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County’s efforts to help refugees


COUNCIL officers in Maidstone are working with statutory services in the county to help asylum seek- ers and refugees coming to Kent. The council’s housing and com- munities team is liaising with KCC, other district councils, the police and other services to achieve a “joined-up” approach. Although accommodating chil-


dren and young people is the re- sponsibility of KCC, Maidstone councillors were told that residents might like to consider helping this priority group. The council has already begun contacting housing associations and private landlords who might have properties available for adults and families. Chief executive Alison Broom


told members: “There is consider- able public interest in the arrange- ments that councils are making to ensure a constructive and effective response to the current refugee cri- sis.”


There are now three reception centres in Kent and a national sys- tem for “distributing” adults and families.However, unaccompanied


children under 18 who are asylum seekers arriving through the chan- nel ports are the responsibility of KCC.


There are currently about 730 un- accompanied children in KCC’s care, of which about 75% are aged 16-17. A significant portion come from Eritrea, Afghanistan and Africa. Mrs Broom said: “There is clearly considerable cost in providing ap- propriate accommodation, care and support to these looked-after chil- dren. There is likely to be an in- creased service need for over 18s and this in turn will have an impact for district councils if care leavers become homeless.” Asylum seekers who cannot sup-


port themselves are supported by the government – the only ones di- rectly supported by local authorities are unaccompanied children. The council is waiting to hear


what its responsibilities will be in relation to Syrian refugees but Mrs Broom said: “The key services im- pacted will be housing, health, edu- cation, policing and community services.”


COMPANIES across Kent are lending their limbs and lungs to raise funds for aWest Farleigh charity. Kent's biggest indoor rowing


event is in aid of Dandelion Time – Kent's charity for children and fami- lies. Rowers from 24 businesses set off


for a two-week stint at 21 sites in Kent to rowthe 5,600 miles to reach Madagascar. Business supporters include Kent


Fire&Rescue Service, Kims Hospital, the Mercure Great Danes Hotel and the South East Coast Ambulance Service, Coxheath. Schools taking part include Oak-


wood Park, Maidstone Girls Gram- mar, Sevenoaks Prep and Benenden School, while three rowing clubs and


News


Former Olympic rower Liz McVeigh demonstrates how it’s done at the offices of mhs homes


Rowing for charity


gyms are participating: Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club,Medway Towns Rowing Club and 7R Performance Gym. Former Olympic rower LizMcVeigh


helped Medway-based mhs homes launch the two-week rowathon at its offices in Broadside, Chatham, on September 28. Participants will be rowing furiously until Friday,October 9.


To follow the progress see @dan- deliontimeUK (#rowfordandelion) on Twitter or Dandelion Time on Facebook. Dandelion Time is a Kent-based


charity for children and their families struggling with trauma, often arising from physical or emotional abuse, neglect and domestic violence.


Maidstone South October 2015


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