Medway Council Encourages ‘Hidden’ Carers to Come Forward this Carers Week

Medway Council is encouraging residents who are looking after loved ones to find out more about the support that is available to them.

This week, 8th - 14th June, is Carers Week and the council and its partners are working together to ensure hidden carers know that they are not alone and that help and support is available.

A hidden carer is anyone of any age who is helping to look after a friend or relative without being paid. They can be from a wide range of social and economic backgrounds and could be a child, an older person or suffer from a long-term illness themselves. They may not recognise themselves as a carer but rather as a parent, husband or wife, son or daughter or a friend or neighbour who is supporting a loved one.

As part of their contract with Medway Council The Better Together Consortium, a collaboration of organisations from Medway’s voluntary community sector, work together to ensure carers of all ages, from all parts of the community, are identified and offered support. Once carers are identified they are referred to the council’s carers service, Carers FIRST who work directly with unpaid carers to provide personalised information, advice and support including signposting residents to community support networks and group activities.

Cllr David Brake, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder covering Adult Services, said:

“The health and wellbeing of all of our residents is of the upmost importance to us. I would encourage anyone who helps look after a friend or relative to get in touch and see what support might be available to them. It is incredibly important that they know they are not alone and we will continue to work with our partner agencies to do all we can to help carers across Medway.”

Maggie Cane, manager of Healthwatch Medway, said:

“Looking after someone can be tough on a normal day, but during lockdown it becomes much harder. We know lots of people may be struggling and we really want to chat to as many of you as possible to ensure you know what support is available to you. It’s also important that we understand how you are coping so we can make sure the emergency planners hear what you need.”

Alison Taylor, Chief Executive of Carers FIRST, said:

“The lockdown has created many additional challenges for carers. It has cut many off from their normal support systems, taken away the opportunity for respite and increased isolation and anxiety. Carers FIRST is pleased to be part of The Better Together Consortium and hope that the initiative will help us to reach those carers who may be struggling to access the support they need at this time.”

Penny from Gillingham looks after her mother who has dementia. She said:

“It’s been useful to find out what support is available to me, so I know where to call if I need help. I would encourage people to get in touch and find out what is there for you.”

Carers FIRST Medway has been supporting a 14-year-old boy who cares for his dad who has terminal brain cancer. At the moment his father is living with his own parents but the Covid-19 lockdown has made it difficult for him to visit his dad. Carers FIRST organises lunch clubs, after school support groups and summer holiday activities for young carers. During lockdown the group has been holding weekly video calls which he really looks forward to.

He said:

“Young carers have been absolutely amazing for me, it is a safe place to talk about how you feel and will support you in any way possible. It is filled with such kind, friendly and caring people who love to make new friends. It’s a place to feel normal again and understand you're not the only one. They will comfort you and support you to ensure you feel good not only within yourself, but in all aspects of life.

Lockdown means that young carers can’t physically meet up and enjoy the company of each other. I can’t wait for lockdown to release or become less strict so that travel is less stressful and hopefully everyone can meet afterwards. A massive thank you to everyone for being so helpful, supportive and kind to me.”

If you’re a carer phone 03003 031555 or visit www.healthwatchmedway.com and a member of the team will get in touch.

Medway Council

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Swale Borough Council Cabinet Agrees to Consultation of Housing Allocation Policy Review

People can have their say on how Swale Borough Council decides who can get social housing.

The council’s housing allocation policy is being reviewed and councillors gave the green light for a public consultation at last week’s virtual cabinet meeting

The policy aims to provide a fair and transparent system that prioritises social housing by making efficient use of the homes available, promoting choice to applicants and developing sustainable mixed communities.

The policy was first agreed in 2013, and the review proposes changes to provide better access to affordable housing for those who need it most.

Proposed changes include tapering income considerations to provide a more realistic approach for single people and larger families that are at opposite ends of the spectrum is up for consideration.

Another suggested change is moving homeless households from band C to B to make it easier for them to be moved from temporary housing into permanent accommodation.

There is also a proposal to reduce the amount of time a resident is expected to have lived in the area from four to two years.

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

“Local, affordable housing is a priority for us.

We know how important it is for local people to have access to affordable housing for their families.

The demand for housing has never been higher, and the housing allocation policy makes sure that we use the accommodation we have available efficiently, to provide homes to those who need them most.

Providing a tapered income approach, a reduction in residential years required before application, and an increase in banding for those who are homeless, will help people qualify for social housing.

We hope the proposed changes will improve the fairness and transparency of the policy while seeking to ensure those in the greatest need are prioritised.

It’s important to us to work with the community and give members of the public the opportunity to have their say on matters that affect them, so the reviewed policy will now go to a public consultation next month.”

The consultation is set to launch next month.

Swale Borough Council

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Thank You from Foodbank Co-ordinator Gill Gay and Swale Foodbank

Hi Everyone,

Thank you to all who gave so generously to Swale Foodbank on Wednesday 10th June.

We filled their table at the warehouse - with more hidden behind this young man who kindly helped us unload.

There was also £40 cash donated.

Thank you ♥️

You are great!

Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator
Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

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Latest POLICE.UK Crime Data for the Area - April 2020

Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch

Here is a brief summary of crime information for the past 2 months:

51 crimes are shown on the map in April 2020 including:

15 Anti-social Behaviour

1 Bicycle Theft

1 Burglary

4 Criminal Damage and Arson

3 Other Theft

2 Public Order

3 Vehicle Crime

20 Violence and Sexual Offences

2 Other Crime

50 crimes were shown on the map in March 2020.

Not all crime that occurs is shown on the map.

Please visit: www.police.uk for more information including outcomes for these crimes and contact information for your local policing team.

Lower Halstow and Iwade

Here is a brief summary of crime information for the past 2 months:

56 crimes are shown on the map in April 2020 including:

14 Anti-social Behaviour

1 Burglary

4 Criminal Damage and Arson

1 Drugs

1 Other Theft

1 Possession of Weapons

2 Public Order

17 Vehicle Crime

13 Violence and Sexual Offences

2 Other Crime

33 crimes were shown on the map in March 2020.

Not all crime that occurs is shown on the map.

Please visit: www.police.uk for more information including outcomes for these crimes and contact information for your local policing team.

Upchurch Matters

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Temporary Road Closure - Old House Lane, Hartlip

Kent County Council has made an order to temporarily prohibit through traffic on Old House Lane, Hartlip from Monday 6th July 2020 for up to 1 day between the hours of 09:00 and 17:00.

The road will be closed from the junction with Grainey Fields to outside Old House Farm, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route for any through traffic is via Old House Lane, Lower Hartlip Road, Cowstead Road, Bull Lane and vice versa.

Access for emergency service vehicles and pedestrians will be maintained at all times during the closure.

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while tree surgery works to hang over head fibre are undertaken by BT.

For information regarding the closure please contact BT on: 0800 800150, who will be able to assist with the scope of the works.

The KCC Highways 24hr Contact Centre helpline is: 03000 418181

For details of roadworks see: https://one.network

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste
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The Dance of Distancing - A Parody

Revd Pat Tatchell.

As a Member of the Royal British Legion, I receive regular weekly reports of RBL activity from the local Sittingbourne and Milton branch included in which is a prayer from the branch Chaplain, the Revd Pat Tatchell.

In the last report, the Chaplain offered her prayer by writing the parody below.

Gerry Lewin

“As a change this week I offer a parody of Wordsworth’s Daffodils.

My prayer being that as we look back on this time we can be thankful that social distancing will have kept us safe.”

The Dance of Distancing 

(With apologies to William Wordsworth)

I wander'd lonely as a cloud
that floats on high o'er empty streets,
when all at once I saw a crowd
of people queuing for their meats,

beside the store, beneath the trees
dodging and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
and twinkle on the stony shore,
they stretch'd in never-ending line
along the margin of the store:
so many saw I at a glance
keeping their gaps in sprightly dance.

They moved aside and gave some space

as starlings in a murmuration.

No one competing in a race

but moving round in odd rotation

I gazed - and gazed - but little thought
what wealth the show to me had brought.

For oft, when on my couch I lie
in vacant or in pensive mood,
they flash upon that inward eye
which is the bliss of solitude;
and then my mind with memory fills
that dances kept them safe from ills.

Pat Tatchell

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