News
Apprentice scheme ‘has mutual benefits’
AN assisted apprentice scheme running at the Maidstone YMCA sports and community centre is reaping rewards for young people and staff. The scheme, funded by Kent County Council and coordinated by MaidstoneYMCA,has seen two ap- prentices gaining work skills. Matthew Whyatt, of Coxheath, completed his course last year and is now working at the sports and community centre as a fitness in- structor and also as an NHS health trainer. Patrick Davies (21) is half way through his course and on the way to gaining his NVQ level two in customer service. Both Matthew and Patrick have Asperger syn- drome. Patrick, from Coxheath, said:
“I’m enjoying the scheme much more than I imagined. It’s a close- knit team at the gym and I’m get- ting onwell with allmycolleagues.
“I did IT at MidKent College and
it’s something I really enjoy. “I’m learning a lot of general pur-
pose skills that will be useful for me in and out of work in the future.” Matthew (pictured) said: “When I first started I was quite nervous but I fell more and more in love with the place and its staff.
It’s true what they say, you’re only as good as the team around you.” The scheme gives young people
who have a disability or who have struggled in education the chance to gain NVQ qualifications. Stewart Mackie, Maidstone YMCA centre manager, said: “The scheme helps the young people
who come through and us as a sports centre. We get an extra pair of hands around the gym and the young people get access to em- ployment, skills and qualifications they may otherwise have struggled to get. “Patrick came in to support our customer service department butwe discovered his amazing IT skills. “The scheme fits in perfectly with
our aims to support the community andwe look forward towelcoming more apprentices next year. We’re incredibly proud of what Matthew and Patrick have achieved so far.” Roger Gough,KCCcabinet mem-
ber for education, said: “The KCC assisted apprenticeship scheme has 60 places for vulnerable young peo- ple across Kent so if anyone knows of someone who may qualify please get in touch.” Call 03000 414005 or email as-
sistedapprenticeships@kent.gov. uk.
Rebecca’s community reward
THE Kent Association of Local Councils (KALC) has rewarded a Headcorn woman for the work she has put into the village’s neigh- bourhood plan. Dr Rebecca Driver, whomoved to Headcorn with her partner David in 2012, has been a keen – and very vocal – activist in trying to defend Headcorn’s green spaces at the meetings of Maidstone Council. Dr Driver has more than 25 years experience in tackling difficult pol- icy issues, ranging fromthe benefits of EU membership to how to ex- plain risk to consumers, or what should the policy framework be for neighbourhood plans. As a relative newcomer to the vil-
lage, but someone with invaluable experience, Dr Driver offered to write Headcorn’s neighbourhood plan, in conjunction with fellow vol-
Before setting up her company, Analytically Driven Ltd, Dr Driver spent six years as director of re- search and chief economist at the Association of British Insurers, dur- ing which time she compiled re- ports on topics such as how to explain house prices and how to as- sess exchange rate regimes. She was also secretary to the In-
Dr Rebecca Driver with her award
unteer and retired chartered sur- veyorMichael Jefferys. In recognition of all her hard
work, the researcher and analyst was chosen to be the most worthy recipient of this year’s KALC Com- munity Award.
Storage-to-homes proposal
A VEHICLE storage building in West Farleigh could be demolished and replaced with two homes. The proposal by Arnold Tarmac
for Farleigh Green Yard in Lower Road also includes the conversion and extension of an oast stowage and garage into two further homes. Aneighbour raised concerns that
the applicants are set to leave the area. They wrote: “Having lived next door to the Arnolds for over 20 years, we know that their manage- ment of the yard has been quiet,
38 Maidstone South June 2015
tidy and considerate. With previ- ous occupants we had ongoing problems. It does make us wary of the now enlarged yard in the hands of other owners.” Maidstone Council will decide.
Church funds taken
THE theft of about £18 from a collection box at All Saints’ Church in Staplehurst High Street is being investigated.
surance Industry Working Group, which was co-chaired by the (then) Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling, and Andrew Moss, group chief executive of Aviva. She has also been a boardmem-
ber of ORIC (Operational Risk In- surance Consortium) and a council member of the Society of Business Economists. Prior to that, she worked for the
Bank of England for almost eight years, including being research ad-
downsmail.co.uk
Pick of the floral crop
THE Garden of England will soon be in bloom – giving local folk the chance to take their pick of some organically-grown spectacular sea- sonal flowers. Blooming Green, at Loddington,
near Linton, will once again be opening the doors to their plot overlooking the Weald and invit- ing visitors to pick their own selec- tions. The Blooming Green plot is open
every Friday from noon to 4pm from July 3 – October, as well as Saturday mornings on July 11,Au- gust 8 and September 12. For just £10, you can lose your-
self among the blooms, armed only with a container and pair of seca- teurs – then go home and arrange your flowers and foliage to your heart’s content. There are also a number of after-
noon workshops, where you can learn how to make a hand-tied bouquet, a buttonhole or a table arrangement. Buttonhole work- shops take place on May 8 and September 18; vase workshops on May 22 and August 14 and hand- tied bouquet workshops on June 5 and September 25. For more information on these
and the gardens, go to www.
bloominggreenflowers.co.uk
Reserve’s big
cat open days THEWildlife Heritage Foundation is throwing open its gates to the public for a series of open days in July.
The foundation, which has more
than 50 big cats, including tigers, lions, leopards and cheetahs, at its reserve on the Headcorn Road in Smarden will be adding to the at- traction with a falconry display, bouncy castle, and arts and crafts stalls. The open days run from Thurs-
day to Sunday, July 16–19. Tickets are £10 per person (under5s free). Booking is in ad- vance only at
www.whf.org.uk.
Friends’ help for hospital
MORE than £400,000 has been spent on equipment for Maidstone hospi- tal by the League of Friends. The league donated £443,000 in
the last financial year raised at quiz nights, coffee mornings, prize draws, its bookshop and fete. Items bought include an ultra-
sound machine for the rheumatol- ogy department, a scanner for the stroke unit, recliner chairs and wifi. Over the last seven years, the
league has contributed more than £1.5 million towards equipment for
Maidstone Hospital. League chairman Joyce Langton
said: “This is an incredible amount, particularly when you realise that the league is run by volunteers. I would like to thank them for their hard work and commitment.” The League of Friends has just un-
veiled its shop in the reception area of Maidstone Hospital, in Hermitage Lane, and marked the occasion by presenting a cheque for almost £268,000 to purchase a laser urology machine.
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