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downsmail.co.uk Shelter scheme set to expand


MAIDSTONE Churches’Winter Shelter for the homeless, which was launched after Christmas, was so successful that plans are in place to expand and improve it next winter. Thirty-two people were given a


roof over their head, a bed and a meal during an eight-week period at seven churches (SalvationArmy, Methodist, United Reformed, St Faith’s, Quakers, Baptist, St Luke’s) on successive nights of the week. In all, 52 people were helped in


various ways. Every church had the support of


volunteers and local financial and food donations (many from Downs Mail readers). Funding was available to employ a project manager and assistant. All guests hadwashing facilities


andwere offered clean clothes and footwear, bringing “an amazing, visible impact of personal confi- dence”.


Independence was encouraged


and homeless guests were sup- ported to find their own perma- nent accommodation. This was achieved for 12 people. Eight people renewed contacts


with their families and sevenwere helped to find paid work, work placements or volunteering. The shelter has now been incor- porated as a registered charity and this will help “to build stronger


UNEMPLOYMENTinMalling and Tonbridge has fallen. The trend, which began in Febru-


ary, saw the April figure for the borough at 1,032 – down 53. The findings coincide with a


jump in the number of people working from home and an overall fall in those out ofwork across Kent (down by more than 1,000 people in April), for the second consecu- tive month. The latest UK figures show there


were 2.21 million people out of work from January to March, 309,000 fewer than a year earlier.


Cheese tasting AYLESFORD and Eccles WI will hold its monthly meeting in the Brassey Rooms, Station Road, Aylesford, at 7.30pm on Wednes- day, July 23 . There will be a talk and tasting session on cheeses and a chance to explore outings, social events or in- terest days.Newmembers arewel- come. For details, call 01622 715205.


Village fete


TUG of war, a classic bike show, bric-a-brac and a bouncy castle are just some of the attractions at Mere- worth’s fete on Saturday, June 21. The fun starts on The QEII Field, on the corner of The Street at 2pm.


26 Malling June 2014


structures and develop a higher quality project ... to relieve this deep need in Maidstone”. The aim is to open for longer


and with more beds. Volunteering capacity could


allow for 20 beds, but as some churches are small alternative ven- ues are needed. Chairman Rev Bill Miller intro-


duced the published project report at a reception in Maidstone Baptist Church, where he is minister.


Rev Bill Miller thanks (fromleft) Angela Flynn, (associate project manager), Tracy Maybank (volunteer help manager) and Jayne Hendy (projectmanager)


‘Wonderful’ project changedmy life


TONY Powell-Chatfield (49) says Maidstone Churches Winter Shelter and MaidstoneDayCareCentre have totally changed his life. Until Christmas he slept in woods in


a tent (until it was stolen), off Millen- nium Park and in Sandling. Then the former pharmacy techni-


cian heardof the night shelter offered by severalMaidstone churches. He went to the Salvation Army


Citadel in Union Street, where he en- joyed a meal, the company of other homeless people and volunteers, and


a comfortable campbed. “It was wonderful,” said Tony (pic-


tured). He moved on to other churches until the scheme ended in February. But the two charities liaised with MaidstoneCouncil andTonywas offered an apartment off London Road, with rent paid fromhis benefits and furniture provided by volunteers. “There is no substitute for yourown


place,” Tony told the DownsMail. Tony lost his job, was evicted from


his Maidstone home due to rent ar- rears in September 2012 and was


homeless for two winters. He was helped by the day centre for 18 months, but the nights were “tough”. Now he is fit


and settled – and just needs


to find a job, perhaps in a pharmacy or as a driving mate. The Downs Mail will pass any offers of interview on to Tony.


Dip in jobless Grant gets charity on the road North Downs


MAIDSTONE charity Restoring Hands has been awarded £10,000 of Big Lottery funds towards a van to help with itswork. The charity seeks to improve qual-


ity of life, restore dignity and pro- mote hope. Its volunteerswork with victims of domestic violence in shel- tered accommodation; provide food parcels and complete home refur- bishments for needy families; visit and provide entertainment for the elderly; and run a Star Kids cam- paign which provides Christmas presents for needy children. Managing director Daniela Hel-


frich said: “Our work has been lim- ited due to the lack of transport and this van, which is designed to trans- port disabled people, will help us ex- pand and improve the projects we are already involved with.” The charity is embarking on anew project, Hope on Wheels, which will distribute food parcels, take the eld- erly on day trips, and help women from sheltered housing move into their own homes. Restoring Hands has raised funds through itsowninitiatives and is ap- plying to other grant schemes to meet the full cost of the project.


Barn owls bounce back


MEMBERS of the Medway Valley Countryside Partnership say their an- nual barn owl box survey shows that barn owls are bouncing back this year, following two years of poor breeding conditions. Healthy numbers of young owlets


were recorded at almost every site vis- ited, thanks in part to the owl and kestrel boxes erected byMVCP and the Wildlife Conservation Partnership. In 2013MVCP won funding from La-


farge Tarmac to put up 18 boxes to re- place many of those which had fallen into disrepair.


charity walk THE Rotary Club of the Weald of Kent will be holding its annual North Downs walk on Sunday, June 22. Walkers have a choice of routes –


three, six or nine miles – which fin- ish with a free ploughman’s lunch, strawberries and entertainment. Registration takes place at Harri- etsham Village Hall from 8am to 11am, or places can be booked in advance on the website, www.wealdofkentrotary.co.uk, where maps and details are avail- able. Walkers can give 50% of their sponsorship money to a charity of their choice, with the remainder going to Cancer Research UK.


Big fun run


ENTRIES are being invited for the Big Fun Run at Mote Park, Maid- stone, at 11am on Saturday July 19. Entry costs £11.49 for adults,


£9.49 for children and runners over 65 and children under five go free. Finishers get a medal, goody bag and refreshments. Enter at www.bigfunrun.com,


and for more information see the Facebook page or follow #BigFun- Run on Twitter.


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