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downsmail.co.uk Kent’s award for helping forces
SUPPORT for former soldiers and reservists in Kent is among the best in the country – earning the county council an award from the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The Employers’ Recognition Sil-
ver Award comes just six months after Kent County Council (KCC) earned theMOD’sbronzeaward for its efforts to meet the specific needs of ex-service personnel. KCC’s Armed Forces Champion
is county councillor Richard Long, who is a reservist himself. He says he is delighted by the recognition, adding: “We are one of the largest employers in Kent and a very mili- tary friendly employer, strongly supporting the employment of serv- ice leavers and veterans, with plans to develop further positive recruit- ment support to service spouses and partners.” Kent County Council signed the
Kent Armed Forces Community Covenant in 2011 and offers 10 days paid leave to its reservist staff. It also works with Royal British Legion In- dustries to employ disabled military
Beer and cider
festival is back CAMRA’s East Malling Beer and Cider Festival will be held on Satur- day, September 2. The eighth on home turf for the Maidstone and Mid-Kent branch, the one-day event will take place in the grounds of East Malling Re- search, the world-famous horticul- tural research centre. The festival is renowned for show-
casing local microbreweries and cider producers, as well as brews from around the UK. Event organiser Jeff Tucker said:
“The response since we revived the Festival at East Malling Research has been fantastic, andwe thinkwe have the perfect venue.“ The event opens at 11am and runs
until 7pm. Admission is £5 and free forCAMRAmembers.
Burglary case
A33-YEAR-OLD man has been ac- cused of four burglaries. Ambrose Treeby, of no fixed ad-
dress, has been charged with the of- fences in 2016 at Barden Road, Tonbridge, on August 17 and Sep- tember 6; Shrubcote, Tenterden, on August 15 and Woodlands Road, Ditton, on September 1. Hewas also charged with two at- tempted burglaries in 2016 at Wood- lands Road, Ditton, onAugust 7 and Northiam Road, Rye, onAugust 15, and fraud using a stolen bank card in Tenterden onAugust 15, 2016. Treeby is due to appear before Maidstone Crown Court onAugust 29.
34 Maidstone September 2017
KCC’s Armed Forces Champion Richard Long (third right) with KCC chairman David Brazier (centre) and guests at a celebration event for reservists
personnel and gives help with school admissions, employment, health and housing. Cllr Long said: “Kent has not just
signed the covenant but has actively sought and foundways to make it a reality in Kent.” Canon Peter Bruinvels, KCC’s
civilian-military liaison adviser, said: “Having seen the links with the military in Kent grow closer and closer, it is no wonder the MOD deemed us a worthy silver award recipient. Our reservist policy is sec- ond to none and one of the most generous. Our service children are
really helped in finding schools of their choice and our veterans are treated with respect in recognition for the sacrifices they made over the years to keep Britain and Kent, in particular, safe and free.” The award will be presented on HMS Victory on September 6.
Baby box plan for safer sleeping
PARENTS using Maidstone Hospital Birth Centre are to benefit from an initiative born in Finland and cred- ited with reducing child deaths. Free Baby Boxes, which double as
an infant sleeping space and contain information and products for fami- lies, are being given out by Maid- stone NHS Trust as part of a drive to encourage mums and dads to link up early with maternity services. The Baby Box tradition has been
credited with supporting safer sleep- ing for new arrivals and reducing in- fant mortality in Finland to 2.26 per 1,000 births (2015). The UK’s infant mortality rate stands at 4.19 deaths per 1,000. The Baby Box comes with a foam
mattress, mattress cover and a cot- ton sheet, and is traditionally used as a baby’s bed for the first months of their life, replacing the need for a traditional Moses basket or cot. To receive a free Baby Box, ex- pecting parents will need to com-
Mum Audrey Antione-Hart and baby Luisa-Rose with midwife Emily Stew- ard (centre) and mum Leigh Taylor and baby Dasie Freeman
plete a childcare education pro- gramme at
www.babyboxuniver-
sity.com. Jenny Cleary, head of Midwifery
and Women’s Health at Maidstone NHS Trust, said, “We welcome any initiativewhich promotes a safer en-
vironment for babies as well as knowledge and reassurance for new parents. “Baby Box is an established and successful programme which I am sure many of our local parents will be delighted to benefit from.”
LOVERS of ice-cream are in for a treat this coming Bank Holiday Monday (August 28) when the popular Ice Cream Festival returns to the Kent Life Heritage Farm Park at Sandling. Treats including Kent’s Simply
Keep cool at ice cream festival Providing the entertainment
Ice Cream, a handmade ice cream using local ingredients, and Kelly’s of Cornwall, known for its clotted cream range, will be among the vendors, chocolatiers and sweet stalls.
will be The Boogie Woogie Gals – a close-harmony group songs from the 1940s and 1950s. Kent Life’s favourite activities, including the vintage village, Cuddle Corner, Paint-a-Pot studio, play areas and opportunities to feed the animals will also be avail- able to visitors from 10am to 6pm (last entry 5pm). Tickets are available in advance at
www.kentlife.org.uk.
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