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News Highlighting volunteers’work
AN open day including workshops and networking marked the official launch of the Involve Volunteer Centre at Maidstone Town Hall in Jubilee Square. The day-long event also included
the first AGM of Involve Kent Ltd since it changed its name from Vol- untary Action Maidstone. The organisation remains focused
on the Maidstone and Malling area, but the new name enables it to un- dertake projects elsewhere in Kent. The volunteer centre has had its permanent home in the Town Hall entrance foyer for about 18 months. It is a drop-in centre between 10am and 4pm on weekdays for those in- terested in volunteering. It also pro- vides free computer training. In the past year 587 new volun-
teers have been registered, with 275 voluntary opportunities on the cen- tre's database. It has taken referrals from organisations such as Porch- light, MCCH, Kent Supported Em- ployment and Trinity House. Involve chief executive Charlotte Osborn-Forde said: “If your organi- sation wants a town centre base to meet clients, the space has internet access and a confidential area to talk. We just ask for a small donation to pay for tea and refreshments.” Other Involve projects include:
Carers (supporting those who need help due to illness, disability, mental health issues, addiction or frailty): therewere 3,436 carers reg- istered at the year-end, 635 of whomwere identified in the past
Giving help to families
ONEof the more recent projects In- volve has backed is Help a Maid- stone Child (HaMC). It was set up four years ago to
Involve chief executive Charlotte Osborn-Forde, Maidstone mayor Cllr Daniel Moriarty, KCC chairman Cllr Mike Harrison and volunteer centre manager Liz Lowrey
year – 266% of the annual target. Older people (day trips, be- friending and falls prevention classes): in the past year therewere 192 new users (up 23%), taking the registered number to 900. There were 259 people who received tele- phone befriending. Supported volunteers (assigns roles for volunteers at Maidstone Gateway and for the V-Team proj- ect): therewere 39 volunteers in- volved in the Gateway project in the past year, with 171 gardening and decorating tasks completed by V-Team volunteers. Community transport (driving clients to and from medical ap- pointments, social events, shopping events and falls prevention classes): therewere 7,500 trips arranged.
A 12-REGISTRATION grey Range Rover was stolen from a driveway in The Landway, Bearsted. A white 50-registration mopedwas
stolen from a driveway in Grange Lane, Sandling. The door of a car parked on a drive in ChallockWalk, Vinters Parkwas damaged but nothing was taken. Therewas a burglary at an isolated property in Boxley Road,
Boxley.Itwas not known if anything was taken. A Range Roverwas taken from a
driveway inWents Wood,Weavering and later recovered by police. Golf equipment had been taken from it. A stable in PilgrimsWay, Boxley was broken into and a petrol strimmer and chainsaw stolen. A Vauxhall van parked on a driveway in Thurnham Lane, Thurnhamwas broken into.A handbag containing cash and cards was among items stolen. A bike was stolen from a garage in The Landway, Bearsted. Itemswere stolen from stables in a field
in PilgrimsWay, Boxley. A lit fireworkwas thrown through the
doorway of a home in Wheeler Street, Maidstone, damaging the door. The door of a car parked in Guston Road,
Vinters Parkwas damaged but no entry was gained. A Halloween pumpkinwas stolen from outside a home in Grove Green, Bearsted. A vehicle in Station Approach, Lenham
Voluntary and community sector support (provides training, forums and advice): in the past year it has run networks and forums for groups such as young people and the disabled.Ablack and ethnic minority forum is being launched. Trainingwas given to 87 people in the past year, with 359 at- tending forums and focus groups. Cancer support (helps sufferers and affected families in a scheme with Macmillan): in the past year volunteers devoted 77 hours a week to users. Your voice (mental health aware- ness): in the past year therewere 45 events held through the Time To Change project and 795 conversa- tions aimed at reducing the stigma associated with mental health.
give small grants to Maidstone fam- ilies with acute needs. In the past year, fund-raising ac-
tivities and a donation from the Dinsmore Trust helped reach a total of £11,950 for distribution this year. Other organisations that have
helped with funds includeWaitrose, Viridor, Chelsea Building Society, Golding Homes, Bearsted Farmers’ Market, East Farleigh Farmers’ Mar- ket, Maidstone Magistrates’ Court, Mount Engineering, Nationwide and Salvation Army. TSB has made HaMC its charity of the year. Rapid-response grantswere given
to 23 families last year,with £3,600 donated to Princess Project, Switch Youth Cafe, M4S, Dandelion Time, Crossroads Young Carers and Park Wood Scouts. There is a carol concert at St Mar-
tin's Church, Shepway on Decem- ber 17, with Energise Park Wood Community Choir and Innominata. For details call 07578 879 909.
NeighbourhoodWatch Working to reduce crime. Call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or local police
was broken into and itemswere stolen. A Range Rover parked on a driveway in
St Faith’s Court, Bearstedwas broken into and an iPhone and other itemswere stolen. A lockwas damaged on a garage in Cooling Close, Vinters Park but no entry was gained. The windows and furnishingswere
stolen from a caravan on a driveway in Headcorn Road, Lenham. A home in Taylor Close, Harrietsham
was broken into but nothing appeared to have been taken. An aluminium ladderwas stolen from
where it had been left leaning against a pole in Faversham Road, Lenham. A vehiclewas driven through a field in Lenham Road, Harrietsham, damaging crops.
Fencingwas damaged at a farm in Ashford Road, Lenham when a vehicle was driven through it. A windowwas smashed at a home in Church Crescent, Harrietsham when an eggwas thrown at it. A Vauxhall Astra vanwas stolen from Maidstone Road, Lenham and later recovered by police from the scene of an accident. A vehiclewas stolen from a yard in
Gravelly Boom Road, Kingswood. Number plateswere stolen from a Kia
vehicle parked on a driveway in Lower Street, Leeds. Itemswere stolen from a van in Cayser
Drive, Kingswood. A vehiclewas damaged in a car park in Farmers Close, Leeds. The lockwas removed from a farm gate
in PilgrimsWay, Hollingbourne and a vehiclewas driven across the field, causing damage. The rear window of a Toyota parked in
HavantWalk, Senacrewas smashed with a brick. The windscreen of a digger in a yard in Eyhorne Street, Hollingbourne was damaged.
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Maidstone East December 2015 35
Crime reports
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