The Rainbow Café at St Mary's Church, Upchurch

The Rainbow Café - Thursday 3rd March

10:00am - 12:00pm

Hi everyone,

We just want to say thank you for your support over the past few years. It has meant we have been able to get to know you and use our income to give support to some young people in Uganda; paying their school fees and making sure they had uniforms, shoes and stationary. 

Please read a recent letter from Lesley Ambrose who runs the project in Uganda:

Dear Gill,

I just wanted to give you an update on your sponsored children. We've spent the last 2 to 3 weeks going around all the schools paying the fees. The younger children have been out of school for some time and so had many needs including uniforms, books, shoes and bags. There was some good credit so we have done as much as we can for the children.

Raymond's mother has sent him to a place called Buweya which is very near, just across the lake. His mother is not around very much and so can't take care of him. I also go across there once a week and so we were able to visit him. Raymond is staying with his aunt and attends a school called 'Delight'. It's just a small school but looks to be very nice. and he seems to be happy. We paid his fees, lunches, uniform and sportswear. I'll check on him again soon.

Florence attends 'God is Able' a small Christian school; she's in Primary 1. What an absolutely lovely welcome I received when I went there a couple of weeks ago. We have several of our children in that school and it's very good.

Joshua is now in P4 at Kiwafu Primary School, he's doing well and he's happy.

Lesley went on and asked if we could help support two more children which we said yes to - how could we not. Thankfully some kind people have covered the donations while we haven't been able to open.

Which leads me to the next bit...

We will be open in March. It will be a slimmed down Rainbow while we work out how we can safely open at full capacity.

So do come and have cake, a hot drink and a chat on Thursday the 3rd of March between 10:00am and 12 midday at St Mary's Church, Upchurch.

Cake and a hot drink will be a very reasonable £1.50 and will help us to keep on supporting the wonderful work in Uganda.

God bless you all ♥️

Gill and the Rainbow Café Team

Swale Borough Council - Western Area Committee Meeting at Upchurch Village Hall

The next round of Swale Borough Council Area Committee Meetings begins on Tuesday 1st March with the Western Area Committee Meeting at 7:00pm in Upchurch Village Hall.

Area Committee Meetings are an opportunity for residents to talk directly to borough councillors about the issues in your community.

To submit a question, Email: areacommittees@swale.gov.uk

For more information and to view the agenda, visit: https://bit.ly/3Ihx7Jx

Upchurch Matters

UPDATED: Latest 2022 Police Surgery Dates in Upchurch

New village PCSO Lorraine Holmes will be holding regular Police Surgeries in Upchurch so residents can speak to her about any local policing issues they may have.

Police Surgeries in Upchurch will take place on:

Friday 21st January 2022 between 2:00pm and 3:00pm at Snaffles

Monday 28th February 2022 between 2:00pm and 3:00pm at Snaffles

Friday 25th March 2022 between 2:00pm and 3:00pm at Snaffles

If residents need to contact PSCO Holmes before these dates, they can ring the 101 number or mobile: 07970 458645.

Upchurch Matters

KCC Public Protection: ALERT! Doorstep Criminals Target Kent Residents After Storms

Rogue traders active in Kent

Following Storm Eunice and continuing high winds, be alert to rogue traders knocking on your door. We have received reports of over-priced repairs to fencing in the Kent area.

Common tactics include:

• Repairing damage on your roof,
• Removing tree branches overhanging on a footpath that could cause injury or
• Repairing your damaged fence to protect your property.

Do not panic - close the door on the cold caller.

Remember:

• Never agree to work on your house or garden by someone who knocks on your door.
• Request free No Uninvited Traders door stickers
• Reputable builders, roofers and gardeners do not cold call.

Order a 'No Uninvited Traders' Door Sticker at: https://bit.ly/3p8JdNL

If you need storm damage work done, find safe local traders on Trading Standards Checked or

call: 03000 41 64 38 (open 9:00am - 6:00pm on weekdays and 9:00am - 5:00pm on Saturday).

Report cold callers to Kent Police on: 101 or call: 999 if they are aggressive or refuse to leave.

For free advice, contact Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on: 0808 223 1133.

Please warn family members, friends and neighbours!

We know doorstep criminals tell us our roof tiles are loose, our chimney stacks are dangerous, our trees are diseased and our driveways need jet washing.

Help keep your community safe. Report doorstep criminals as soon as you see them or tell your local Community Warden or Police Officer.

Even if you're not sure if they are a criminal tell us anyway, we want to know.

For advice and to report issues to KCC Trading Standards contact:

Citizens Advice consumer helpline on: 0808 223 1133
Consumer Advice scams action line on: 0808 250 5050
Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Kent County Council Public Protection

Garage and Shed Broken Into - Newington

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: 46/33356/22

Between 23:00 on Friday the 18th of February and 05:00 on Saturday the 19th of February, somebody broke into a garage at a residential property in Keycol Hill, Newington.

Crime Number: 46/33680/22

Between 19:00 on Saturday the 19th of February and 09:30 on Sunday the 20th of February, somebody broke into a shed at a residential property in Keycol Hill, Newington.

If you have any information that could help investigators please contact Kent Police on telephone number 101 and quote the relevant crime number above.

For more information on crime prevention visit: www.kent.police.uk

Kent Community Messaging

Temporary Road Closure - Lower Hartlip Road, Hartlip

It will be necessary to close part of Lower Hartlip Road, Hartlip from Monday 14th March 2022, between the hours of 09:00 and 15:00, with estimated completion by 18th March 2022.

Lower Hartlip Road, Hartlip will be closed in the general vicinity of Paradise Farm Barn, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route is Lower Hartlip Road, Hollow Lane, The Street, Munns Lane and vice versa.

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while water main connection works are undertaken by Southern Water.

For information regarding this closure, please contact Southern Water on: 0330 303 0368, who will be able to assist with the scope of these works.

KCC 24hr Contact Centre: 03000 418181

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

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste