Part-time Gardener Vacancy at The BarnYard

The BarnYard, Upchurch is looking for a part-time gardener to look after their stunning grounds.

The ideal candidate would be local, interested in gardening maybe with a horticultural background, OK to work one or two days a week in ‘growing’ season and a few hours a week in 'non-growing’ season - hours as required.

Duties would be to tend to the flower beds, deadheading, weeding, planting and generally overseeing the gardens.

Lawn and hedge maintenance or ‘heavier’ duties are not required at this stage.

If you are interested, please contact Jo or Dave ideally by Email in the first instance at:

office@the-barnyard.com

Thank you

The BarnYard

Oak Lane, Upchurch

Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 7EZ

St Peter’s Church Bredhurst - Churchyard Consultation

Cheryl Tutt

Bredhurst Community Bereavement Forum

Email: bredhurstbereavementforum@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/BredhurstBereavementForum

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 2nd September.

While you all give so generously, we will gratefully keep taking it to the Foodbank warehouse. 

Thank you ♥️

Bless you all - Gill & Ron Gay

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

Upchurch Village Hall - AGM

As previously advertised, the Upchurch Village Hall are holding their belated AGM next Wednesday 9th September.

Unfortunately, because of the risk to public health due to COVID-19 and following Government guidelines to minimise social contact through public gatherings the Trustees have decided to hold this meeting without the public being in attendance.

Trustees have previously requested members of the public to submit any questions or comments that they have in respect of the village hall using the contact page on the village hall website at:

upchurchvillagehall.weebly.com

to be received by next Tuesday 8th September at the latest.

This is a last reminder should you wish to send any questions or comments. These will then be dealt with at the AGM and a response made back direct to the Initiator. Following the meeting, Trustees plan to issue the minutes of the AGM on Upchurch Matters Facebook page which will include details of any questions or issues raised by the general public along with the Trustees responses.

Thank you

The Upchurch Village Hall Management Committee

Medway Council - Free Swimming for Under 16s in Medway

Medway’s under 16s will be able to swim for free from September as part of Medway Council’s phased reopening of its sports centres.

Medway Park, Strood Sports Centres and Hoo Sports Centres have been gradually reopened in line with the government’s easing of lockdown restrictions and to allow customers to exercise safely with new social distancing measures in place.

Children living in Medway who are under 16 and have a Free Swimming Card will be able to swim for free during allocated weekend sessions, starting on Saturday, 12th September.

All customers to the sports centres must book a session in advance by phoning the relevant sports centre, as part of the new measures to limit the number of visitors and enable customers to socially distance. Customers can book 3 days beforehand.

The sessions for under 16s are called ‘Family Swimming’ on the sports centre pool timetable. All children will need to be accompanied by an adult: one adult for every two children under five; one adult for every three children aged between five and eight; and one adult for every five children aged over eight. The price for an adult who is not a sports centre member is £6.10.

Over 60s can also access free swimming throughout the week and this is currently available across Medway Council’s sports centres, for those who have booked a session and have a free-swimming card.

From Monday, 7th September, our sports centres will be offering more gym and swim sessions, as well as fitness classes, as opening hours extend. The new 13-week term of swimming lessons also start for all swimming stages.

Cllr Howard Doe, Deputy Leader of Medway Council and Portfolio Holder for Community Services, said:

“I am pleased we are now able to resume our free swimming sessions for our younger residents as part of the council’s phased reopening of its sports centres. We have offered under 16s free swimming sessions for a number of years to help encourage Medway’s young people to take more exercise and give them another fun activity to do in Medway without any cost involved to them. We are committed to providing Medway’s children and young people with opportunities and have an ambition for Medway to become a Child-Friendly City. I hope Medway’s families continue to enjoy accessing Medway Council’s excellent sports facilities, as well as our award-winning parks and everything else the area has to offer our children and young people.”

Book a session at a Medway Council sports centre - Medway Park: 01634 336655; Strood Sports Centre: 01634 333933; Hoo Sports Centre: 01634 333958.

Become a member of Medway Council’s sports centres at: medway.gov.uk/sport

Medway Council

Surgery Patient Participation Group - Upchurch & Rainham

Dr Supriya Das & Dr Lakshmi Subbiah

The following items were discussed at last weeks PPG meeting:

Flu Vaccinations 2020

Arrangements are being made for the majority to be done at Maidstone Road Surgery this year because of Covid-19.

The first batches are expected to arrive on or around 1st September.

These will be for those people over 65 years old, diabetics asthma and other vulnerable/shielding patients.

Patients will be contacted and an appointment made. It is being planned to do 3 every 15 minutes.

Patients temperature will be taken on arrival.

There will be a separate in and out passageway to conform with social distancing.

Only in exceptional circumstances will vaccinations be carried out at Upchurch Surgery.

Those over 50 years will be done in the second phase depending on the number of vaccines received or directed by appointment to Boots Chemists.

Face Coverings

Face coverings are to be worn at all times when attending the Surgery for appointments with the Nurse/Doctor. This also applies to Healthy Living Centres and Hospitals in the area.

Patient Non Attendance

132 patients failed to keep appointments from January to March 2020.

However, since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, this has been reduced drastically (although no figures are available) because most patients are having either a telephone consultation, a 'FaceTime' or a 'Zoom' consultation meeting with either the Doctor or Nurse.

If you have any questions or suggestions on the local practice, please Email:

Jan Bunting - Secretary: janannbunting@outlook.com or 

Ray Kemsley - Chair: raykemsley@btinternet.com

Ray Kemsley

Chair - Surgery Patient Participation Group - Upchurch & Rainham