Contact Charity walk raises double the fund target!
Charity walk raises double the fund target!
KCC Chairman Graham Gibbens has raised just over £3,600 – more than twice his original target – for his chosen charity, Porchlight, with a four-day hike across the county.
He passed through 20 of the 72 KCC Divisions as he walked from Northfleet to Canterbury.
Setting off from Ebbsfleet Football Club, over the four days Mr Gibbens walked to Stansted via Dartford and Farningham; to Maidstone and then Thurnham; from there to Charing Hill; and on the fourth day he completed the final stretch to Canterbury Cathedral, where he was met by the Dean, Robert Willis, and Rachel van Hoven from Porchlight.
Graham with fellow Member Ian Chittenden; and below with Member Andrew Bowles
In normal circumstances, the Member elected as KCC Chairman has 12 months from their election in May to publicise causes that are close to their heart and discharge a civic role that involves visiting businesses, organisations and residents across the county.
Additionally, they have the opportunity to choose a charity and events are organised to raise money for those charities.
Unfortunately, the Covid pandemic has prevented Mr Gibbens from carrying out many of his duties in the normal way and reduced the opportunities for raising funds for his chosen charity.
After completing the walk, Mr Gibbens said he felt “absolutely fine” with no after-effects and he was delighted to find that he had more than doubled his fund-raising target.
He said: “I tried to include as many districts and KCC divisions as I could and I was extremely pleased that several Members, of all parties, made the effort to join me at various points on the route.”
Mr Gibbens has served as a Member at KCC for 19 years, during which time he has been Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care.
He said he chose Porchlight as his charity because “they have operations in every district across Kent and specifically focus on support to vulnerable people.
Finishing at Canterbury Cathedral, pictured with the Dean, Robert Willis, Mrs Angela Gibbens and Rachel van Hoven from Porchlight.
“Porchlight’s work includes homelessness and mental health – two areas that have always been of particular concern to me.”
Porchlight
Porchlight is Kent’s largest charity for homeless and vulnerable people.
They are there for people who have nowhere to go and no-one to turn to. Some are living on the streets, while others need support to prevent or resolve any issues that could put them at risk of homelessness.
They help people with their housing, mental health, education and employment so they can get where they want to be in life.
Graham Gibbens with fellow Member Dr Lauren Sullivan as he prepared to set off from Ebbsfleet.
Porchlight is striving for a fairer society where vulnerable people find stability, the most excluded are included, and where homelessness and poverty are things of the past.
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Co-op to Serve-up New Dover Store at Buckland Mill
Co-op is set to serve-up a new store in Dover this week (Friday, 02 October) following a more than £620,000 investment by the convenience retailer which has formed part of the rejuvenation of the former Buckland Mill site.
The new Co-op store will run on 100% renewable electricity, and has created 14 local jobs. It includes customer car parking, bakery, free ATM and coffee, alongside a focus on fresh, heathy produce, award winning wines, ready meals and pizzas, free-from and vegan products, Fairtrade, food-to-go and, everyday essentials.
Paul Hoskins, Co-op Area Manager, said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to make such a significant investment in Dover, and to be part of the major regeneration of the site. The store has a great look and feel, and we have worked to create the range, choice, products and services locally that will create a really compelling offer, conveniently. We are looking forward to serving the community.
“Co-op is committed to connecting communities and making a difference locally, and our aim is to operate at the heart of local life. That is why we also want customers to know that they can become a Member of their Co-op, and that they can make a difference to local causes every time they swipe their Membership card when buying own branded products.”
Cllr Michael Conolly, Chairman of Dover District Council, said: “I am delighted to see this major new investment by the Co-op. The new store makes the most of the unique setting of the historic Buckland Mill, and provides local jobs.
“The Co-op store is at the heart of a vibrant new neighbourhood being created at the former Buckland Mill, and continues a long tradition of the Co-op serving communities in Dover and the wider district.”
Students who are TOTUM cardholders – the new name for NUS extra – can pocket a 10% discount off groceries at the Co-op.
Contactless card payment limits are increased to £45, making it easier, quicker and safer to shop.
The new Co-op will also provide a funding boost locally, giving back to causes in the area through its Membership scheme, while the retailer’s Food Share scheme works to minimise food waste and make a difference locally, supporting local not-for-profit organisations who work to tackle food insecurity and share food with those in need in the community
The Co-op’s Community Shopping Card makes it easier for those self-isolating or who have been instructed to stay at home to shop and pay for their essentials – cards can be purchased or topped-up by calling 0800 029 4592, enabling friends, families, neighbours or volunteers to shop on their behalf in store.
Co-op is owned by around 4.6 million active Members, and alongside Food, it operates: Co-op Funeralcare, Insurance, Health and Legal Services.
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Havant has been ranked the happiest place to live in Hampshire, according to data compiled by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The ONS ranked the life satisfaction, happiness and anxiety of each local authority across the country using self-evaluation from residents.
Each area was given an average wellbeing score out of 10, and Havant took Hampshire’s top spot out of the 14 local authorities with a score of 7.91.
The survey used data for the year ending March 2020, so for the most part it does not consider the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Leader of Havant Borough Council, Cllr Michael Wilson said: “The wellbeing of our residents is a top priority, and I am pleased to see that these survey results reflect that.
“This has been a very anxious time for many, but we hope that our borough continues to be the happiest in Hampshire, even as we move through the pandemic.”
Coming in at second and third in the rankings were Rushmoor and Hart, followed by East Hampshire.
Recycling, tackling litter tossers and last chance to win!
Thank you for your recycling efforts!
We know it’s no longer National Recycle Week, but as always, a huge thank you to every single one of you for your efforts in continuing to recycle despite facing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s amazing that people are recycling so much more.
Here you can view the videos we posted on social media throughout the week to get the answers to some of the questions you asked us:
Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) is asking everyone to download the NHS Covid-19 App and play their part in tackling the virus.
The NHS App has been rolled out nationally to make it easier for people to check-in at different premises. It has become mandatory for a wide range of businesses and organisations, including public buildings, hospitality, close contact services and leisure venues to display NHS QR code posters. This will allow people to scan the code using the App and they won’t need to log in via any other route.
Information will be gathered through the NHS Covid-19 App as people use the QR code displayed in each premises, which is vital to enable the NHS Test and Trace service in England, to contact the necessary people if coronavirus outbreaks are identified in a venue.
All of MBC’s buildings have introduced the signage today with individual codes on display, and the Council is encouraging as many as possible to download the NHS App.
Alison Broom, MBC Chief Executive said:
“We are asking everyone to download the NHS Covid-19 App today. It will make life so much easier for them and for us if coronavirus should be identified in one of our buildings.“Maidstone Borough Council has ensured that all of our premises are Covid-19 secure so people shouldn’t worry about visiting our buildings, whether it be at the Maidstone Museum, Vinters Park Crematorium or the Town Hall. However, these new QR codes are important in assisting the Test and Trace service if it should be needed.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said:
“It is vital we do all we can to control the spread of the virus. Businesses have already stepped up to ensure they are supporting the NHS Test and Trace effort, and it is essential contact logs and displaying NHS QR codes are mandatory so there is consistency across the country and the public can seamlessly provide their details.Venues are required to record and maintain contact details logs for customers, visitors, and staff, and display an official NHS QR code poster for their premises in-line with the launch of the NHS COVID-19 app.
With cases rising, it is vital NHS Test and Trace continues to reach as many people as possible to prevent further transmission of the virus. Businesses have a duty to ensure this function is in place, and those not complying will face fines.”
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