News


downsmail.co.uk Joint plan for missing people


POLICE, fire and rescue and social workers have joined forces with charities to tackle the growing problem of tracing missing people who are living with dementia. A multi-agency group (pictured),


led by Kent Police, has been explor- ing ways of helping to reduce the time taken to find them. Missing person liaison officer PC


Feebee Sparks said: “Kent Police re- ceives approximately 10,000 missing person reports every year, and an in- creasing number of these are for people living with dementia. “Some people with dementia are


prone to simply wandering off, while others set out with a planned destination, but become confused during their journey and enduplost. Wewanted to look atways in which we could help find them as quickly as possible.” Representatives from Kent Social Services, the Alzheimer’s Society, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, Kent Search and Rescue, Kent and Med- way NHS and Social Care Partner- ship Trust and the National Crime Agency’s Missing Persons Bureau are working closely to develop new protocols and best practice. They have devised an At Risk of


Going Missing form to provide quick, detailed information about a person’s background and history. It is hoped this will speed up the time taken to find them.


Store’s charity


MAIDSTONE-based Restoring Hands has been chosen by staff at M&S Food Hall, at Quarry Wood Retail Park,Aylesford, as their part- ner charity for the second year. The store’s efforts last year in- cluded sponsored football matches, collections and donations of bread and other goods for food parcels. Cindy Byrom, manager of the George Street charity which helps vulnerable families and the elderly, said: “It’s wonderful news. The staff will be working on a scheme called Spark Something Good when they will be giving us man- hours and finance for a refurbish- ment project.”


Family art show THREE artists who are members of the same family will be holding an exhibition in West Malling on Sat- urdays, Sundays and bank holi- days between April 29 and May 29. Thomas and Lucy Best-Shaw and


their mother Jane, who paints under her maiden name Guthrie, will be showing their work at Bel- mont, 104 High Street, from 10am to 5pm.


Thomas, who lives in Watering-


bury, specialises in oil portraits and seascapes.


8 Malling April 2017


PC Sparks said: “When a person


living with dementia is reported missing,we need to gather as much information about their lifestyle and daily routine aswe can. “We need information about their mobility, preferred mode of travel- ling, routes frequented, general health issues and the places they are likely to gravitate towards. This form enables all this information to be documented in advance, thus ex- pediting the missing person investi- gation.” Police advise that, once compiled,


the form is kept in a safe place by families or carers so it can be found quickly if the person has to be re-


ported missing. PC Sparks said: “Having this in- formation already available saves us having to work through these ques- tions at what can be an extremely anxious and stressful time for the loved ones of the missing person. “It also gives families and carers


peace of mind that should their loved one become lost,we are much better equipped to find them.” The group is also investigating


how GPS trackers can be used to find missing people and is compil- ing an impartial guide on trackers for families wishing to buy one. Recently Kent Police asked Kent Fire and Rescue Service for help in


finding amanin his 70swhowas re- ported missing in Thanet. A fire crew spotted themanwalking along a street within two hours of him being reported missing. For more information, call the Alzheimer’s Society - Kent and Med- way on 01303 260674, email them on kentandmed- way@alzheimers.org.uk or visit www.alzheimers.org.uk. Alterna- tively, you can phone the 24-hour Kent Dementia Helpline on 0800 500 3014. TheAt Risk of Going Missing form


can be downloaded from the Kent Search and Rescue website at www.ksar.co.uk.


Vineyard launches wine club


PREMIUM wine producer Hush Heath has launched a wine club. The Staplehurst-based producer


will offer exclusive deals for members, including 15%off bottle prices. Membership is £150 a year. Hush Heath Wine Club was launched at the Five Oak Lane headquarters, by producers Richard and Leslie Balfour-Lynn, pictured right.


Wine lovers will be invited to


private events, the grape harvest and to join blending panels. Mr Balfour-Lynn said: “What we


England and we have been considering what will be exciting for people to enjoy as part of an English winery experience. “Taking all of this into account,


really want to do is involve people from the community and beyond in what we are doing at the estate. “We are tucked away here in Kent among 400 acres of The Garden of


we are inviting people to become part of our family – the Hush Heath Wine Club is dedicated to those interested in joining us in our English wine journey.” Club members will also be able to


get discounts on food at the Hush Heath pubs – The Tickled Trout in West Farleigh and The Goudhurst Inn.


Burger restaurant brings jobs to town


A NEW burger restaurant is com- ing to Maidstone, creating new jobs. Gourmet Burger Kitchen will


open at the Lockmeadow Leisure Complex in Barker Road by the end of May.


Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK)


is known for its large burgers and fresh produce, as well as its casual dining style, and already has restaurants in Kent at Bluewater and in Canterbury. Lockmeadow already has a Burger King, which gives a differ-


ent offer of burgers. There is also a Frankie & Benny's restaurant. GBK is advertising for a grill chef


and a supervisor. The advert reads: “Fresh food, no microwaves – Free food and drink on shift – Fun funds for team days out – You learn more, you earn more – Extra day off after working one year – opportunities to grow with us – plus much more…Can you handle the heat?” Ric Tsang, assistant fund man-


ager at Kames Capital, was re- ported in industry newspaper


Insider Media as saying:“We're de- lighted to welcome Gourmet Burger Kitchen to Lockmeadow. The leisure scheme hosts a wide range of tenants and is proving to be extremely popular." Carlene Hughes, associate direc-


tor in the leisure team at Savills, added: "Lockmeadow has an estab- lished role as Maidstone’s premier leisure destination andwe are very pleased to have secured this deal with GBK. There is now just one re- maining restaurant unit to let."


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