Lions raise cash Training firm ‘making progress’


for cancer fund THE Lions Club of Maidstone has raised more than £800 for Marie Curie Cancer Care’s Great Daffodil Appeal. Lions Club members held col- lections in Tesco’s Grove Green store, on March 15 and 16, and encouraged everyone to give a donation in return for one of Marie Curie’s daffodil pins. The £839 raised by the Lions


will pay for nursing care for people with terminal illnesses, in their own homes. Lions Club president, Mal-


colm Luxton, said: “The work of the Lions Club has always fo- cused on the wellbeing of the community, and we are proud to be collecting for the Great Daffodil Appeal.” Daffodil pins can be picked


up from local stores, Marie Curie volunteer collectors, and Marie Curie Shops. For information on how to get involved in the Great Daffodil Appeal, call community fundraiser Fiona Dodd, on 01622 230745, or visit: www.mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil


Bomb blackmail A MAN has pleaded guilty to trying to blackmail a supermar- ket out of £10,000 by planting a fake bomb in one of its aisles. David Williams, 49, of Knaves Acre, Headcorn, ini- tially denied blackmail but later changed his plea. Bomb disposal experts discovered the package at the Morrison’s store in Sutton Road on December 10 and the buildingwas evacuated while they carried out a con- trolled explosion. Williams was bailed and will


be sentenced from June on- wards following psychiatric as- sessment.


Fraud charge A FORMER chief officer at Age Concern has appeared at Maid- stoneMagistrate’ Court accused of defrauding the charity of £217,500. Keith Austin, of Tovil Green, contested the amount of money allegedly taken. He was released on bail.


YOUNG artists’ talents have been recognised by the Mid Kent Decorative and Fine Arts Society. Each year the Sutton Valence-


based group invites secondary schools to nominate the work of talented pupils for its art award. The 2013 awards ceremony


took place at St Nicholas’s Church, Otham, and Elliot Round from Maidstone Gram- mar School won the competi- tion, together with £750 prize money. His work involves installa-


tions, photography and contem- porary art. The runner-up was


18 South


A MAIDSTONE company that provides training in childcare is making improvements after re- ceiving an inadequate rating from Ofsted. Parenta, which provides a number of services including government-funded training for the childcare industry, was told in July last year that both out- comes for learners and quality of provision in its Foundation Learning programmes were in- adequate. Amonitoring report published by Ofsted in March revealed the


company, in Rocky Hill, had made “significant progress” in reducing the number of learners who leave the programme early and enabling learners to achieve their objectives. Significant progress had also


been made in terms of leader- ship and management, where “leaders and managers at all levels in the organisation, in- cluding tutors in the classroom, have made significant improve- ments to the management and day-to-day running of the pro- gramme”.


Reasonable progress had been


made in monitoring the teach- ing and learning process, ensur- ing learners’ specific needs were met, providing learners with opportunities to visit childcare settings, and develop- ing links with outside agencies. Following last summer’s re-


port, directorNickWilliams said the company was appealing the results of the Ofsted report as it claimed the assessment was based on just 1% of its work – the Foundation Learning pro- gramme.


Trust creates shopping centre garden


AFRUITFULpartnership betweenaMaidstonecharity and the Town Centre Management has led to a “blooming’’ good result which everyone can enjoy. Volunteers from The Blackthorn Trust, which pro-


vides careandrehabilitation throughwork in the com- munity, have given a patch of waste ground outside the Chequers Mall a makeover. Now, visitors to the town who enter the Mall from


the bus station or the car park, can see the results of their labours, instead of a patch ofweeds. The Princes Trust contributed towards the project


whichused staff, volunteersand co-workers from The Blackthorn Trust, to enhance thelook of thegardenby planting, painting the railings and working together as a team as part of their development journey. The trust, based in St Andrew’s Road, helps those


who are recovering from health conditions. Rose Moore, who heads the charity’s gardening


team, said: “The project raises our profile in the town centre and has given a focus to the creativity and en- thusiasm of our volunteers. “We have forged a strong link with the TownCentre Management group and The Mall who now benefit from an attractive and sustainable garden where


therewas once an untended patch of land.” The gardenwas opened with a ribbon cutting cere-


mony performed by Paul Alcock, chairman of Maid- stone Town CentreManagement and Jan Prior, chief executive of the Blackthorn Trust, pictured above. TheBlackthorn Trust has a caféwhich is open daily


during the week, as well as a bakery, plant nursery and crafts for sale. For further information, visit www.blackthorn.org.uk


Kent cricket back at Mote Park?


KENT County Cricket Club confirmed at its an- nual meeting a strong desire to return first-class cricket to Maidstone. Amember questioned the clubmissing out on


the huge population in Maidstone and Medway Towns since 2005, when the club withdrew from the county town. Chief executive Jamie Clifford said the club


now felt confident The Mote Cricket Club’s wicket had much improved and this would be tested with many 2nd X1 games there this sum- mer. He was pleased The Mote CC now had major


improvements in mind for the ground facilities, including a new pavilion, and when these were achieved Kent hoped for a very early return of first-class cricket. Kent 2nds’ programme at The Mote starts with


a one-day fixture against Somerset on Monday July 1 followed (July 2,3,4) by a three-day game against the same county. The 2nds play a 20/20 game against Essex on Monday, July 22, with a three-day game starting on July 23. The 2nds play a three-day game against Sussex starting on Tuesday July 30 followed by a one-day game on August 2.


Art students’ talents are recognised


Friends’ new name THE friends and volunteers of Mote Park will soon re-launch with a new name – the Mote Park Fellowship. The group held an open day at Maidstone Leisure Centre, where guests enjoyed tea and cakes, speeches and a guided walk.


Daniel Bethell, of New Line Learning Academy, who claimed £250. Candidates are all year 13


pupils preparing to study art, or an art-related topic at university or college. Submissions range from photography to fine art.


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


Game, set and loss THE proposed installation of tennis courts in a front garden at Field Cottage, Brick Kiln Lane, East Sutton was refused. Maidstone Council said the scheme, which included 2.7m high chainlink fencing, would “appear visually intrusive and incongruous” due to its promi- nent location and height.”


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