Thanet community news: Kit sponsors, photo society, Puccini concert, QEQM Friends, Inner Wheel, charity network event, Pilgrims and KCF

New kit for Margate U8s

Margate Under 8s

Johnston’s Marketing has sponsored the Margate U8’s kit for the coming season. Margate FC is looking for other sponsors to help out with the youth sponsorship for all age groups.

Tim Johnston, from the marketing company, said: “It’s an absolute privilege for us to be involved at Johnston Marketing.

“Community means everything to us as a business and youth team sponsorship isn’t as costly as you may think. It’s a great way to help a local cause. I definitely recommend contacting the club to get your company involved.”

Isle of Thanet Photographic Society

More than 40 prints were shown in our annual exhibition at York Street Gallery in Ramsgate in June.

Members now turn their attention to our summer project where they have to produce eight digital images on subjects set by the Chairman, ready for judging in September.

Newly-elected Chairman, Andy Shaw, said: “I was delighted to see the range and quality of members’ prints on display at our exhibition. We have some wonderful photographers in the club and many who aspire to improve their camera skills.

“The programme for next season is being finalised and it promises to be varied and exciting. I am particularly looking forward to meeting at the Portland Centre in St. Peter’s, Broadstairs as it is ideal for our needs. We’ll be there on Thursdays from 8 September and our Publicity Officer will provide more details nearer the time. In the meantime, I will be out and about with members at various locations during the summer”.

For further information about the club please visit our website: www.isleofthanetphotographicsociety.co.uk or find us on Facebook.

Thanet Festival Choir

An early Puccini composition that lay in obscurity for 70 years is now delighting audiences – and Thanet Festival Choir is bringing it to Ramsgate.

The 20-year-old composer wrote Messa di Gloria as a graduation piece. He already knew that his future lay in opera, and he created a boldly operatic setting of the Gloria.

Conductor Clifford Lister and the choir have enjoyed getting to know this joyous work, and are looking forward to singing it with soloists Luke Phillips (tenor) and Orlando Barton Hodges (baritone). Luke has performed for the Prince of Wales, and Orlando has the Pope and a US president among his past audience members.

Organist Jamie Rogers will accompany the choir and will open the concert with part of Vierne’s Organ Symphony No 1. He is assistant director of music at Canterbury Cathedral and has been heard on BBC Radio 3, Radio 4 and Classic FM.

Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, 7.30pm Saturday 2nd July – St Lawrence College Chapel, College Road, Ramsgate CT11 7AE. Tickets £10 (including glass of wine) can be booked on 01304 620560 or at www.thanetfestivalchoir.org

QEQM Hospital League of Friends

Can you spare a few hours on a weekday morning each week? If so, we are planning to reinstate our much-valued service going around the hospital selling snacks, confectionery & cold drinks using a power-assisted trolley and we are looking for volunteers to help operate this service.

You will be making a positive contribution to the Hospital community and the monies raised will help us fund items that benefit the patients & staff.

If you are interested, please email us at [email protected] or ring our 24-hour answerphone on (01843) 234507 leaving your contact details and we will get back to you.

Please check out our webpage – www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/lof-qeqm – for details of other ways we can be helped to support the patients and staff at the QEQM Hospital and follow us on Facebook.

Broadstairs Inner Wheel

Anni Bignold far left, Jill Barber centre and Susan Platt on the right.

Inner Wheel Clubs generally are suffering from lack of members, but not Broadstairs.

Rotary Clubs in Thanet now accept female membership which has not helped Inner Wheel, which in the past has drawn membership from Rotary wives.

Inner Wheel now maintains open membership, it is an all female organisation with three main Objectives:

TO PROMOTE TRUE FRIENDSHIP

TO ENCOURAGE THE IDEALS OF PERSONAL SERVICE

TO FOSTER INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING.

Friendship and service truly reflects a typical Inner Wheel Member.

Broadstairs Inner Wheel has mastered lockdown, conquering zoom,  meetings throughout the epidemic  continued  under the  excellent leadership of Presidency of Anni Bignold.

Charities supported during this time have included MIND, a mental health charity in England and Wales, the Stroke Association, Dandelion Time, transforming the lives of vulnerable children and recently Broadstairs Inner Wheel has responded to Tree Planting UK by contacting Broadstairs Tree Warden Karen McKenzie  with the hope of donating towards the cost of planting a tree in Holmes Park. The ongoing watering obligation was a surprise.

On the International front money was quickly found to send a donation of goods to Ukraine,  Polio Pennies and Water Aid are always supported.

Organised events to raise money have included, quiz nights, afternoon tea parties, Bridge events, and in the past fashion shows, all activities designed to raise funds for charity.

The Clubs meets once a month on the 3rd Monday at North Foreland Golf Club for dinner and a speaker.

Monday, June 20 was handover. President Anni Bignold handed over the Presidency to Jill Barber and Susan Platt.

Both ladies are long term members of Broadstairs Inner Wheel, which was chartered in 1955.

Taking the Club forward Jill and Sue have great ideas for the future which will cement our ideals of Friendship and Service.

Friendship means having fun, service means helping others, that is Inner Wheel.

Thanet Charities Network Event

People interested in volunteering are invited to a charity networking event on Wednesday (29 June).

The event by Kent Coast Volunteering at the Discovery Planet shop in Ramsgate High Street is for charities and community groups in Thanet to make connections with each other.

And people interested in volunteering are invited to pop in anytime between midday and 2pm to find out more about volunteering opportunities in the area.

Around 75 people have registered from organisations including Carers Support East Kent, Ramsgate Active Education Foundation, Stroke Association, Gap – A Thanet Community Project, Salus, Macmillan Cancer Support, Margate Sea Cadets, Social Enterprise Kent, Friends of Ellington Park, Rethink, Thanet Crisis Peer Support Service, The Perfect Place to Grow, Age UK Thanet, Arts Education Exchange, Ramsgate Library, Marie Curie, Coramvoice, Porchlight, NHS Ramsgate Primary Care Network, Medaille trust, Guide Dogs, Thanet shelter and support, SpeakUp CIC, East Kent Mencap’s GOLD Project, Westgate-on-Sea Town Council, Cliftonville Cultural Space, Kent Community Foundation, East Kent Baby Memorial Gardens Charity, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, Thanet District Council, NHS Volunteers.

Mayor of Ramsgate Raushan Ara is attending and also brining samosas and Chris West of Academy FM Thanet is attending to record community news and Sean O’Brien from National Council for Voluntary Organisations to find potential case studies from charities.

The free event is part of Thanet Charities Network, part of Kent Coast Volunteering, which also provides resources for organisations, training for existing volunteers and a closed Facebook group and quarterly newsletter for staff and volunteers of charitable organisations operating in Thanet to network and share their news.

Thanet Charities Network event, Wednesday 29 June, Midday – 2pm, Discovery Planet shop, 47 High Street, Ramsgate, CT11 9AG. Book your place free HERE

Pilgrims Hospices

More than 600 walkers took part in the award winning Pilgrims Way Challenge charity walk on Saturday 11th June. The event has raised £74,000 this year, with early estimations being that the event will exceed £90,000 for Pilgrims once all fundraising is counted.

With three distances to choose from, 25km, 35km or 55km, walkers of all fitness levels were able to enjoy the rural beauty of one of England’s oldest and least-trodden national trails.  Starting from the picturesque village of Wye within the Kent Downs AONB, those taking part walked through the scenic Stour Valley, to historic Canterbury, and onwards to finish inside the inner bailey of Dover Castle, journeying through some of the most charming villages in Kent, whilst being surrounded by endless green fields, rolling hillside views, quiet country lanes, historic buildings and ancient woodlands.

This popular annual charity fundraising event goes from strength to strength, with hikers and runners joining from across east Kent and further afield, all of them passionate about their walking, and everyone raising money to support end-of-life care at Pilgrims Hospices and within the community.

The weather was glorious, as walkers started their mammoth challenge. New faces joined many returning supporters who know the event is well planned, with rest stops, snack stations and bundles of volunteers and staff to support and encourage them along the way.

Robert Grew, Pilgrims Events Manager, said: “It was fantastic to welcome so many Pilgrims hikers to another sun-filled Pilgrims Way Challenge at the weekend. I’m in awe of their determination, and extraordinary efforts to march so many miles in support of the compassionate, end-of-life care that Pilgrims Hospices provide.

“They really stepped up to the challenge and I’d certainly say they’ve earned putting their feet up for a while! I’d also like to say a big thank you to the many dedicated staff and volunteers, without whom the event couldn’t take place. Their boundless enthusiasm and friendly smiles kept participants going all the way to the finish.”

One walking (if not staggering) event statistic is, those taking part jointly achieved an incredible 21,475 kilometres on the day. That’s the equivalent of walking from London to Rome 7 times!

Kent Community Foundation

Kent Community Foundation Needs in Kent Conference gave charities, community groups and funders the opportunity to look at the county’s needs and discuss how collaborative action might affect change

On 15 June, 200 delegates met at the Village Hotel in Maidstone to attend the first Kent Community Foundation Needs in Kent Conference. The Conference gave community groups, charities, and funders the opportunity to review a comprehensive Needs in Kent analysis commissioned by Kent Community Foundation which set out the priority areas of need by district.

The Conference was opened by Kent Community Foundation Chief Executive Josephine McCartney and hosted by ex-BBC Southeast News Presenter Rob Smith.

In the morning delegates heard from Julie Stone who had produced the analysis, Stevie Rice from West Kent Mind, Adam Male from Kent Savers Credit Union and  Leader of Kent County Council Roger Gough.

Roger Gough told delegates; “There is a lot to do, the needs in Kent are well established and I hope the discussions today will lead to a collaborative partnership where we can deliver the very best to the residents of Kent.”

The Keynote speaker was Janice McGuinness from People United whose thought provoking keynote was about kindness and began with her affirming:  “I believe kindness can change the world one step at a time.”

After lunch, breakout discussions about the county’s five main areas of need, domestic abuse, food poverty, mental health, low income and substance misuse prompted very important  conversations about how and what might affect change.

A lively ‘solutions panel’ with the author of the report and representatives from LVB Creative, Kent County Council, the National Lottery Community Fund and Kent Community Council ended the day and closing remarks were given by Kent Community Foundation Chairman of Trustees Robert Sackville-West.

Josephine McCartney, Chief Executive, Kent Community Foundation, said: “I was totally overwhelmed by the response to our conference. There was a real energy in the room as delegates enjoyed getting together to discuss the priority areas of need that the districts face and how we might work collaboratively to offer better or different solutions.”

To find out more about Kent Community Foundation visit www.kentcf.org.uk/funding