The Oast Community Centre - AGM

The Oast Community Centre, Rainham - AGM takes place on Wednesday the 23rd of May at 7:30pm in the Wakeley Hall.

To join as a member or for information about various membership types Email: membership@oastcentre.org

For further details regarding nomination of officers, keep an eye on our Twitter @TheOastRainham or Facebook @theoastrainham or visit our
website: www.oastcentre.org

Liz O'Hanlon - Secretary The Oast Community Centre
Granary Close, Rainham, Kent ME8 7SG

Email: secretary@oastcentre.org

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New Store Manager at the Co-op Upchurch

Welcome David Davies - new Store Manager at the Co-op Upchurch.

Good luck in your new role!

Upchurch Matters

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Co-op Membership Local Community Fund - Apply To Be A Local Cause

Co-op Membership - Earn rewards for you and your community

Applications for the next round of funding from the Co-op Membership Local Community Fund opened on Monday the 12th of March 2018.

The Co-op Membership Local Community Fund gives money to local causes, helping to bring people together and make a difference.

Local causes have until Sunday the 8th of April 2018 this time to complete their application. You can save your application at any time and return to it later.

To apply to be a Co-op cause you must have a project or event in mind that:

• Takes place in the UK or Isle of Man
• Doesn't have religious or political aims (although you can still apply if you're a religious organisation)
• Meets the Co-op's values
• Takes place or will still be running after October 2019
• Benefits your local community

The Co-op give preference to projects run by small, local organisations that make a real difference to people in their community.

You can't apply if your organisation is run for private profit. If you're unsure about your organisation's status check what types of organisations can apply.

You can't use money from the fund solely to pay for staff salaries or general running costs, or to make a donation to another organisation.

The Co-op will let you know if you've been selected in October 2018 and you can start promoting your cause to their members from November 2018.

You'll be paid a share of the funding every 6 months, with the first payment at the end of May 2019.

How the fund works

As a member, every time you shop at the Co-op, 1% of what you spend on selected own-brand products and services goes to the local Community Fund.

The money raised by all the members in your community, together with money from shopping bag sales, helps to fund local projects in the area where you live.

Since September 2016, the Co-op raised a total of more than £20 million.

You can choose which cause you want your own 1% to go to.

Any money raised by members who don’t select a cause is added to the money raised from shopping bag sales and shared equally between the causes in their local area.

The co-op choose new causes every 12 months.

5% for you

When you buy selected products and services from Co-op Group businesses, including our food stores and funeral homes, they’ll put 5% of what you spend into your Co-op Membership account.

Be a local cause

Projects the Co-op fund are generally run by local organisations, charities, companies or community groups, but as long as your organisation isn’t run for private profit you can apply.

You can now apply to be a local cause in the next round of funding at: www.coop.co.uk/causes

To apply you'll need:

• Your organisation's charity or HMRC registration number, or other proof your organisation isn't run for private profit, this includes the type of organisation you are and things such as your governing document or similar
• A description of your project and how much you want to raise
• 2 contact names, including email addresses
• Basic details of your organisation and what it does, including approximate annual income
• Your organisation's bank details - money from the fund can't be paid into personal accounts

Our 3 current local causes are:

My Shining Star Children's Cancer Charity
Upchurch Village Hall
1st Upchurch Guides

To choose your cause and to become a member, please visit: www.coop.co.uk/membership

Upchurch Matters
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Newington History Group

Members will be telling stories linked to a personal item or photograph at Newington History Group's meeting on Thursday, April 12th, at 7:30pm in the Methodist Hall, Church Lane, Newington ME9 7J. 

If you're not a member but have an interesting story or item that you'd like to share, preferably with a local link, please contact the secretary, Thelma Dudley on: 01795 842711 or Email: thelma@newingtonhistory.co.uk

The group seeks to unearth, preserve and promote the history of the village and neighbouring areas.

Annual subscription is £15 and guests (£3) are welcome.

Follow the History Group on Twitter: @newingtonhg

Richard Thompstone - Newington History Group

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Urgent Road Closure - Holywell Lane, Upchurch

For details of roadworks, please see: www.roadworks.org

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste

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Proposals to Safeguard Subsidised 326 and 327 Bus Services

I have today, Monday March 12th published proposals that will safeguard the subsidised evening and Saturday 326 and 327 bus services from Sittingbourne to Medway Hospital via Newington, Lower Halstow and Upchurch.

KCC’s Transport Committee will discus the proposal on 20th March.

Councillor Mike Whiting
KCC Member serving Swale West
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