Cobtree awards boost charities


THREE prominent local chari- ties have received a welcome cash windfall from the Cobtree Charity Trust. Kent Scouts, Voluntary Ac-


tion Maidstone and Cross Roads Care, were all selected by the trustees for a share of a special £25,000 Jubilee Prize. Representatives of the chari-


ties were presented with their cheques by the Mayor of Maid- stone Cllr Rodd Nelson-Gracie, who congratulated all three on their sterling work, and offered his thanks to the trust. The charity distributes around £150,000 each year, sup- porting more than 60 local or- ganisations with their running costs. Kent Scouts received the


lion’s share, with £17,000 to help improve facilities at their new county headquarters, Lower Grange Farm, Sandling, purchased in 2009. Liz Simmons, county chair-


man, said: “We have come a long way in three years and this will help us further improve the facilities for the young people of Kent – and especially Maid- stone.”


Charlotte-Osborne-Ford, chief executive of Voluntary Action Maidstone, which received £5,000, explained how the money would help fund a new


New bins for


garden waste MAIDSTONE Borough Council is changing its garden waste collection service, and encour- aging neighbours to share bins. Gardeners are being asked to change to garden waste bins and the council is offering two sizes – a 240-litre wheelie bin costing £30 a year or a 140-litre wheelie bin costing £27 a year. The council has offered green garden waste bins for some time, but is now phasing out com- postable bags and replacing green bins with brown ones. Gardeners who feel they can-


not fill a bin to themselves will be able to share with neighbours. Cllr Marion Ring, cabinet member for the environment, shares her bin with a neighbour. She said: “We don’t create enough garden waste to fill a bin each. This way we both benefit, but we halve the cost.” The council is asking residents


who have compostable bags to use them by the endof June 2013. Properties which are unsuit-


able for wheelie bins can still use the bags, at a cost of £30 a year for up to 52 bags. The council introduced the


bags, made from potato starch, in 2010 to replace plastic sacks. If you would like to order a garden waste bin or garden sack collections please call 01622 602600 or visit www.maid- stone.gov.uk.


22 South


Mayor Cllr Rodd Nelson-Gracie with Cobtree Charity trustees and award recipients


software system to make man- agement of their voluntary transport service more efficient. VAMoperates a number of proj- ects for vulnerable and socially isolated people and the volun- tary transport scheme provides some 10,000 trips per year to hospital and doctor’s appoint- ments and other urgentmatters. The prize will go towards a


much needed software system. Irene Jeffrey, from Cross Roads Care, based at Watering- bury, which received £3,000, said themoney would help pro-


vide counselling and much- needed emotional support for the charity’s 150 young carers, aged from five to 18, many of whom were offering end-of-life care for ailing parents. Cobtree Trust chairman Richard Corben said: “The an- nual Cobtree prize is aimed at those organisations which have a charitable purpose, help the community or have urgent re- pair work to the historic build- ings within their care. “The selection of the winners was very hard for the trustees, as


so many organisations are doing such fantastic work in the area.” The Cobtree Trust funds come


from a trust set up in 1951 by Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake, 12 times Mayor of Maidstone, who lived at Cobtree Manor. Mr Corben said: “It is the


third year that the trust has made the special annual award, all of which has beenmade pos- sible by this ‘very handsome’ gift from Sir Garrard, which has been managed by some very able trustees through the ages right up until today.”


Bigger offices a boost to Age UK


BIGGER and better facilities will be available to the over 50s in Maidstone, following the re- location and rebranding of Age Concern. Age Concern – now known


as Age UK Maidstone – has moved just a few doors from its home in Mill Street, but the new offices provide more meet- ing rooms, with the chance to launch a benefits advice and advocacy service. Deputymayor Cllr Clive Eng-


lish opened the centre along with Cllr Graham Gibbons, KCC’s cabinet member for adult services and Diane


THE owners of a well-estab- lished Christmas tree farm in Marden say they may be forced to close the business if they are not allowed to build a house on the site for their daughter. Christmas trees have been grown and sold from Merzie Meadows in Hunton Road for 15 years. Income from the enter- prise has helped subsidise the adjacent five-star bed and break- fast business during the winter. But Timothy Stone’s support-


ing statement said the owners have had to reduce the number of trees they sell due to the physical nature of the venture.


Aslett, from Age UK London. He paid tribute to the ongo-


ing success of Age UK in the Maidstone area and thanked them for their contribution to the community. Ms Aslett said: “Maidstone is


a real beacon for Age UK. It of- fers so many services.” Chairman Pat Thomas out-


lined the services offered byAge UK, from day centres and run- ning bus fleets to free computer classes, footcare clinics, wheel- chair and disability aid hire and independent living support. The new offices had been aided by a legacy of £209,000


Christmas tree farm ‘needs help’ It said: “The owners are now


of an age that they need to have fewer B&B guests to cope with the workload. Unless they get help they will have to stop the planting of new trees and close the business down.” Their proposed solution is to


build a new house for their daughter to help with both busi- nesses. With her help, they hope to increase room take-up by 10% year-on-year and tree sales to about 350 per year. Maidstone Council will deter- mine the planning application for an oak-framed dwelling and detached garage.


which allowed Age UK Maid- stone to purchase its own prop- erty for the first time. The Maidstone centre has 50 staff and 80 volunteers.


Drivers needed TWOnew minibuses have been introduced in Maidstone by Brighter Futures. Part ofVoluntary Action Maid-


stone, the group and its 110 vol- unteers supports almost 700 older people across the borough with shopping, befriending, day trips and falls prevention classes. Danny Hewis, the Brighter Futures manager, said: “We have such fantastic support from volunteers, but we need people to drive our minibuses.” If would like to volunteer or donate to Brighter Futures, call them on 01622 762403 or email danny.hewis@vam-online.org.uk


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