November/December 2012
Serving local people, businesses & events in Addington, Birling, East Malling, Kings Hill, Larkfield, Leybourne, Mereworth, Offham, Ryarsh, Trottiscliffe, West Malling
West Malling wins top award
WEST Malling was chosen as the winner of the prestigious Kent Rural Community of the Year award for 2012.
Run by Action for Communities in Rural Kent, the competition is open to any community in the county with a population of less than 5,000.
The application was submitted by parish Cllr Keith Bullard on behalf of West Malling Parish Council.
To win, West Malling had to submit reports on four aspects of village life. Judges visited the village to talk with community representatives, and to see activities at first hand.. West Malling won by scoring the overall highest mark for all sections. The judges awarded the village “Highly Commended” for its sustainability and social & community submissions, whilst its business and communications entries won their sections outright.
Cllr Trudy Dean, chairman of the parish council and Malling Action Partnership, paid tribute to the Downs Mail's contribution to the communication award. She said: " Finding out what is going on locally is not always easy, and Downs Mail is the only truly local free newspaper we have. It is eagerly read by many people. They tell us that our bi-monthly Malling Mail insert has brought many more people into events, clubs, societies and businesses in West Malling and surrounding parishes.
Representatives of all the organisations who contributed to the award were invited to celebrate at a barbecue in Maceys Meadow, Norman Road, and even included a member of the
Come along to the new cafe
THE new Community Arts Cafe is due to open at the St James Centre, Chapman Way, East Malling, on Saturday, November 17.
The launch of the cafe will take place at noon during an autumn fair which will run from 10am to 2pm.
Following that, the cafe will be open from Tuesday, November 20, at times to be announced.
The opening marks the end of a long campaign by the centre trustees and the Beat Project. As well as a pleasant place for
people of all ages living locally, they also wanted a cafe where family cookery workshops could take place and catering and retailing skills could be taught. So the café will be in use throughout the week.
The Beat Project developed a full business plan and worked on various funding grants over the past two and a half years in order to first create the space and then to employ a cafe manager / trainer and other staff . Centre manager Angela Borsos said: “There were some setbacks along the
way as we discovered additional work that needed to be carried out in the building and therefore more money that needed to be raised! However, we now have a good starter kitchen and a lovely servery area and seating space.”
Funding came from several supporters including Biffa, Awards for All, Russet Homes, and Kent County, Tonbridge and Malling and East Mallingand Larkfield Parish Councils
www.facebook.com/ thebeatprojectcharity
community orchard’s flock of sheep!
Cllr Dean said: “We wanted the community to celebrate their own work in winning this award for West Malling.
Our star projects were the refurbishing of the village hall, the restoring of Macey’s Meadow, opening the cricket pavilion for day care for local adults with disabilities, growing the farmers’ market to a self funding level, and growing the Chamber of Commerce to over 60 businesses strong. All these were done by volunteers.
And throughout the year, the local churches and schools play a big part in our community life. We have the Active Retirement Association, Art Society, Community Choir, Drama Group, Karate Club, Photographic Society, Rotary House Centre, Stamp Club, WI, and branches of Rotary, Lions , Lionesses, and all working throughout the year to make West Malling a great place for everyone to live, work and shop. There are official reports which say that people who volunteer live longer, but most of us just do it for fun.!”
Get switched on
SANTA will be heading for West Malling High Street on Sunday, November 25, for the big switch-on of the Christmas lights at 5pm.
The fun starts in the morning with the farmers market and local charity stalls.
From 3pm there will be stalls, hot food, children’s rides and a bouncy slide. Malling Community Choir will entertain at 3.45pm and community carols will be led from 4.15pm by the Rev David Green with the Thundersleigh Brass Band.
A Malling Action Partnership publication
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