Volunteers win funding for three years
VOLUNTEERS who meet and greet visitors to the town centre Gateway are to stay, thanks to a further three years’ funding from the lottery fund. The future of the Gateway vol- unteers hung in the balance after news that the current lot- tery funding, amounting to some £60,000, was due to run out in February 2014. However, following a joint ap- proach to the Big Lottery Reach- ing Communities fund by Maidstone Council and Volun- tary Action Maidstone, funding will continue for three years. There have been 53 Gateway volunteers in Maidstone since the scheme began in September 2010. They come from a variety of backgrounds and have very
COMMUNITY groups are in- vited to submit grant applica- tions for the Golding Vision Community Chest Fund. The fund offers small grants
of up to £1,000 for community organisations to run activities, fund travel or equipment, or for specific projects. The deadline for applications
is Friday, June 30. For details and to apply, go to
www.goldinghomes.org.uk In January, funding was
Gateway volunteers have won funding for another three years
diverse skills and abilities. However, they share a desire
to improve their skills, gain con- fidence and help others. Volunteers all have some form
of extra support need, find other volunteering difficult to access or could be feeling isolated or socially excluded. Project worker Rachel Cop- pins said: “We help volunteers
awarded to a variety of organi- sations including: The National Gulf Veterans and Families Association – £1,000 to buy gifts for the children’s bags. Maidstone Nepalese Com- munity – £1,000 for Nepalese New Year celebrations. Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club – £1,000 for equipment to buy additional oars and grippers. Greenfields Children Centre
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learn first aid, customer care, sign language and get them in- volved in educational classes. This has really brought volun- teers into the community, in a similar way to the Gamesmak- ers at the Olympic Games.” The volunteers help the coun-
cil’s frontline customer services team, keeping the queue to the desk at a minimum, advising
Grants available for community projects
– £600 to purchase sports equipment. Maidstone Gurkha ABA – £1,000 to put on a boxing showcase for members of the public. Community wardens – £1,000 for the provision of training and workshops for youths on skateboard building. The Princess Project – £400 to help a local church set up a toy and clothes recycling drop-in.
visitors of waiting times, help- ing people use payment kiosks and computers and generally creating a welcoming environ- ment for customers. Liz Tredget, volunteer centre manager, said: “Not only do the volunteers get a tremendous amount from this opportunity, including work placements and training opportunities, the council staff have commented on their improved ability to un- derstand their customers.” Laura Mason, Maidstone Gateway team manager said: “The scheme has been hugely beneficial to the community. It teaches us all that whatever challenges an individual may have, they still have skills that can support others.”
Asbestos work THE sports hall at Maidstone Grammar School in Barton Road,Maidstone is to be re-clad to remove the hazardous as- bestos roofing and wall sheets. A supporting statement added: “The newwall cladding and roof panels will result in an improvement to heating costs. “Grey has been chosen for the
roof to match the existing colour. The choice of blue wall cladding and painting the doors yellow was intended to match the school colours.”
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