Gill Gay Will Be Collecting For Swale Foodbank Again

Hi everyone,

I would like to thank you all for the tremendous support we have received on behalf of Swale Foodbank so far.

My husband Ron and I will be collecting again at the bus stop opposite the Church in Horsham Lane on Wednesday the 7th of July between 10:30am and 11:30am.

Please come along with your donations (in carrier bags would be helpful) and put them into our open car boot while we remain at a safe distance.

We will then deliver your donations to the Swale Foodbank Warehouse, part of the Trussell Trust.

The food items they are most in need of are:

Long-life Milk

Squash

Tinned Fish especially Tuna

All toiletries are also needed at the moment:

Shower Gels

Shampoos (any including hotel/mini bottles) and Conditioner

Deodorants

Shaving Gel

Razors

Laundry Detergent

Washing Up Liquid

Toilet Rolls

Thank you for every single donation we receive - we are extremely grateful!

Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator

Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

An Invitation to Upchurch Afternoon Tea

Saturday 21st August from 3:00pm to 5:00pm

Covid-19 all but closed the Village Hall for use since April 2020. On the 17th of May this year all of us began Step 3 of the Roadmap and by July 19th we all hope to begin leading normal lives. In consequence, the Village Hall is re-opening up to its regular users and other hirers as the Roadmap allows.

As part of the current re-opening of the Village Hall, we would like to take the opportunity to say “thank you” to the residents and organisations of Upchurch for supporting us prior to and during the closure.

On the afternoon of Saturday, August 21st we are inviting you to accept our free afternoon tea, made by members of the Upchurch WI, from 3-5pm when you will be able to sit and talk to friends whilst drinking a cup of tea, coffee or soft drink with a slice of homemade cake.

Your conversations will not be interrupted by speeches or a “programme”. This invitation, open to residents of all ages, will give you a chance to engage with village organisations taking up our offer of free stands. A chance to discover what plans they have going forward, to be talked into becoming a member, to be offered something to purchase etc. etc. In fact a chance for us all to reconnect with each other again in the life of this village.

If any village voluntary organisation would like to set up a stand free of charge then they will be welcome. There will be an opportunity for a limited number of trade stands for local businesses. 

All stands will need to be booked in advance so please show your early interest by contacting Gerry Lewin 01634 366113 / 07946 996789.

We look forward to the pleasure of your company

Thank you from the Village Hall

David G Steward - Chairman UVH

Please Help Improve NHS Eye Care Services for Future Patients

NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group would like to hear from people living in Dartford, Gravesham, Swanley, Medway, Sittingbourne and Isle of Sheppey about their experience of using ophthalmology (eye care) services in the past year.

Have you been treated for an eye condition in the past year? Then, you could help improve eye care services for patients in north Kent in the future.

We want you to help us understand the patient experience and to find out what works well and where services could improve. The feedback we receive will be taken into account when we start the process later this year of securing a long-term provider for these services.

Tell us what was good and what was not

At the moment, ophthalmology care is provided by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. The trust also provides an interim service for patients from the Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley area, who were previously treated by Moorfields Eye Hospital. Moorfields left Darent Valley Hospital last year and interim arrangements were put in place with Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, as an existing provider, to take on additional patients. The CCG now intends to bring these services together as one for the north Kent area.

How you can help

Patients who received treatment in the past year for an eye condition, such as cataracts or macular degeneration, are invited to give their feedback on their last appointment.

A survey is available online at: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/eyecare until 6th August 2021.

If you would prefer a hard copy of the survey to be sent to you or would like to complete the survey by telephone, please call Ade Philips on: 07767 004213 or Email: kmccg.engage@nhs.net

If you are completing a paper copy, please send it to our Freepost address:

FAO: BWS
Freepost: RUAY-JLRZ-RRSE
NHS Medway Clinical Commissioning Group
Unit A - Compass Centre
North Pembroke Road
Chatham
Kent

ME4 4YG

Many thanks

Ray Kemsley

On behalf of NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group

NHS Kent and Medway CCG - Community Bulletin

An incredible two million Covid-19 jabs 

It’s official, we have topped the two million Covid-19 vaccinations’ milestone in Kent and Medway and we couldn't have done it without you.

Thanking NHS staff and volunteers delivering the programme in the county and the people who have had their vaccine, NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group Clinical Chair Dr Navin Kumta said:

“A really big thank you to everyone who has played a part, however small, in making this happen. Every jab brings us closer to beating Covid-19 and putting this pandemic well and truly in the past.”

Read more and find out how to join in saying thank you on our website

Newsletter for parents of children with special educational needs or disabilities

Have you seen the latest SEND newsletter yet? In this issue, a light is shone on creativity and how it helps make life that bit more enjoyable. Plus, there's a great ‘design a logo’ competition for young people to take part in.

It also has updates from Kent County Council, the NHS, Kent Parents and Carers Together (PACT) and Information, Advice and Support Kent (IASK), as well as other council services and includes information on the Kent Test, library exemption cards and free school meals.

Read the newsletter here

Help find the missing men

Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance is supporting Prostate Cancer UK in its drive to raise awareness of the condition and encourage men, who are at highest risk, to contact their GP.

Chris Wheal, 77, from Maidstone, has been successfully treated for prostate cancer and added his voice to the call for men not to be shy. He said:

“Prostate cancer is very treatable if caught early; not delaying, getting checked if you’re high risk and, if needs be, getting treated is a total no brainer.”

Men can find out more about their risk by using the Prostate Cancer UK online risk checker

Read the full story on our website

Opportunities to get involved

Volunteer now to support Covid-19 vaccination programme

NHS Volunteer Responders are calling for people to step forward and volunteer to help deliver the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

During the summer, more vaccination services will be set up to enable the NHS to vaccinate as many people as possible. We are recruiting for vaccination steward volunteers to help with this important task.

Stewards will be a vital part of the team working in vaccination services. They will guide people on site, to make sure the vaccination process runs as safely and efficiently as possible. They will help make sure there is social distancing and identify people who need additional support.

If you would like to volunteer or would like to find out more information, visit nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk

Read the full bulletin at >> https://bit.ly/3hesa82

NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group

Medway Estuary Haiflu

Watch the video

The video might not be visible in our Email version of this post.

If not, you can watch it here: YouTube.com

Medway Libraries' favourite collaborative poetry project is back.

Their latest Haiflu poem was compiled for the recent Estuary Festival and is available to view on their YouTube Channel.

The Haiflu is a visual 3-line haiku poem written during the Covid-19 pandemic, set against a photograph taken in the same week at some of the most beautiful locations around Medway.

Upchurch Matters

Let's Talk Kent

Kent County Council has launched "Let's Talk Kent", a new website that gives opportunities to residents to get involved and help shape the future of Kent.

"Let's Talk Kent" is your opportunity to have your say on the projects and proposals you care about.

Register with the website to be amongst the first to find out about new opportunities to have your say on how KCC shapes council services.

Registering is simple, and you can set your preferences to only find out about the topics that matter to you. From Adult Social Care to Transport and Roads, there are many topics to choose from, or you are welcome to select them all.

To get involved, register at: letstalk.kent.gov.uk

Upchurch Matters