News Lorry service
centre opens AFLAGSHIP£6mcommercial vehi- cle service centre for Scania has been opened at BrooklynPark, Maidstone bySweden'sAmbassador to the UK, Her Excellency Nicola Clase. The centre, just off Junction 6 of
the M20, is the first of a new genera- tion of purpose-built UK premises created by Scania to serve the opera- tors of its trucks, coaches and com- mercial vehicles. The ambassadorwas joined at the ceremony by Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Daniel Moriarty, Kent transport operators, senior Scania executives and representatives from Maidstone Council and BrooklynPark’s owner, Gallagher Properties. The site will employ 35 people and operate 24 hours a day, following the relocation of the company’s Sit- tingbourne facilities. The company hopes to be able to employ another 18 people over the next year. Before the construction process
got underway, great crested newts were moved to a new habitat on the Allington Castle Estate. The pond previously occupied by the newts has been preserved, with bat and bird boxes and other animal shelters. The premises also feature an un- derground fire-fighting water tank fed with rainwater from the roof, where photo-voltaic panels supply power to the development.
downsmail.co.uk
How volunteering gave me a new drive for life
A MAIDSTONE man has de- scribed how volunteering for In- volve’s community transport service helped him to recover from a mental breakdown five years ago.
Steve Cottonwas employed as an engineer for 45 years, but after re- covering from a head-on crash in his work van, he suffered a break- down. He said: “It totally changed
everything and I was unable to go to work. I’d look in the mirror and although it was the same person I was looking at, my brain was scrambled.“ Herecalled:“Mypsychiatrist said
Iwas burned out after working too hard. She said if I hadn’t had the breakdown the chances are I would have had a heart attack or a stroke. Iwas doing long hours; I’d be work- ing from five or six in the morning to 10 or 11 at night and this hap- pened regularly.” As he was unable to return to
work, Steve’s counsellor suggested he started volunteering. “No pay, no work,” he responded. “My counsellor pointed out that it wasn’t just for other people.
Maidstone
Anyone who has experienced foot pain knows only too well how debilitating it can be. Do you have nails that are too long?
Toenails that have been poorly cut can also become ingrown. If you’re struggling to cut your own nails.
We offer a Footcare Service Prices are as follows: Clinic visit……..£11.90
If you are unable to leave the home our rate is Home visit………..£16.50 Couples rate.....£28.40
For more Information please Call 01622 753618 As some medical conditions apply Alternatively contact us at 7, Mill Street, Maidstone, Kent. ME15 6XW Email:
info@ageukmaidstone.org.uk
4 Maidstone East January 2016
Throughout my working life, most of what I’d done had been on my own and I’d always been self-re- liant. But then I suffered my break- down and that self-reliance went out of the window. “She said I needed to get involved and be in con- tact with other people, and that it would do me the world of good. I visited In- volve’s office, did my DBS check and got started.
“From the first client they gave
me, something sparked and I’ve en- joyed it ever since. It didn’t take me long to settle. I’ve got people to talk to, people you can understand. They’re fun, they know a lot of his- tory. I’ve been there ever since. “We pick the clients up at the
door, we take them where they want to go, then bring them home and make sure they can get to their door. It evolves as much or as little as youwant it to. “There are certain people that
you are compelled to help. “If I didn’t have the volunteering there’s a fair chance I’d just be at home and wouldn’t have done any- thing. You stay active in this role, you’ve got to think about what you’re doing and where you’re going. You’re not thinking of your- self all the time, you’re thinking of the people you’re helping because many of them are pretty frail.” Steve recommends other people
get started with volunteering like he did. “If you are capable, if you have the time, volunteering is an ideal thing to do, especially if you’re on your own.You get out, you meet people and they’re always grateful. If you have a couple of free days a week you can fit it around other commitments. You can do as much or as little as you like.” Community Transport provides a low-cost alternative for Maidstone and Malling residents who are un- able to use public transport, whether due to disability, frailty or illness. Anyone who would like to become a volunteer driver should call 01622 756662 or email commu-
nity.transport@
involvekent.org.uk for more information.
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