Applications Are Now Open for the Co-op Membership Local Community Fund - Apply To Be A Local Cause

Co-op Membership - supporting local causes

Applications for the next round of funding beginning 27th October 2019 are now open. Local causes have until Sunday 16th June 2019 to complete their applications.

The Co-op Local Community Fund supports projects that make a difference to local communities close to their stores and funeral homes. Thanks to their members, together we've helped raise an amazing £19 million for local causes across the UK since November 2017. The Co-op website estimates there will be around £12,500.00 to share between the 3 causes chosen in our community.

The Co-op will let you know if you're successful by October 2019. If you are you’ll be part of the Local Community Fund for 12 months - from 27th October 2019 to 24th October 2020. You'll receive your share of the funding in 2 payments - one in April 2020 and one in November 2020. New causes are chosen every 12 months.

Apply to be a local cause now at: www.coop.co.uk/causes

Our current 3 local causes are:

Upchurch Scout Group
Demelza Hospice Care for Children
Upchurch Village Hall Management Committee

How the fund works

The Co-op gives 1% of what members spend on Co-op branded food products in their stores and selected services, as well as money raised from sales of carrier bags and Co-op scratch cards, to local projects - from improving community spaces or helping young people learn life skills, to simply connecting people.

You can choose which cause your own 1% goes to. Any money raised by members who don’t select a cause is shared equally between the causes in their local area. Members can sign in to see the causes their local Co-op is supporting and choose which one they want their own money to go to.

Member benefits - 5% for you

When you buy selected products and services from the Co-op, including their food stores, they will put 5% of what you spend into your Co-op Membership account. You can spend it on most things you buy from them - not just Co-op products. Spend the money you've earned in rewards by showing your card or giving your membership number when you pay.

Choose a cause or become a member at: www.coop.co.uk/membership

Upchurch Matters
Space

Bird Wise Coastal Canines Club and Code

Coastal Canines is an initiative of Bird Wise to encourage people to adopt responsible behaviours when visiting the coast, in an effort to reduce disturbance to the birds that depend on the coastal habitats throughout the year.

It is hoped that by promoting good behaviour and having ambassadors to champion responsible dog walking and ownership, the bad behaviours will reduce and bird populations will thrive. It will be FREE to join and members will sign up to a code of conduct when they register online.

We hope to get dog trainers and businesses on board to form a directory of those businesses that understand our ethos and agree to adhere to the codes of behaviour.

Follow us on social media for updates:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/Birdwisenk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Birdwisenk

Instagram: www.instagram.com/birdwisenk

#BirdWise

Hayley Taylor | Bird Wise Project Manager | Medway Council
Website: www.birdwise.org.uk

Space

Location, Location, Location is coming to Upchurch!

Channel 4’s prime time property programme Location, Location, Location is back for its 23rd series and this time Kirstie & Phil are looking for property hunters from Upchurch, Rochester & Gillingham.

Yes, that’s right! Property experts Kirstie Allsopp & Phil Spencer will be helping chain free buyers find their dream home this June 2019 in Upchurch, Rochester & Gillingham!

Kirstie says, “We’re delighted to be back helping Britain’s house hunters for our 23rd series.”

Phil: “We’re always on the lookout for a wide range of budgets and we’re happy to advise on any spend. For us there’s as much satisfaction gained from helping people struggling to get their first foot on the ladder as there is for those looking for their forever home.”

In these uncertain times, this is a great opportunity to get some completely free expert advice to help navigate the market.

Perhaps you’re upsizing or downsizing, buying your first property or hoping to find your ideal forever home? Do you have to move or relocate for work? Does the property market make you nervous?

Whatever your property puzzle, Kirstie and Phil may be able to help.

Apply today and you could have a dedicated team and the two best known property experts in the country at your service.

Please fill out the online application form at the link here:

www.shortaudition.com/Location-Location-Location

Please fill in the application form in as much detail as possible. We’d love to receive photos and a video telling us why you need Kirstie & Phil’s help. If you can’t attach a video or photos, don’t worry! You can apply without them.

Applications close on Thursday 23rd May 2019.

Find us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/officiallocationlocationlocation

Or follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/C4Locations

Our Instagram handle is c4locationsofficial: www.instagram.com/c4locationsofficial

Thank you

Eleanor Plackett | Casting Producer (Location, Location, Location)

Space

Let’s all go down The Strand

Residents are invited to celebrate the history of The Strand Leisure Park in Gillingham with a day of traditional entertainment on Saturday, 25th May.

The Strand is at the heart of a community heritage project which has uncovered the interesting past of the much-loved leisure park. The Strand was originally developed as a riverside pleasure ground between 1921 and 1926, with additional facilities for ‘holidays at home’ during World War 2.

In 2017 Medway Council, in partnership with MidKent College, successfully secured a £49,500 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Talking Telescopes project.

The funding was used to launch the project, which is part of a Young Roots project, in partnership with MidKent College students which aims to preserve, interpret and enhance the heritage and look of The Strand using interpretation boards and three talking telescopes.

The telescopes ‘talk’ to visitors as they look through the lens, playing pre-recorded soundbites from people who experienced The Strand in its heyday. Listen to residents describe the ‘magical place’ they visited with their families.

One said: “The boating pool was absolutely fantastic, as we’d never been on a boat in lives before, so we’d just peddle away to our heart’s content. My fondest memory though was of the main pool, where I learnt to swim.”

The establishment of a Friends of the Strand group is also being supported as part of the project.

A family fun day will be held at The Strand on Saturday, 25th May, from 10:00am to 4:00pm, to celebrate the completion of the project. Visitors will be able to try out the talking telescopes and enjoy a day of traditional entertainment including hook-a-duck, a coconut shy and other old-fashioned stalls. Medway Plus is helping organise the event.

Families will also have the chance to have their picture taken in a Volkswagen camper van photo booth.

Medway is steeped in history

Cllr Howard Doe, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Services, said: “Medway is steeped in history and I’m pleased that local residents are now able to learn more about the heyday of the Strand in a fun and engaging way. I would encourage residents to go along and discover more about the history on their doorstep.”

Proud of Medway's rich heritage

Ross Buttery, Deputy Head of department for Media and IT at MidKent College, said: “We’re incredibly proud of Medway’s rich heritage, and delighted that our Media students can support this project to shine a light on The Strand’s importance as a community facility through the ages. It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect people to Medway’s history.”

The Strand pool also opens on weekends from Saturday, 25th May, to Sunday, 21st July, and opens daily from 22nd July to 2nd September.

For more information about the project visit: www.medway.gov.uk/talkingtelescopes

Medway Council

Space

What Would You Like to See in the New Co-op, Upchurch? - Please Complete Their Short Survey

The Co-op is currently working on plans for their new Upchurch Store.

We would really appreciate it if customers could complete the short survey at >> www.yourstoreyoursay.com to let us know what they would like to see added into the Upchurch Store when it reopens, I.e. loose vegetables for sale etc etc.

The Upchurch store number you need for this is: 7889

Thank you

David Davies
Manager - Co-op, Upchurch
Space

Road Closure - Station Road, Rainham

Station Road, Rainham will be closed from a point outside 6 Angel Cottages to a point 35m north of Ellison Way for drainage and sewer connection works, installation of new gas main and LV cables and installation of drop kerb for new housing estate, starting on or after Friday 24th May 2019 until Sunday 2nd June.

Temporary traffic lights may be in place on Thursday 23rd May before the road is scheduled to close on Friday 24th May.

The diversion route for through traffic is via Lower Rainham Road, Otterham Quay Lane, A2 - High Street and Station Road.

Access to properties is to be maintained at all times.

The Medway Council phone number is: 01634 333333

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

Upchurch Matters
Space