Governors Family suport centre at risk
elected to NHS council
AS members of Kent Com- munity Health NHS Trust vote for their first council of governors, two Kent mem- bers were elected unop- posed.
Michael Dobson (28), who works for Global Radio, was elected to represent patients and public in Maidstone, and Jack Wise (20) was elected unopposed in Ton- bridge andMalling. An NHS Trust Council of Governors aims to ensure that local people and staff working in the NHS can be more involved in the deci- sions the trust makes about the way services are deliv- ered. The governors repre- sent members to the trust at all levels, but most especially at board level. Only people who have signed up as members of the trust can vote for their cho- sen candidate. A total of 31 people put themselves forward for elec- tion by our public members – each vying for one of the 13 public seats on the Council of Governors. Voting closes at 5pm on November 21.
Maidstone Borough Council
Make it the Market this Christmas
Lockmeadow, Barker Road, Maidstone. Free shuttle bus number 505 from the mall, Chequers Bus Station.
Open every Tuesday (including Christmas Eve) & Saturday, 7.30am - 1.30pm
All you need for Christmas, in one place. Presents, toys, fruit & veg, meat, turkeys, fl owers, holly wreaths & more
PLUS! Turkey Sales: Friday 20, Saturday 21, Sunday 22 & Monday 23 December
Maidstone Market Barker Road, Maidstone ME16 8LW 01622 602258
www.maidstone.gov.uk
6 Town Great People, Great Place, Great Opportunity
For more information call Maidstone YMCA on 01622 749404 Melrose Close, Loose, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6BD
Visit Downs Mail’s website —
downsmail.co.uk
A CHARITY which has been of- fering support to Maidstone families for 25 years is facing closure. In spite of achieving “consis-
tently positive outcomes for families”, Home-Start Maid- stone’s manager, Sharon Man- ning, says the charity will be forced to shut in a matter of months, due to a lack of funding from the county council. “Without the necessary grant,
there is no way we can con- tinue. We need at least £80,000 to keep the scheme running for another 12 months,” says Sharon.
Home-Start Maidstone offers
help to parents and carers who are experiencing issues such as
THE Bishop of Dover, the Rt Rev Trevor Willmott, has marked a new partnership between the Diocese of Canterbury and Kent Savers Credit. The event at All Saints’ Church, Maidstone, followed a call from the Archbishop of Can- terbury for churches to work with credit unions so that more people can access local, ethical and affordable financial services. The event was attended by the Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Clive English, KCC chairman EricHot- son, volunteers, staff and cus-
loneliness, relationship break- down, bereavement, post-natal depression, mental illness or multiple births. An appeal to find the money
to keep the scheme going has now been launched. Amy Van der
Weide (right) had eight- month-old twins when she turned to Home-Start Maidstone for help. She told Downs Mail: “I was struggling and petrified of leav- ing the house. My volunteer was amazing and got me out with the twins each time she
Bishop backs credit union link
tomers from Kent Savers, along with representatives from churches, Barclays Bank, local businesses, housing associations and local authorities. The partnership will see churches across Kent becoming access points of ‘branches’ of the credit union Kent Savers, pro- viding local people with finan- cial advice, including help with debt and savings and providing some banking services. For more information on join-
ing Kent Savers Credit Union, visit
www.kentsavers.co.uk.
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came and slowly, my confi- dence started to build. There was no judgment and the sup- port made such a difference to me and my family.” She was so enthusiastic about Home-Start, she joined the board of trustees and is now its chairman. She added: “I am desperate to find a funding so- lution; the prospect of this serv- ice not being available to other struggling parents and carers is devastating.” Without outside funding, the centre in Marsham Street will close in the spring. Donate by searching Home- Start Maidstone
onwww.virgin-
moneygiving.com, or call the office on 01622 675879.
Present appeal THE Salvation Army’s Christ- mas Present Appeal aims to en- sure that those in need in our communities receive gifts. New unwrapped gifts or toys
and can be taken to the com- munity office at The Salvation Army, 74-80 Union Street, Maidstone (ME14 1ED) from Saturday, November 23 to Sun- day, December 15. By giving a gift to our appeal,
you can make a real difference in someone’s life. For further information, call the commu- nity office on 01622 681808.
aidsto .o .org
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