Medway Council - Major Grant Opportunity for Medway Businesses, Charities and Voluntary Organisations

Medway’s businesses and organisations are being encouraged to apply for funding of up to £20,000 to make a difference in their local communities.

In 2022, Medway Council wrote an Investment Plan and received £1.8 million from the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to invest in three key priority areas over a three-year period - community and place, supporting businesses, and people and skills.

During the first year (2022-2023), £225,000 was allocated to 17 projects to provide support to local businesses as well as projects which promoted and encouraged people to visit Medway. The projects included Medway Light Nights and the Intra Lateral Arts Festival. The council also used the funding to introduce free public WiFi in Rainham and Strood town centres.

Medway Council has now launched two grant schemes to support local community projects and local businesses.

Businesses, charities, voluntary organisations and higher and further education providers in Medway can apply for grants of up to £10,000 from the new Pride in Place Fund. The fund aims to enhance and support local community infrastructure projects, support and develop tourism campaigns, and help to build capacity for local community groups. Grants of £20,000 will be available in exceptional circumstances.

Businesses can also apply for a £5,000 grant from the Feasibility Fund to conduct studies, research or develop business plans which could lead to further investment in projects across Medway. The projects must aim to encourage people to visit and explore Medway, support local community infrastructure projects or help to build capacity for local groups and communities.

The deadline for applications for both funds is 12 noon on Monday, 26th June.

Around 150 businesses and local organisations attended the launch of the grants at an event at The Rochester Corn Exchange on Thursday, 18th May. They also took part in an interactive session and shared their ideas and thoughts on key projects to help Medway’s town centres continue to thrive, including repurposing empty buildings, improving public realm works and holding more events.

Cllr Lauren Edwards, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economic and Social Regeneration and Inward Investment, said:

“Medway is a great place to live, work, learn and visit and we are incredibly proud of how vibrant and innovative Medway, as a place, is. We are delighted to launch the Pride in Place Fund and the Feasibility Fund which will both support local businesses and encourage our local communities to celebrate and promote Medway. I would encourage Medway’s businesses and organisations to find out more about these fantastic funding opportunities.”

To find out more about the grant opportunities, and to apply, visit: medway.gov.uk/SharedProsperityFund

For more information about Medway’s support for businesses, visit: medway.gov.uk/MedwayForBusiness

Medway Council

Picnic Hamper Winner | Upchurch’s Co-op - Going BIG for Barnardo's

Congratulations to Leah, winner of the Picnic Hamper at Upchurch’s Co-op.

Thanks to everyone who bought tickets 🤗

You helped us raise £89 for our chosen charity partner, Barnardo’s.

Please keep a lookout for future raffles and events.

Upchurch’s Co-op - Going BIG for Barnardo’s for Mental Health Awareness Week.

Read more at: www.coop.co.uk/blog/co-op-goes-big-for-barnardos-this-mental-health-awareness-week

Sally Butcher - Member Pioneer

Upchurch Gabriel - Important Notice to all Residents of Wallbridge Lane

Dave Candy - Editor

Email: upchurchgabriel@gmail.com

The Spirit of Invicta - Talk by Bob Ogley at Lower Halstow Memorial Hall

This is a story about the county of Kent and why the motto for the county is Invicta.

Bob will take guests through the highlights of the 20th century from flying machines and sporting victories to archaeological discoveries and engineering achievements; a few major scandals, chilling disasters, artistic triumphs and dramatic moments in the most exciting and dramatic century Kent has ever known.

The talk at Lower Halstow Memorial Hall is on Tuesday the 25th of July at 7:30pm and is open to everyone.

Entry is £4.00 at the door, which includes refreshments, and a raffle will be drawn on the evening.

Volunteers from the Friends of St Margaret’s Church, Lower Halstow, organise monthly talks from guest speakers at their Tuesday Social Club to help raise funds for the village church.

For enquiries, contact Liz: 01795 842272

Upchurch Matters

Commercial Property Broken Into - Upchurch

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: 46/96503/23

On Tuesday the 30th of May, at around 17:48, somebody broke into a commercial property in Oak Lane, Upchurch. 

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

UpARA Newsletter - June 2023

Hello UpARA members,

London Walks... return this month. We will be re-attempting the walk we had to cancel last year due to the train strikes - Paddington Basin to Kings Cross along the Regents Canal, taking in the Paddington Fan Bridge, Little Venice, under London Zoo’s Aviary, Camden Lock, Coal Drops Yard & Granary Square. We will stop for lunch at Camden Market. We’ll be travelling up via the Elizabeth Line and returning on the high speed from St Pancras. To register your interest and receive further details, please email: uparaupchurch@gmail.com or text: 07802 250773.

Tony Harris... returns as our speaker this month. Always entertaining, and very popular, this month his topic is ‘D-Day’.

Watch this space... Evening Petanque will return very soon during the lighter evenings, perhaps with a drink in the bar afterwards.

Dates for your Diaries:

• 13th October - Quiz Night

• 15th December - Christmas Party

• 31st December - New Year's Eve Party

The thoughts of Chairman John

Hi everyone,

It was with great pleasure that I was able to present the results of our fundraising efforts at our last meeting. It was a good turnout on what was a very busy day, taking in our monthly meeting, AGM, and 9th Birthday Party.

John Wishart presenting a cheque for £3,000 to Elspeth towards the St Mary’s Church Bell Tower Restoration Fund. Together with funds raised for the Ukraine DEC appeal, Turkey/Syrian Earthquake Appeal and Malawi Floods Appeal, this totals over £5,000 that UpARA members have raised this year for charitable causes.

Unfortunately, I never made the party, but I’m told Nick Bosworth did not disappoint, entertaining over 80 of you pretty much non-stop for over 3 hours.

In fact, May was a busy month all round with our Potters break taking place the week before - once again, many thanks to Brenda & Malcolm for organising such a lovely break.

We are intending to re-establish the evening Petanque this month but haven’t got a date yet. Once decided, we will update you all via email.

John W

Payments

Payments... At the next meeting, Brenda and Malcolm will be taking any money due for the lunch at the Golf Course on 28th June. They will also be taking the balance due for the Northern Ireland trip in September. Please contact Brenda if you wish to pay by bank transfer or need any other information.

Brenda will also be asking if any members are interested in a short break to Potters 5 Lakes at the end of April next year. If you are interested, but will not be at the June meeting, please let Brenda know by email at: uparatrips@gmail.com

Pick up Times for Inn on the Lake Wednesday 7th June

• Lower Halstow (The Green) 10:50am

• Upchurch (opposite the Church) 11:00am

• Otterham Quay (up from 3 Sisters) 11:05am

• Rainham (The Cricketers) 11:10am

• Rainham (opposite Pump Lane) 11:15am

Please look... at the calendar for all the activities we currently undertake, and if you haven’t tried them, why not give it a go? Some of our numbers have been dwindling of late, and we need a new input of enthusiasm to boost this. The sad facts of all that we do, is that they can only continue with the participation of enough people. If you’re not sure, just email us and ask.

June Calendar

Village Walk at 10:00am on Friday 2nd June 

Short Tennis at 10:00am on Monday 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th June

Kurling at 2:00pm on Monday 5th June

Coffee Morning and Art at 9:30am on Tuesday 6th June  

Table Tennis at 2:00pm on Tuesday 6th June

*Line Dancing at 10:15am on Wednesday 14th and 28th June  

Franki Vali at The Inn on the Lake on Wednesday 7th June

Monthly Meeting at 2:00pm on Friday 9th June

Tony Harris, D-Day

10 Pin Bowling - Hollywood Bowl at 10:00am on Tuesday 13th June

Petanque at 2:00pm on Tuesday 20th June

Please note the new summer times

Village Walk at 10:00am on Friday 16th June

Coffee Morning and Art at 9:30am on Tuesday 27th June

Table Tennis at 2:00pm on Tuesday 27th June

Lunch Club at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course on Wednesday 28th June

London Walk, Regents Canal - Paddington to Kings Cross on Friday 30th June

*Note - No Line Dancing on the 7th and 21st June

Hopefully, see you all soon - your UpARA Committee.

Email: uparaupchurch@gmail.com

Website: www.upara.club