Free Webinar on Arranging a Funeral in Lockdown

Susan Flipping.

Restricted numbers, shorter ceremonies, no touching, no reception afterwards. Everyone who goes through the agony of arranging a funeral during lockdown knows about the limitations.

But it is still possible to arrange a meaningful funeral, even with social distancing, and Susan Flipping, a funeral celebrant from Upchurch, is running a free online Q and A session to explain how.

‘Families who come to me are already aware of the restrictions and are heartbroken at the thought of not being able to give their loved one the send-off they want.

‘But the ceremony can still be as rich and fulfilling as the life it celebrates.

‘The online session will give free, unbiased information about how funeral directors and celebrants around the country are finding creative solutions that mean funerals can be remembered for the comfort they bring rather than the restrictions imposed.’

The first webinar will be held on Wednesday May 6th at 6:00pm. Because of the nature of the topic, the link will only be sent to a validated email address. Requests to join should be emailed to susan.flipping@kentcelebrancy.com or you can sign up on Facebook at Susan Flipping - Kent Celebrancy

Susan Flipping MICF DipHyp

Institute of Civil Funerals Council of Management
Telephone 07506 239970

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New NHS Urgent Dental Treatment Centres

All routine dental services have stopped as part of social distancing measures.

For people with urgent dental needs, NHS England and NHS Improvement have set up 7 urgent dental centres across Kent and Medway. They are part of a wider network of 38 centres across the South East.

There are centres in Larkfield, Rochester, Ramsgate, Canterbury, Chatham, Ashford and Maidstone.

If you think you have an urgent dental need, please call your regular dentist or any NHS dentist who will go through an initial triage process over the phone and refer you if appropriate.

Search for dentists at: www.nhs.uk

The hubs will provide appropriate separation of people with or without Covid-19 symptoms so can be used by anyone with an urgent dental need.

NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group

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KCC - Launch of New Mental Wellbeing Support Info Hub

Health partners and providers, local authorities and emergency services across Kent and Medway are working together to provide information on local support services to help people’s mental wellbeing during the ongoing Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic crisis.

Information is available at www.kent.gov.uk/wellbeing for people experiencing bereavement and loss, debt and financial difficulties, pregnant women and new mums needing extra support, families looking for help with young children or teenagers.

There is support for those who might already have pre-existing mental health conditions, are victims of domestic abuse or are people in the shielded community.

The site also offers help for people with learning disabilities, people who don’t use English as a first language, carers and NHS staff, care staff and other key workers.

Kent County Council Director of Public Health, Andrew Scott-Clark said:

“The challenging reality of lockdown is creating uncertainty and anxiety for many. The constant news can feel overwhelming and you may be adjusting to a different way of life, with children off school, many people not working or working from home, as well as not seeing family, friends and colleagues.

This anxiety is natural, and we are all feeling it. Fortunately, there are things that we can do to protect our mental health and to support the wellbeing of our friends and family. At www.kent.gov.uk/wellbeing you can find information, advice and signposting to other great sites which can help, whatever your situation and need. This is #kenttogether.”

Thanks to all of those supplying content to www.kent.gov.uk/wellbeing including:

Kent County Council

Medway Council

Public Health England

NHS England

Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group

Kent Community NHS Foundation Trust

Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust

Live Well Kent

Healthwatch Kent

Kent Community Foundation

Headstart Kent

Carers UK

Kent’s Integrated Domestic Abuse Support Services

KCC Children’s Centres

Citizen’s Advice

Age Concern.

As part of the Release the Pressure campaign, a new text service is now available - by texting the word “Kent” or “Medway” to 85258, you will start a conversation with one of the many trained and experienced volunteers who can give support at any time, wherever you are. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help. Texts are free on all major mobile networks and the service is provided by SHOUT and the Crisis Text Line.

The service will run in addition to the current 24/7 freephone helpline and is funded by the Kent and Medway Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) which is a collaboration between Kent County Council, Medway Council, Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust and all the NHS organisations across Kent and Medway.

Vulnerable people in Kent who need urgent help, supplies or medication are also reminded of the helpline - called Kent Together - which provides a single, convenient point of contact for anyone in the county who is in urgent need of help during the Coronavirus outbreak. It is a collaboration between KCC, central Government, District, Borough and local councils, the voluntary and community sector, the NHS and other partners to ensure help is at hand for vulnerable people.

If you are vulnerable and have an urgent need that cannot be met through existing support networks, you can contact the Kent Together helpline at www.kent.gov.uk/kenttogether or by calling on 03000 41 92 92. It is a 24-hour service.

Upchurch Matters

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UPDATE from SGN - Gas Network Upgrade in A2/High Street, Newington - Thursday 30th April

While working onsite in Keycol Hill, our contractor has encountered some engineering difficulties. In close consultation with Kent County Council we need to extend our work at this location until Tuesday 5th May.

Upon completion of our engineering work we’ll begin our process of reinstatement. For everyone’s safety, the A2/Keycol Hill westbound lane will remain reduced and restricted to access only for smaller vehicles and deliveries. All other motorists will need to follow the signed diversion route in place.

We’re continuing to plan further phases of our work in consultation with Kent County Council. For our next phase we’ll be working in between No.102 High Street and Boyces Hill. We’ll provide details of our plans once confirmed.

I apologise for any inconvenience these changes may cause and we will be doing everything we can to minimise disruption and complete our replacement as safely and quickly as possible.

If you have any further queries please let me know.

Kind regards

Paige Roberts

Stakeholder and Community Manager

SGN Gas

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Planning Permission Granted for up to 202 New Homes at Lower Rainham Road, Rainham

Click plan to enlarge.

Members of Medway Council’s Planning Committee have this evening granted outline planning permission by 5 to 2 for up to 202 new homes in Rainham North Ward, on land known locally as Woolley's Orchard - the former Boot Fair field on the Lower Rainham Road, Rainham - subject to section 106 agreement and conditions.

In June 2018, landowners Peel Investments North Limited submitted outline planning application: MC/18/1796 (all matters reserved except access) for the development of up to 202 residential dwellings (Use Class C3), open space, landscaping (including Sustainable Urban Drainage), access, up to 455 car parking spaces and associated works. Land South of Lower Rainham Road, Rainham, Gillingham Medway ME8 7UD.

The report to Planning Committee can be viewed at: https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=52462

The planning application can be viewed at: https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=PA9OKKKNGPI00

Upchurch Matters

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Swale Borough Council - Additional Funding to Handle Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Cllr Roger Truelove.

The Leader of Swale Borough Council has today welcomed the announcement of improved funding from Government to meet the Council’s extra costs in dealing with the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.

Cllr Roger Truelove said:

“The first time round we got only £75K support and this was instantly swallowed up in meeting the costs of increased homelessness and in funding the Community Support Hub in the way the Government demanded.

This time there is a much better settlement for district councils, and we are due to receive £1.5 million, the third highest for a district council in Kent.

I am pleased that the Government has listened to district council leaders across the country and recognised the serious challenges to our level of local government.

But we mustn’t delude ourselves, this will only reduce the extent to which we have to raid our reserves.

So far, and we do not know how long this will last, we are set to be £4 million down on our adopted budget for this year. We are losing very significant areas of income and incurring unexpected increases in expenditure.

“The voluntary groups that are doing such a fine job in supporting the community support hub are running short of funds and that is why we are asking generous local people to back our crowd funding project.”

Swale Borough Council

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