Kent Community News & Appeals

IT Equipment Recycling In Maidstone

Help the Computer's 4 Africa charity, more details here.

Education - A Gift For A Lifetime

The Friends of Leh School feature is now here.

Recycled Rags To Charity Riches - Maidstone

It is now even easier for Maidstone Borough Council residents to reuse and recycle textiles, with 15 new Barnardo’s textile recycling banks being installed at Local Recycling Sites across the borough.

Cabinet Member for the Environment, Cllr Ben Sherreard said: “Clean dry clothes, paired shoes, curtains, towels, sheets and blankets can all be placed in the new textile containers. All textiles are sorted so do not worry if they are stained or torn.”

Eighty-five per cent of material placed in textile containers is sent to developing countries for reuse as wearable clothing.  Any items that are unsuitable for reuse (15%) will be recycled into industrial rags, dashboards, mattresses and upholstery. 

Other textile recycling banks located across the borough provide funding to British Heart Foundation, Salvation Army, Kent Air Ambulance and Oxfam. 

Cllr Sherreard added: ”Don’t forget you can recycle your glass bottles and jars, paper, books and shoes too at many of the sites.  We will soon be replacing all paper recycling banks at the local recycling sites and some sites will be having tetra pak (cartons) recycling banks installed.”

If the recycling containers are full, please either ring the contact number on the bank or let us know as soon as possible and recycle another day.

For more information on your recycling services and to find your nearest Local Recycling Site email the customer services team at customerservices@maidstone.gov.uk or call 01622 602162.

Demelza House

Demelza is an organisation providing hospice care for over 570 children with life-limiting illnesses and their families across Kent, East Sussex and South London through.

Demelza Kent is an 8-bedded children's hospice offering children the opportunity to enjoy residential short breaks (with the option of families staying as well) in beautiful Kent countryside.

Demelza is the only children's residential hospice in Kent, East Sussex and South London providing a wide range of services to life-limited children.

Within the Demelza family, they offer:

• Short residential breaks and day care at Demelza Kent and Demelza South East London

• Community Care through the Demelza Community Team

How you can help!

Help at the house
If you would like to help within the house, there is plenty we would love your help with. If you enjoy gardening, cooking, housekeeping or helping in a friendly office there is something for you.

Help the home hospice service
If you live in the East Sussex area and would like to help the Demelza James home hospice service, there are various ways you can help.

Advanced Volunteer Program
The Advanced Volunteer Program is for volunteers who wish to work closely with the children, families and the Care Team.

Help at the shops
We are looking for volunteers who can help at our shops with pricing, sorting, window dressing and serving the customers. To find out more click here.

Ambassador Volunteers
If you enjoy public speaking and would like to give talks to promote the Demelza Family, please click here to learn about our Ambassador Program.

Help us raise funds
Demelza House relies on volunteers to support its work with children suffering from life limiting conditions. We are currently looking for volunteers to help in the community with Fundraising events.

Vist the website for more information http://www.demelza.org.uk/

Volunteering In Ashford

Whether you are considering voluntary work or you represent an organisation which is looking for volunteers Ashford & District Volunteer Centre will be pleased to help.

They are here to:

• Promote Volunteering
• Recruit Volunteers
• Promote Equal Opportunities in volunteering
• Provide information, training and research into volunteering
• Comment and campaign on volunteering
• Develop volunteering opportunities

You'll find the Ashford & District Volunteer Centre at:

• Ashford & District Volunteer Bureau
  Berwick House,
  8 Elwick Road
  Ashford
  Kent TN23 1PF
  

Open 9am to 3pm Mon to Fri

• Tenterden Town Hall
  High Street
  Teneterden
  

Open 9.30am to 12.30 pm each Tuesday and Friday

Registered Charity No 277125

Samaritans Medway, Gravesham and Swale West

Samaritans Medway, Gravesham and Swale West are available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide.

Samaritans realise the importance of people having the opportunity to explore difficult feelings. Being listened to in confidence and accepted without prejudice can alleviate despair and suicidal feelings.

If you need to talk to someone, call the Samaritans on 01634 730981 or 08457 909090 or email jo@samaritans.org.

The Samaritans are looking for volunteers - ordinary people offering confidential emotional support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those feelings which may lead to suicide. You don't need any formal qualifications or previous experience to become a Samaritan. You do need to be a good listener who can allow people the time and space to explore their feelings.

To volunteer, you need to be 18 years old or over and willing to give 22 hours per month, which will include one overnight shift.

If you would like to help, please call 01634 730981 for more details or register your interest on www.samaritans.org.

Kent Association For The Blind

The KAB is a registered charity aiming to provide a quality service, sensitive to the individual needs of those who are visually impaired, helping them to attain the highest level of independence. KAB welcomes donations to help support their activities which include:

• Counselling, information and advice on all matters concerning sight loss
• Encouraging people to increase their independence and safety
• KAB demonstrates and provides equipment for everyday activities
• Recording and distributing Talking Newspapers and magazines to help people keep in touch
• Recruitment of volunteers to provide companionship
• Development of sight, rehabilitation and resource centres throughout the County and in Bromley

Volunteers are always needed to support the important work of this organisation in areas like: 

• Helping at rehabilitation training courses
• Driving people to and from events and courses
• Driving a KAB mini bus
• Helping in the production of the Talking Newspaper service
• Delivering specialist equipment
• Visiting
• Helping at KAB Social Clubs and Craft Classes
• Reading and writing correspondence
• Helping as a fund raiser
• Taking part in fundraising events eg. London Marathon, KAB abseils, parachuting
• Helping at the KAB Maidstone Shop
• Helping at one of the KAB Centres

For more details about the KAB visit www.kab.org.uk