News


New image for evolving charity


VOLUNTARYAction Maidstone is looking to change its name to In- volve. After 40 years offering a range of services to charities and community groups, the Maidstone-based char- ity is looking for an image which better reflects its changing role. VAM was founded in 1975, but


only adopted its current title in 2008. Although volunteering is still at


the heart of the service,VAMalso of- fers some specialised services which require delivery by professionals. One of these is the Maidstone and Malling Carers Project – currently VAM’s biggest service. The board of VAM has been in discussion with marketing and branding groups and come up with the name of Involve and the strapline “changing lives and com- munities”. The charity believes the name re-


flects its passion and commitment to engage and support people, as well as its volunteering role. “The board and staff strongly feel


that the new name will allow VAM to continue to thrive in what is an in- creasingly competitive environment


and present the organisation in a modern, dynamic and inclusive way,” said a spokesman. Members are being asked for their


views before a final decision is taken at an extraordinary general meeting later in the summer. VAM is increasingly being asked


to provide services across a wider geographical area and the board be- lieves the name will also represent its wider geographic involvement, aswell as reflecting its heritage and the nature of its work. Stakeholders such as Kent County Council and the Clinical Commis- sioning Group already cover areas beyond Maidstone and Malling and other groups, such as Macmillan, re- quire VAMto cover certain areas in order to work in partnership with the relevant hospitals and oncology centres. In recent years, VAM has devel-


oped its Council for Voluntary Serv- ice, which provides advice and information to other non-profit or- ganisations, as well as specialist services such as fall prevention pro- grammes and support for people suffering from cancer.


THE side window of a Nissan Micra parked on a driveway in OrchardAvenue, Aylesfordwas smashed. An old central heating boilerwas taken


from a driveway in Birch Crescent, Dion. Ablack Halfords mountain bikewas


stolen from the side of a property in Friars View, Aylesford. Electrical equipment and jewellerywere


stolen from a home in Old Parsonage Court, West Malling. Adoor of a home in Church Road, Oamwas damaged. Both number plateswere stolen from a


Ford S-Max in a car park in Aylesford High Street. AVauxhall parked in a driveway in New


Road, Dionwas keyed. The shed of a property inOamRoad,


West Mallingwas broken into and garden equipmentwas stolen. The shed of a home in Sandy Lane, Addingtonwas entered and a bicyclewas taken. Four wheels and some cablewere stolen


from the front garden of a home in Masters Lane, Birling. An outdoor lightwas damaged in Larkspur Road, East Malling. The driver’s door of a car parked in Bingley Close, Snodlandwas damaged. Fencing and a shed on an allotment in ChapmanWay, East Mallingwas damaged. Awall at the front of a home in Orchard


Avenue, Aylesfordwas damaged. Aschool windowwas damaged in ChapmanWay, East Malling after having things thrown at it. Ayard in BeddowWay, Aylesford was


34 Malling May 2015


downsmail.co.uk Cows enjoying park life


THE variety of animal life in aWest Malling park just got a lot bigger. A herd of Herefordshire cows is now roaming the range at Manor Park


Country Park after KCC’s countryside team hit on an old-fashioned way to trim the grass. The cattle were


brought in at the be- ginning of May and will be chomping their way through one of two fields – either Chestnut Field or Abbey Field – until September. During their stay, one of the fields will be left free for visitors to enjoy, and their grazier, fromRoundoak Farm in Sutton Valence, will keep an eye on the animals and the fenceline. Ranger Joshua Gearing said the public need not worry as the cows are


very docile breeds. They are a traditional hardy type and will eat a range of grasses and leaves, unlikemodern breeds which prefer lush green grass. This is the fourth summer that cattle have munched the Manor Park meadows. The project began in 2012 when a herd of Highland cattlewas brought in, and the technique is now used by KCC rangers in other coun- try parks including Teston.


Laughing gas canisters found


FEARS that young people have been sniffing laughing gas were raised after discarded canisters were found in car parks in Snod- land.


About 100 containers were dis-


covered near the cemetery and res- idents have posted reports on social


media of finding similar items. It is unlawful to sell under 18s substances which the seller believes may be inhaled for the purpose of intoxication. Police warned that they would


take action against licensed prem- ises where the gaswas found.


NeighbourhoodWatch Working to reduce crime. Call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or local police


entered and awasher machinewas taken. Toolswere stolen from a container in


Wateringbury Road, East Malling. AVauxhall Corsa parked in The Street, Mereworthwas damaged by a man during an argument. He is described as in his early 20s, about 5ft 10in and of slim build. Alight in Addison Close, East Malling


was damaged by someone using a catapult. An office block in London Road, Dion


was broken into and searched. Itwas not known whether anythingwas missing. Astreet lightwas damaged inWalpole


Close, East Malling. Acar parked in Godden Road, Snodland


was damaged. Avehicle in Ryarsh Lane,West Malling


was scratched. The turf of a football pitchwas damaged


by a barbecue in BeaconAvenue, East Malling. Acatalytic convertorwas removed from a


vehicle in Branbridges Road, East Peckham. Therewas an aempted burglary, causing damage at a property in Maltings Close, Hadlow. APeugot 106was stolen from Queen


Street, Kings Hill and later recovered from where it had been crashed nearby. Avehiclewas scratched in Keats Road, Larkfield. Acar radio fasciawas stolen from a vehicle in Covey Hall Road, Snodland.


The number plateswere stolen from a


vehicle left in a car park in The Lakes, Larkfield. Avehicle parked in Edwards Close, Snodlandwas damaged in an aempt to break in. Toolswere stolen from a vehicle on the


driveway of a home in Lunsford Lane, Larkfield. The driver’s door of a car parked in Taylor


Road, Snodlandwas damaged. Cashwas taken from a vehicle in Malling


Road, Larkfield. The number plateswere stolen from a car parked in Coombe Close, Snodland. Avehiclewas scratched in Glebe Meadow,


Wateringbury. The door of a home in Church Field, Snodlandwas damaged but no entrywas gained and nothingwas missing. Agarage at a home in St Leonard’s Street,


West Mallingwas broken into and a chainsaw and a strimmerwere stolen.


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