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YMCA capturing its fun sessions on film
MAIDSTONE YMCA has made a short film about the work staff and parents do. The four-minute promotional
video was filmed and edited by Wildwood media over a two-day periodat theMaidstone Sports and Community Centre. The YMCA-funded film was
posted on YouTube on February 5, featuringstaff andgymusersprais- ing the centre for being “suchanice and friendly place towork out.” It received nearly 1,000 views in
its first 10 days of being online. Many people in Maidstone and
the surrounding areas have fond memories of roller discos and youth groups at the YMCA and nowbring their children along. AlexaKersting-Woods, business
manager at Maidstone YMCA said: “Themost popular activity is definitely our roller-skating events, it gives a chance for the kids to use up their energy after school, and
the parents can have a coffee. “We made the video because I
don’t think enoughpeople actually know what we do here. We’re pretty tucked away and hidden, we aren’t on a main road or any- thing, butwe justwanted to show howmuchwe actually do. “But it’s not all about the kids,
we do offer a lot of facilities for adults too, including badminton, basketball, cricket, over 60s ses-
Skate instructor Elaine Carter (47) and skate marshall Rebecca Osbourn (17) atMaidstone YMCA
sions and fitness classes.” Mums and dads have praised
the groupfor its free creche, sopar- ents are able to use the gymwith- out theworries of child care costs. Today, Maidstone YMCA runs
two pre-schools, a health and fit- ness facility including gymand 65 different group exercise classes and a place for adults and children to take part inmore than 15 differ- ent sports.
News Gender focus
of exhibition MAIDSTONE Museum has launched a year-long event focus- ing on sexuality and gender issues in history. The project opened on January
31 and aims to give the LGBTQ community a voice and “to look at artefacts in a different light”. The museum applied to the
South East Museums’ Develop- ment fund for almost £3,000 of fi- nancial support. Supporting the launch were the
35 people from various walks of life, includingMaidstone Borough Council’s Cllr PaulHarper. He said: ”At least 10%of thepop-
ulation identify as non-straight, heterosexuals, but in Maidstone they are a hiddenminority. “This event (and associated trial)
are the start of the museum cele- brating our LGBTQ communities and their heritage and impact. It’s the start of an interesting partner- ship with the LGBTQ community which I am proud to be involved with.” MaidstoneMuseumis home to a
vast collection of fine art and his- torical artefacts, that are free for all visitors to discover.
Maidstone March 2019
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