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Help charity to bridge shortfall
MAIDSTONE Mencap is hoping locals will dig deep to help the charity keep its historic base in the town’s Mote Park. The charity, founded 47 years
ago, runs a popular playgroup, as well as holiday and youth clubs, at its base in the park’s Cobtree Hall. But the former church is falling
into disrepair and now needs £160,000 spending on the roof, gut- tering and stonework to ensure its survival.
Maidstone Mencap is £52,000
short of funds for the first phase and would need an extra £30,000 to complete the second. At a time when the charity is al-
ready struggling to stay solvent, the news has come as a bitter blow. The group is loathe to relinquish
the historic building in a pictur- esque setting where the children can play safely both inside and out. Consequently, it has launched a campaign to raise funds and secure any appropriate grants and dona-
tions toward the cost of the work. Maidstone Mencap caters for children and young people with both learning and physical disabil- ities. Many of them also have addi- tional medical needs, are autistic and have difficulty communicating or challenging behaviour, any of which may mean they are excluded from other clubs. The playschool runs each Tues-
day and Thursday in term time, from 10am to 2pm, catering for up to 25 children aged two to five from Maidstone, Malling and theWeald. A team of volunteers means the children get one to one care. The charity gets no government funding so is entirely dependent upon donations. For more information on how to
help, donate or volunteer, visit
www.maidstonemencap.org
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Michaelas will donate a day’s profits to a charity in memory of Matt Carapiet, inset
Chip shop cash for Matt
A BEARSTED chip shop is to do- nate a day’s takings to the mem- ory of Matt Carapiet (23), who died in the Nepal earthquake in April. He had been helping to build the
Self Help Community Centre, near Siem Reap, Cambodia, as part of his gap year travels through Asia. Following Matt’s death, more
than £11,000 was collected to help complete the project and pay for teachers, stationery and food.
Matt enjoyed nothing more than
a plate of fish and chips from his local “chippie” – the Marino Fish Bar in Ashford Road, so for every meal of fish and chips bought on Monday, September 7, a donation will go towards the community cen- tre fund. Matt’s mum Jill said: “Matt’s
dream was to use his skills to im- prove the quality of life for com- munities in poor countries and he put this into practice in Cambodia.”
Ancient hall is re-opened
A 12TH-century hall in Maidstone, mothballed for 15 years, is to open to the public after a renovation. The Corpus Christi Hall in Earl Street is now available for private hire. It was home to Maidstone Grammar School for 300 years, from 1549, and housed the Whitbread brewery. Part of the building was most recently used as the reception for Avis Rent-a-car, while the rest lay empty for 15 years.
The hall still has original features
including two crown posts with chamfered tie beams, a passage with five stone arches, and traces of a wooden partition that originally di- vided the hall in two. The renovation has restored the building, with its original sprung floor and vaulted ceiling. Now, the hall boasts a bar and kitchen. The public can view the premises from noon to 4pm on Sunday, Sep- tember 13, as part of Maidstone Council’s Heritage Open Days.
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