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ASK DEBBIE... for help, advice and assistance Dear Debbie,
Historic town church ‘at risk’
A LANDMARK church in Maid- stone town centre has been de- clared “at risk” by English Heritage. The medieval church of All
Saints in Mill Street was built by Archbishop Courtenay in 1395 and is a grade I listed building. It is the oldest medieval building in the town available for use by the com- munity. The parish church has this year
been included on English Her- itage’s at risk register for the first time and is described as being in a “poor” condition, along with All Saints in Ulcombe Hill, which is also grade I listed and also de- scribed as poor. Blocked and damaged drains
have allowed water into the town centre building, causing damp. The church has spent about £2m on re- pairs in the past 20 years and will now look at what can be done in the next phase of restoration. All Saints has seven roofs and all
have been restored in the past few years except for the main nave roof, which would cost £750,000 to fix. Lionel Marchant, treasurer of the trustees of the church’s restoration trust, said: "This is not as drastic as the words suggest. It merely high- lights a special need when applica- tion is made to the various grant making bodies for financial help.
“Wenowhave anewpriest – The
Rev Ian Parrish – which means that the trustees cannowprepare a mis- sion plan (in the secular world this would be called a business plan) to identify the bestway forward in the next stage of restoration." English Heritage describes the Ulcombe Hill church as “an attrac- tive and complex village church of multiple phases, beginning in the 12th century andmuch restored in the 20th century”. Its “good medieval tracery”, in-
ternal fittings and roof structures are all under threat fromwater get- ting into the building. Slipped tiles and cracked cement pointing have led to serious damp issues. The Friends of All Saint’s Church
are fundraising to try to save the church in Ulcombe, but still need another £90,000 to repair the roof and put right thewater damage. Once on the risk register, places
of worship can move through the condition categories, from bad to fair and good as repairs are imple- mented and the condition im- proves, until they are fully repaired and can be removed. Nationally, 6% of listed places of worship are on the register. In the South East, 5.1% (116) are on the register. Maidstone has the highest concentration of grade I listed buildings in Kent.
How to help homeless
THE Downs Mail is inviting readers to join a campaign to protect and care for the town’s homeless this Christmas and winter. The second Maidstone ChurchesWinter Shelter campaign will
offer awarm winterwelcome overnight for the homeless. Church members and other volunteers in seven participating churches will provide an evening meal, companionship, shelter for the night and support towards a better future. This year the shelter opens at7pmand runs from December 8 until the end of February. This is how you can show some seasonal spirit:
Food: Non-perishable food can be taken to The Salvation Army, 74-80 Union Street, Maidstone (easy on-site parking) between 9am and noon. Time: Volunteers are needed to help at the churches. Donations: It is easy to make a donation.
If you can offer help of any kind, call 07906 628413 or email
dianagordonuk@googlemail.com.
I live in a different country and am unable to visit my elderly mother who lives on her own this winter. As winter is approaching and the weather is getting colder I was wondering if you could provide me with some advice on how to deal with the colder climate? Yours sincerely, Marie-Ann B
Dear Marie-Ann, As the weather starts to get colder, people need to prepare for the winter with some simple steps to stay warm and safe. Last winter was one of the coldest on record and with the threat of another severe winter Bluebird Care is urging the public to think WARMTH this winter. Wrap Up indoors and outdoors. Wearing extra layers indoors can help you keep warm. If you need to go outside, sturdy shoes with good grip or attachable grips to wear over your shoes can help prevent falls, and an insulated waterproof coat will help keep you warm and dry. Alert Keep an eye on the weather forecast and stock up with nutritious food and speak to your GP about medicine in advance of a cold snap. If you have vulnerable neighbours, try and check up on them during cold weather. Risk Minimise the risk of falls or becoming ill by taking the weather into account when you plan activity when severe weather is forecast. Plan ahead for the cold weather by talking to your GP about getting a flu jab, and talking to your neighbours about clearing snow in front of your home. Money Winter bills can be very expensive. Make sure that you’re receiving all of the benefits you’re eligible for. In addition to the Winter Fuel Payments (Helpline 0845 915 1515), if it gets very cold you could be entitled to additional Cold Weather Payments (Helpline 0800 731 7898). Please call 0845 601 8821 for the Helpline in Northern Ireland.
www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/heating Temperature Keep your bedroom heated to 18°C (64°F) and your living room around 21°C (70°F). If you prefer to heat just your living room during the day, to keep you warm through the night try heating your bedroom just before you go to sleep. Hot Meals One hot meal a day and hot drinks throughout the day can help to keep you warm. Eating nutritious food regularly can help to keep up your energy levels and support your immune system in the cold weather. Best wishes,
Debbie Moulton, Care Manager Bluebird Care
• Help with getting up or going to bed
• Personal Hygiene • Cleaning the home • Preparing Meals • Assist with medication
• Overnight Care • Washing or Ironing • Shopping • Sightseeing or leisure activities • 24hr Live-in-care • Trips to see friends or relatives
MAIDSTONE • 01622 809530
maidstone@bluebirdcare.co.uk www.bluebirdcare.co.uk/maidstone Maidstone South December 2014
If you have a question that you would like to ask Debbie then please email her at
debbie@bluebirdcare.co.uk
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