Macmillan World's Biggest Coffee Morning at Holywell School

Everybody welcome

Challenger Class (Year 6) and PFHS invite you to their 'Macmillan World's Biggest Coffee Morning' in Holywell School hall on Friday 27th September at 9:00am.

The school welcomes your cake donations, and if you can’t make it on the morning but would still like to donate, please drop your cakes (nut free please) to the school office on Thursday 26th.

The Coffee Morning is open to everyone, not just parents.

Please come along and support this very worthy cause.

Thank you

Why Macmillan do it

The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is Macmillan’s biggest fundraising event. People all over the UK host their own Coffee Mornings and donations on the day are made to Macmillan.

Please join in on 27th September to help Macmillan raise vital dough-nations so they can be right there for more people living with cancer.

Having a Coffee Morning is the perfect chance to catch up over a cuppa and a slice of something delicious for a great cause.

The money raised will help everyone with cancer to live life as fully as they can.

In 2018 you raised an incredible £26,914,382 and Macmillan is aiming to top that this year!

Find out more about Macmillan Cancer Support at: www.macmillan.org.uk

Upchurch Matters

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Swale Borough Council - More Support for Rough Sleepers

Swale council has secured space to get up to 12 additional people sleeping rough off the streets and help them find suitable long-term accommodation.

Merlin House, Sittingbourne, will be used as supported accommodation for people sleeping rough, where they can then be helped by the council and homeless charity Porchlight.

Once off the streets, people will be assessed and referred to specialist support to help them find more suitable permanent accommodation.

The move is the latest part of the council’s new proactive approach to helping get homeless people off the streets and into suitable accommodation.

A new rough sleeping coordinator is working alongside Porchlight to help people sleeping rough into suitable housing.

Plans are also being put together with local voluntary groups to provide a night shelter in winter to make sure anyone sleeping rough will have a safe warm place to stay on the coldest nights.

So far, five rough sleepers have been housed in Merlin House, in addition to 10 being placed in temporary accommodation and two moved to long term permanent accommodation since July.

Cllr Ben Martin, cabinet member for housing at the council, said:

"We are determined to do all we can to get people off the streets and into appropriate accommodation.

We heard these units were going to be available, and the chance to use them to help get people somewhere warm and safe, was too good to miss.

These aren’t permanent solutions for the people who use them, but they give them somewhere to stay whilst we work with other agencies to get them the support they need to sustain permanent accommodation.”

Cllr Ghlin Whelan, deputy cabinet member for housing, said:

“Our additional investment in the service means we have been able to increase the amount of outreach work we do.

This gives us a much better chance of helping the most difficult cases get the support they need to find - and maintain - permanent and safe accommodation.

We know there’s still a lot of work we need to do, but this is another step we’re taking to tackle the issues of homelessness in Swale.”

Anyone sleeping rough in Swale should contact the council on: 01795 417485.

If you’ve seen someone rough sleeping and you think they’re in immediate danger or in need of urgent medical help, call: 999.

If you’ve seen someone rough sleeping and you’d like to tell someone you can contact Porchlight on: 0800 567 7699 or via their website: www.porchlight.org.uk/tell-us

For more information and advice about rough sleeping and homelessness, visit: www.swale.gov.uk/homelessness-prevention

Swale Borough Council 

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Newington History Group - Heritage Open Days

This weekend brings a unique opportunity to meet archaeologists responsible for excavating a Roman small town at Newington.

They will be at ‘Newington Uncovered’, a Heritage Open Days event organised by Newington History Group, that brings to life 2000 years of village history.

This year’s event includes the first public exhibition of the recently excavated Roman settlement in the heart of the village. Archaeologists who worked on the site will bring artefacts and talk about the significance of the excavation.

‘Newington Uncovered’ is also an opportunity to discover the secrets of Newington’s medieval church and find out about the village’s history through displays, activities and talking with volunteer researchers.

Entrance is FREE and there are activities for adults and children. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the WWI Peace celebrations of 1919, you can even use ‘People Power’ to send a message into the future!

‘Newington Uncovered’ is at St. Mary’s Church, Church Lane, Newington on Saturday, September 14th and Sunday, September 15th, 2:00pm - 5:00pm both days.

For further information, Email: newingtonhistorygroup@outlook.com or message Newington History Group via their Facebook or Twitter pages.

Sue Flipping - Newington History Group

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Swale Borough Council - Area Committee Consultation

Swale council wants to know if people would support area committees in different parts of the borough.

The council is currently looking at ways to spread power among councillors and improve public engagement in decision-making.

As part of a constitutional review, the council is the currently looking into whether it should set up three or more area committees across Swale.

Area committees can give residents an opportunity to see and take part in the council’s decision-making.

The council want to know what residents think about this idea and, if they were set up, what form they should take and what powers they should have.

Cllr Mike Baldock, deputy leader of the council who is leading on the constitutional review, said:

“We want people to be more involved in the decisions we make that affect their lives.

Area committees could be a good way to do this, but we want to ask if it’s something people would support, and what they would like them to do.

Is three the right number, or would more be better? What decisions could they take? How could non-councillors get involved?

We genuinely want to know what people think so it can help shape what we do going forward to help reconnect people with their council.”

Area committees can take many forms and can be made up of different people such as borough councillors, members of the public and representatives from other public bodies such as parish and town councils.

Their role could be to:
• make strategic action plans for the relevant areas

• advise and respond to consultations on behalf of the local community

• make decisions that allocate resources to projects

To take part in the survey, visit: www.swale.gov.uk/area-committees-consultation or pick up a paper copy from Swale House reception or Sheerness Gateway and respond by Friday, 1st November.

Swale Borough Council

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Activities Planned Across Kent for National Libraries Week

Libraries across the county will be focusing on their role in the digital world as they participate in this year’s National Libraries Week from Monday to Saturday, 7th to 12th October.

They will showcase how they help build digital skills and confidence, encourage digital inclusion and engage communities through technology under the national slogan Get creative, get connected and learn new skills.

KCC’s Libraries, Registration and Archives service wants to use this week to inspire and encourage people to explore their digital resources and other library services, and to share their positive experiences. Residents are encouraged to join the library, use e-books, e-audio books, e-newspapers, e-magazines and online resources.

Mike Hill, KCC’s Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services, said:

“Our library staff have been working hard to produce a wide-ranging programme of activities during Libraries Week which we hope will appeal to residents of all ages.”

Libraries will be marking the week as follows:

• Having displays of library stock focusing on computing, coding and the digital world.

• Branding existing activities such as code clubs, rhyme times, talk times, reading groups, Summer Reading Challenge medal presentations and school visits.

• Short videos about different digital resources to be posted on social media.

• Offering a list of suggestions from which staff can choose according to local priorities:

• Library bingo - customers are invited to read different books and digital resources, with prizes for some lucky participants.

• Library quizzes and word searches.

• Encouraging customers to add book reviews to our online catalogue.

• Staff book recommendation displays.

• Library selfies - inviting customers, staff and volunteers to post a selfie using our new selfie frame or blending themselves into the covers of books as Bookface images.

• The return of soft toys in the library - follow their adventures on social media.

Activities will vary across the county, and to find out those planned for specific areas, the public is advised to contact their local library.

For the latest news and updates, visit: www.kent.gov.uk/libs or www.librariesweek.org.uk

Murray Evans

Kent County Council

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Kent Fire and Rescue Service - FREE Safe and Well Home Visits

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

This is a message from Neighbourhood Watch on behalf of Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

What happens during a Safe and Well home visit?

A home safety officer will visit you at home at a time that’s convenient to you - they’ll have an ID card which states they work for KFRS. They’ll carry out simple checks around your home, such as testing smoke alarms and making sure they’re in the best place - they can install new ones if needed; all for free. If you have hearing or eyesight challenges there are special smoke alarms that flash and vibrate that can be provided too.

The officers can also identify any potential fire risks such as overloaded sockets, look at the position of candles, as well as anything that could increase the chance of slips, trips and falls - providing advice about how to enhance safety in your home.

You’ll also have a chat about escape routes, and they’ll go through what the best options are for you in your home in the event of a fire.

The home safety officer is there to help make sure you’re safe, provide advice, and answer any questions you may have. The visit will take around 45 minutes, and by the end you’ll have peace of mind that your home has been given a thumbs up for fire safety.

Who can have a FREE Safe and Well home visit?

The visits are tailored to keep people living safely and independently at home across Kent and Medway, and are available to:

• People over 70-years-old

• People with a long term health condition

• People living with Dementia

• Families with young children

• Expectant parents

• Smokers

How to book

Call Kent Fire and Rescue Service’s home safety team on: 0800 923 7000 and book your visit today, or book on behalf of someone you know who could benefit from a home safety visit.

Kent Community Messaging

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