Kent is supporting calls by England’s top medics for people at risk of suffering from or spreading flu to ensure they get their free NHS vaccination this winter. The health service in England has prepared for its largest ever flu protection drive to help keep people well and ease pressure on urgent care services over…
More than 20 members of Kent County Council’s staff have attended an awards ceremony to celebrate completing apprenticeships. A total of 22 employees, of varying ages and from different KCC directorates, were presented with certificates by KCC Leader Paul Carter at Village Hotel Maidstone on Thursday (October 10). This is the second year the council…
This National Adoption Week (Oct 14-20), Kent County Council (KCC) is highlighting the urgent need to find adoptive families to ensure children get the love and care they need. This year, KCC is focusing on children who due to their needs are more difficult to find families for. The council is seeking to find adoptive…
Kent is supporting the national ‘Every Mind Matters’ campaign this World Mental Health Day (10 October) by reminding residents of the support services available across the county. Launched by Public Health England, ‘Every Mind Matters’ is the first national NHS mental health campaign encouraging adults to be more aware of their mental health and helps…
Kent County Council (KCC) is seeking people’s views on the future of community-based wellbeing services for older people, adults living with dementia, physical disabilities or sensory impairments. The council spends £5.9m on these services each year, across 52 voluntary and community organisations. This funds befriending, volunteer-run transport schemes, dementia cafés, support services for people with…
Op Assist, the multi-agency crackdown on fly-tipping across the county has been recording a number of successes. Over the past few months, officers from local authorities, have been working together with the police and other agencies, carrying out days of action to deter illegal dumping and identify unlicensed waste collectors. Kent County Council is investing…
This media release was issued on behalf of the Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adults Board. From the 7th – 11th October, the Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adults Board is hosting its annual Safeguarding Adults Awareness Week. The Board is urging local communities to join Kent and Medway Councils, Kent Police, local NHS services, charities and…
Plans for a relief road of the A28 through Birchington, Acol and Westgate-on-Sea have received backing from the government and will now move on to the next stage of development. A bid to fund the £49.8 million project was submitted following a request from the government in December for regions to agree their priorities for improving the Major Road Network – the country’s…
KCC Highways is carrying out trials of “hot foam technology” as part of the council’s commitment to look at alternative methods of weed control on the county’s roads and footpaths. Members have expressed concern over the safety of using weed-killer sprays containing glyphosate because of suggestions that the chemical could be linked to some forms…
With figures at their lowest levels, smokers in Kent are being reminded of ways to help them quit as the national ‘Stoptober’ campaign this year encourages them to ‘end a bad relationship and split up’ with cigarettes. Figures for Kent last year show a decrease down to 15 per cent of residents being smokers –…
Kent County Council (KCC) has launched an eight–week consultation about the future of services for older people at Minnis Community Hub. KCC has been exploring the way forward for the day service at Minnis Community Hub and now seeks the views of service users on the future of services that are delivered at the centre.…
An exhibition highlighting the therapeutic value of art in managing mental health issues is being held at County Hall, Maidstone this month. The display, entitled ‘Art in Mind’ will see the art gallery next to the Stone Hall filled with drawings, paintings, photography, sculpture and papier-mâché from Monday, September 23, until October 11. Organisations taking…
Over the last three years KCC is proud that it has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 50%. The news comes with only a few days left to take part in the council’s Energy and Low Emissions Strategy consultation. The consultation sets out the council’s plans to enable all of Kent to reach net-zero emissions…
Kent County Council is installing a new zebra crossing and refreshing the cycle lanes on Shipbourne Road, Tonbridge. The crossing, due to be completed by the end of the month, replaces the existing refuge island just south of the junction with Bishops Oak Ride. Also included with the works is resurfacing along Shipbourne Road. The…
Education and health bosses have voiced their approval for plans for future SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) provision in Kent. Kent County Council and the NHS submitted a joint Written Statement of Action (WSoA) to Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills) and the CQC (Care Quality Commission), which has now been…
Kent libraries is encouraging people to volunteer at one of the county’s 99 libraries. At a committee meeting last week, members heard that last year 1,119 volunteers gave over 45,000 hours of their time adding value to the Kent libraries and archives. Head of Service Libraries, Registration & Archives James Pearson, said: “We are extremely…
Kent County Council is reminding drivers about their responsibilities to stop for school crossing patrols. School crossing patrols have a legal right to stop traffic for anyone who needs help crossing the road. It is an offence to fail to stop when a school crossing patrol displays the stop sign. KCC cabinet member for transport…
