The UK's largest charity dedicated to older people, providing advice, information, and local services through a federated network of local Age UK branches. RMCH itself traces its origins to Age Concern Hythe and Romney Marsh, and still partners with Age UK Hythe and Lyminge today.
• Alzheimer's Society: UK's leading dementia charity, providing support services, research funding, and local dementia support. Comparable to RMCH's dementia peer support and Sunflower Memory Café programmes, though at significantly greater scale.

Direct peers

• Royal Voluntary Service: UK charity supporting older adults through community services, hospital services, and volunteer-led programmes. Comparable in mission (older adult wellbeing, independence, transport and social activities) and operating model (community-based, volunteer-supported, regional delivery).
• Independent Age: UK national charity providing advice, information, and support to older people on benefits, social care, and housing. Comparable to RMCH's Information & Advice service, including benefits guidance, dementia support, and wellbeing services for over-50s.

Emerging players

• u3a (University of the Third Age): UK organisation for retired and semi-retired people, offering learning, creative, and social activities through local groups. Directly comparable to RMCH's fitness, arts & crafts, and social/community activities portfolio for the over-50s population.
• Dementia UK: UK charity providing specialist dementia support via Admiral Nurses and a helpline. Comparable to RMCH's Sunflower Memory Cafés and dedicated Dementia Coordinator service, though Dementia UK operates at national scale rather than single-catchment.
• The Silver Line: UK charity helpline for older people, providing phone-based support, befriending, and information. Shares RMCH's mission of addressing loneliness and social isolation in older adults, with a different delivery mechanism (telephone rather than in-person hubs).
• Carers Trust: UK charity for unpaid carers, providing local carer support services through a network of regional centres. Comparable to RMCH's carer-supporting services within its dementia and over-50s programmes, particularly the carer respite and advice elements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RomneyMarshCommunityHub
• Instagraminstagram.com/rmch.org.uk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/romney-marsh-community-hub

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Romney Marsh Community Hub