Kent Community News & Appeals

Foal Farm Animal Rescue Centre

Foal Farm is situated in Jail Lane, Biggin Hill, Kent and began life in 1960 when a group of people met in a disused kitchen and agreed to form a rescue centre, called Friends of Animals League, with the simple aim of saving as many abused and unwanted animals as possible before placing them into caring, loving permanent homes.

Since then, Foal Farm a 26 acre farm has grown and our staff are able to take care of over 400 sick and unwanted animals at any one time. Many are volunteers who give up their time to aid the wellbeing of these animals.

No healthy animal is ever destroyed at Foal Farm.

Further information are available from Foal Farm or by emailing fundraising@foalfarm.org.uk

Kent Air Ambulance Needs You

Kent Air Ambulance is appealing for volunteers to help with street collections throughout the county during Air Ambulance Week.

Members of the public are needed to carry out bucket collections in High Streets, supermarkets and shopping centres between 23rd and 25th September.

Although the charity has an army of registered volunteers, temporary helpers are being sought to help raise vital funds to go towards the £1.7m-a-year cost of keeping the helicopter flying.

They can be individuals, clubs, groups, societies or business organisations and they do not have to sign up or commit to further fundraising.

Volunteers Roger and Angela Bates, from Romney Marsh, have helped with street collections after he was airlifted by the helicopter following a fall at work in 2002.

He said: “We’ve been doing it for four years and we’re looking forward to helping again this year. It’s really well worth doing.

“A lot of people we talk to still do not realise the air ambulance exists but without them I would not be here and I enjoy raising money for them.”

Air Ambulance Week runs from 20th to 27th September and is extra special this year as the Marden-based helicopter celebrates its 20th anniversary.

The aim of the fundraisers and their team of volunteers is to collect £20,000 to mark this magnificent milestone, beating last year’s total of £15,000.

Anyone interested in becoming a temporary volunteer is urged to call Amy Salter on 01622 833833.

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.

Charity Clay Pigeon Shoot - The Friends of The Wisdom Hospice

A Charity Clay Pigeon Shoot will be held at West Kent Shooting School to raise funds for The Friends of The Wisdom Hospice. The event is ideal for novice shooters, ladies & juniors.

The Clay Shoot will take place on Friday 6th August 2010. Coffee and registration is at 9.30am and the day finishes with a prize-giving ceremony at 2.30pm.

Tickets are priced at £60.00 per person (half the usual price for such a package) which includes a £20 donation to The Friends. Included in the ticket price are 25 practice clays, 25 competition clays, refreshments including a 2 course lunch, full instruction from qualified instructors, use of school guns, hearing/eye protection and insurance.

Places must be reserved in advance by contacting The Friends of the Wisdom Hospice on 01634 831163.

Further information available from: Emma Dengate - 01634 831163

Web: www.friendsofthewisdomhospice.org.uk

Hospice Funds Boosted By Networking Evening

The Hospice in the Weald was the chosen charity to benefit from a networking event hosted by Metcalfe Stanley Hicks Chartered Building Surveyors in Hadlow.

Held jointly with the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, the event featured a display of classic MG cars, a jazz band, a business card prize draw and a raffle to win a makeover experience and dinner at the Hotel du Vin, Tunbridge Wells. More than 80 invited guests attended and raised a total of £450 for the Hospice, including £200 through the raffle tickets.

“We are delighted so many people joined us for our charity evening and would like to thank them for their generosity,” said Richard Metcalfe of Metcalfe Stanley Hicks.

“It was a very successful event, the weather was perfect, and I hope that as well as helping out a very worthy cause our guests went away having made some useful business contacts.”

John Ashelford, CEO of the Hospice in the Weald added: “Everyone at the Hospice is delighted with the response to the night. The event not only raised much needed funds for us but also gave us the opportunity to raise our profile with the local business community and encourage their future support.

“We would like to thank Metcalfe Stanley Hicks and Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce for organising and hosting such a wonderful evening.”

For more information on Metcalfe Stanley Hicks visit www.msh-cbs.co.uk <http://www.msh-cbs.co.uk>

For more information on the Hospice in the Weald call John Ashelford, on 01892 820518 or email john.ashelford@hospiceintheweald.org.uk

Appeal Launched For Learning Centre

Ambitious plans for a learning centre that will stand as a permanent reminder of the bravery of the Allied aircrew who fought off the German air invasion in 1940 have been unveiled by the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust.

The centre at Capel-le-Ferne will be designed as a living history resource that will use film, walk-through displays and modern technology to recreate the historic events of 1940.

The trust has launched a major appeal to help raise the £650,000 cost of the scheme and has chosen this 70th anniversary year to invite local people and businesses to ‘dig deep’ in memory of Churchill’s famous “Few”.

Chairman of the trustees Richard Hunting explained: “The youngest of our Battle of Britain veterans is now approaching 90 and we have to accept that they won’t always be around to help remind people of that critical point in this country’s history.

“The Battle of Britain was arguably the most important battle fought by this country in the whole of the last century and it is vital that young people, in particular, remember their bravery and, in many cases, sacrifice.

“Just 3,000 men are recognised as having played a part in a battle that prevented this country being invaded by Germany and we must remember their bravery and dedication.

“While the National Memorial at Capel-le-Ferne will endure as a place of pilgrimage and offers a chance to reflect on their deeds, the trust thinks that even more is needed to engage future generations of young people in the events of 1940.”

The living history idea is still in its early stages but the trust’s aim is for it to be built close to the existing Hunting Lodge shop and refreshment area at Capel-le-Ferne.

A feasibility study has confirmed that a visitor attraction targeted specifically at the heroism shown by the aircrews who took part in the Battle of Britain would attract enough visitors to be a viable addition to the memorial site, and more detailed plans are now being drawn up.

Central to the planning is the idea of presenting part of the exhibition in a recreated dispersal hut that would help bring to life the sights and sounds of the Battle of Britain.

The fund-raising appeal for the attraction is being launched at the spring air show at Duxford on 15 May, when veterans of the Battle of Britain and current RAF aircrew will mingle with the crowds. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will be at the event on the Saturday and will take to the air as part of the flying display on Sunday 16 May.

To contribute to the appeal, make cheques payable to “the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust” and send to Gp Capt Patrick Tootal, PO Box 337, West Malling, ME6 9AA, (please indicate if you wish to Gift Aid your donation), or donate on line at www.battleofbritainmemorial.org or by BACS to NatWest, Sort 60-01-21 ac 476979989. Tel No 01732 870809. Charity Commission Number 803258.

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

On the web here

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