Travis Perkins Margate fundraiser
Staff at Travis Perkins in Margate have cycled 138-miles on static bikes provided by Your Leisure to raise funds fr Macmillan Cancer Support.
The team undertook a ‘route’ starting at the Margate depot and ‘visiting’ eight other Kent sites before finishing at the Macmillan Head Office in Vauxhall, South London.
The staff took turns to cycle non-stop for seven hours, from 7.15am finishing at 2.20pm.
So far their efforts have raised £1370.40 for Macmillan Cancer Care.
Thanks were given to the team at Margate, Your Leisure for providing the exercise bike and for the support of local Thanet builders.
QEQM Hospital League of Friends
Patients attending the Sarre Unit Physiotherapy Gym now have the use of an Air Rowing Machine our charity funded thanks to our lovely supporters. In expressing his gratitude Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist Devon Amos said: “It has helped to add so much value to our service with what we are able to offer and are patients are reaping the benefits.”
The machine is useful before, during and after physiotherapy for warm-up, cool-down & cardio exercises and is especially beneficial for patients who have had a total knee replacement for restoring range of movement & building upper back strength.
Please follow us on Facebook and check out our webpage www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/lof-qeqm
Proud 2 Create Summer Exhibition
Talented members of Sandra Art4All studio are exhibiting their third major exhibition at The Margate School.
Proud 2 Create Summer Exhibition showcases 14 artists and their practices which form a vibrant collection of drawings, paintings and photographs.
Art4All owner Sandra Hampton said: “The Studio strives to enable the artists to create as independently as possible, tapping into their abilities and guiding them to make art that is both meaningful and purposeful.
“The artwork exhibited has been produced in a variety of mark making methods, utilising a number of very different techniques. Each artist is given the opportunity to try and experiment in fun and attainable processes, that they may, or may not use as a part of their practice.
“Whilst the finished product is clearly important, it is rather the process and application that is as relevant. Some artworks are planned, some are not. Each artist is guided to give them freedom to create art in their own way giving them a voice that is not normally heard.”
The exhibition runs at The Margate School, in the High Street, until August 29, 11am to 4pm each day. Entry is free.
Sandra established Studio Art4All in 2016 after the sudden closure of the Royal School for Deaf Children, in Margate. Sandra had worked as the art teacher for the school and college for some 20 years.
Sandra’s passion for art and many years’ experience of working with young people with additional needs enabled her to set-up the bespoke studio.
Communication difficulties are a barrier for many of the artists who attend Art4All. Sandra is a proficient signer using British Sign Language and can implement a total communication approach throughout.
The focus is on each individual’s unique ability, their lack of inhibition and their huge ambition.
Find Sandra Art4All on facebook here
Birchington Man Shed
The new home of Birchington Man Shed at Quex Craft Village will be officially opened on Thursday, August 25 at 2pm.
Birchington Parish Council chairman Neville Hudson will cut the ribbon. All are invited to come along and see what the Shed project is all about.
Thanet Roadrunners
Thanet Roadrunners member James Figgins took part in the Kent Association for the Blind’s Superhero run in Margate last weekend and is currently training to be a guide runner. This is a role where able-bodied runners guide visually impaired people on races, enabling them to compete. James successfully guided a lady round the course in the heat, wearing a full on Batman costume.
Thanet roadrunners AC regularly donates some of the proceeds of its races to local charity. The club has chosen to support Kent Association for the Blind, in honour of the work that James is doing, and members will be continuing to support him on his journey.
Mayor of Broadstairs & St. Peter’s
Councillor Roy Dexter, the Mayor of Broadstairs & St. Peter’s, has officially opened the new state-of-the-art Boots Hearingcare facilities at Westwood Cross.
The redevelopment at the Boots Opticians store follows a period of growing demand for the store’s hearing care services. As a result, there has been a significant cut down waiting times for the community, while a new walk-in service is also available for the first time.
The new advanced facility, which has been operating since April, will also deliver a wider hearing healthcare service, including offering four frequency hearing screening that captures an image of the current condition of the outer ear.
Westwood Cross’ Boots Opticians store has also grown its team of audiologists and hearing wellness advisors as a result of the renovation, whilst retaining the business’ expert audiologist services including a range of hearing assessments to suit different needs, and providing a full range of high-quality hearing instruments.
Cllr Dexter said: “I’m honoured to be able to attend Boots Hearingcare to officially open this new state of the art facility. It will benefit Thanet residents greatly and we welcome new community wellbeing initiatives.”
Georgia Forsyth, Hearing Aid Audiologist at Boots Hearingcare, said: “I am very excited and proud to be a part of Boots Hearingcare expansion at Westwood Cross. This will allow our team here to provide an even better level of service and care to our customers.
“Being part of the expansion to two rooms, we are offering complete and efficient care to our local area, whilst at the same time promoting the importance of looking after your hearing as you would your vision.
“Our long-term goal is to break down the barriers that have been historically in place with the topic of hearing care and how we communicate that message to the wider population and those people that need help. WHO’s report in 2021 highlighted the importance of hearing care on a global scale.”
TT KIDZ at St Anthony’s School Margate
An exciting new Table Tennis programme exclusively for 7 to 11-year-old girls and boys is coming to St Anthony’s School in Margate.
Thanet Vikings is playing a key role in the launch of a new initiative to help youngsters develop a new sporting habit.
The club is amongst the first in the country to launch the new TT Kidz programme. It will hold its first session on Monday 3rd October at 5pm.
TT Kidz is an eight-week programme developed by Table Tennis England to provide youngsters with an inspiring, engaging and fun first experience in the game.
Children will learn all the basic skills necessary to enjoy a great game of table tennis, as well as all the benefits that an active life brings, including fitness, hand/eye coordination, building social relationships and generally having a great time!
Greg Yarnall, Head of Development and Volunteering at Table Tennis England said: “TT Kidz is a significant investment and is aimed at attracting a new generation of players to enjoy the game.
“The programme has been put together in close consultation with specialist coaches to ensure the children have a positive, and above all, fun experience, while learning new skills.
“Funding support has been secured through both Table Tennis England and Sport England. This will allow more families to access the programme and all its benefits.”
“We hope it will encourage them to join their local table tennis club and to keep a table tennis habit long into the future. I’m sure all the children who sign up will have a fantastic time.”
Once signed up, all children will receive a TT Kidz kit bag, holding everything they need to get started – including TT Kidz T-shirt, bat, balls and activity book/sticker album.
The 8-week programme is great value, which will include all the kit to keep as well.
Places are limited and expected to fill-up fast. More information can be found at www.ttkidz.co.uk.
Shepherd Neame beach cleans
Brewer and pub company Shepherd Neame has completed its first successful series of summer beach cleans around Kent.
Working with its Charity of the Year Kent Wildlife Trust, the independent family business organised cleans close to some of its most picturesque coastal pubs and hotels including the Minnis Bay Bar and Brasserie, Birchington; the Botany Bay Hotel, Kingsgate and Marine Hotel, Tankerton.
More than 100 people attended the events, held to help the environment and raise awareness of how we can protect our coastline, with the first beach clean taking place during National Marine Conservation Week at the end of July.
Members of the Kent Wildlife Trust’s Marine Conservation Team attended each event, offering information about the impact of litter on marine life and providing Shoresearch surveys for volunteers to capture details of the waste collected.
The final clean took place on Sunday (August 14) at the Royal Albion Hotel, Broadstairs, with a total of 38.61kg of litter collected during the events.
Nina Jones, Protected Area Warden at Kent Wildlife Trust said: “We were really pleased to work with Shepherd Neame this summer to help make our beaches a safer and cleaner place for people and wildlife.
“With the help of the public, we collected a large amount of waste and had lots of families get involved with some fantastic citizen science to collect useful data on marine pollution.”
Shepherd Neame Communications Executive Angela Cole, who spearheaded the project with support from Thanet District Council and Canterbury City Council, said: “We have been really pleased by the success of our first series of beach cleans, with individuals and families from across the county coming along to join in.
“It has been great to get out and enjoy the glorious weather in some of Kent’s most beautiful locations, working with our Charity of the Year Kent Wildlife Trust to help the environment and raise awareness of our county’s unique marine habitats and wildlife.”
For more information on the Charity of the Year partnership visit www.shepherdneame.co.uk/news/shepherd-neame-announces-new-charity-partner-2022