More than 70 talented artists will have their colourful creations hosted by Kent County Council next month. The exhibition, entitled Art Ability, will see residents supported by the council’s learning disability services invited to County Hall in Maidstone to display and sell their unique artwork. Paintings, sculpture and photography will be among items included, as…
For almost 20 years KCC foster carers Mary and Bob Howse have opened their home to disabled children with complex needs. So, when asked to appear on Channel 5’s ‘Do the Right Thing’ with Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford, they leapt at the chance to raise awareness about the vital lifeline short break fostering placements…
Children at a Maidstone nursery have devoted 1,000 hours to improving the environment and making the world around them a better place. Youngsters at Smarties Nursery transformed plastic bottles into plant holders, created an upcycled home for a toy owl and enjoyed stories as part of a challenge designed to make them more aware of…
A newly formed youth American Youth Football Club based in Maidstone has benefitted from a £900 KCC members grant from Paul Carter, Eric Hotson and Brian Clark towards a new kit and training for the coaching team. The Kent Phoenix Youth American Football club was born out of a desire to teach and expand the UK game.…
The Princess Project was able to expand their Mum 2 Mum project thanks to a £1,000 KCC members grant from Gary Cooke. The project provides support to young mums to reduce social isolation, tackle low self esteem and improve parenting skills . The project has recruited and trained five new volunteer befrienders as a result of…
Youth Central is running a young mothers peer education project with young mums from Parkwood and the surrounding areas. The project will involve the young mums being taught the skills and knowledge to present information to other young people of a similar age, experience or background. The young mums meet once a week for two…
The Downswood Community Centre is a very well used and popular centre with residents of all ages, and after 25 years was in need of some redecoration and refurbishment. It was made possible thanks to a £2,000 KCC members grant from Gary Cooke. Chairman of Downswood Community Centre John Everett said: “The refurbishment has made…
Molehill Primary Academy School pupils and their families are benefitting from a £1,000 KCC members grant from Gary Cooke. The funding has helped provide a new and improved library providing a greater selection of books and making the area more inviting to pupils and their families making it more user friendly. It is hoped this will encourage children to want to…
Extra support for bereaved children in Maidstone has been made possible thanks to a £3,900 KCC members grant from Paul Carter, Eric Hotson, Jenny Whittle, Paulina Stockell and Gary Cooke. The two day workshops at Slide Away are offered free to children who are bereaved to engage in creative therapeutic activities which allow them to…
The community of Maidstone South East got together to vote on which projects they felt should receive funding from Gary Cooke’s member community grant. The Otham Bell Ringers including their youngest member came along and asked for funding to contribute towards replacing the bearings of the three old bells which are over 100 years old. The youngest bellringer…
Make a Difference Maidstone was able to provide a crisis counsellor for its work supporting those who are homeless, socially isolated or in addiction, such as drugs or alcohol, thanks to a £1,500 KCC members grant from Gary Cooke. The counselling has helped empower a number of the people supported by the project to take…
Yesterday afternoon, Gary Cooke, County Councillor for Maidstone South East, held another local democracy session at County Hall, Maidstone for local school children. 60 pupils from Oaks Primary Academy, Molehill Primary Academy and Tree Tops Primary Academy attended with their teachers. The pupils were given a guided tour of County Hall to learn about its history…