1st St Peters in Thanet Sea Scout Group new boat park
1st St Peter in Thanet was the first Scout Troop founded in Thanet in 1910 and has long established links with the community and a wide range of other organisations in the area.
The Group has worked hard, and successfully, to keep running and maintain these links through a number of years without a base within the immediate local community and more recently the challenges of COVID. Since its inception the Group has helped thousands, if not tens of thousands, of young people in the area reach their potential.
Many of these have used their experiences in their careers in later life in Industry, Public Services and the Armed Forces and the Group is one of 101 Sea Scout Groups across the country recognised by the Royal Navy for our training and standards.
Perhaps more importantly many members have gone on to become Group leaders and assistants, and volunteers with other similar organisations in Kent and across the country.
The Group’s aim is to provide a fun, challenging and inclusive programme of meetings, activities and events to enable young people in Thanet to develop valuable skills and values for life and contribute to the community.
Following a varied programme based on active participation we challenge young people to develop physically, intellectually, emotionally, socially and spiritually to reach their potential as individuals as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities.
The Group normally maintains between 100-130 members at any given time ranging age from 6-15. On top of that many older children remain the Group as Young Leaders and eventually become Adult Leaders either with 1st St Peter’s or other Scout Groups nationwide re-investing the skills and values they have learned.
The Group is entirely managed and run by volunteers with an executive committee of 11 Trustees and 20 adult volunteers who deliver the programme. As a Sea Scout Group much of the programme is centred around water activities on the sea around Thanet, particularly In Broadstairs.
The Group has for many years enjoyed the use of an area of commercial land, for a nominal lease, for storage of boats and equipment essential to the delivery of our programme.
The impending loss of this has required the Group to locate an alternative site. We have been exceptionally lucky that the council has agreed to lease an area of shorefront promenade for the Group to use for this purpose.
Re-location of boats and other water activity equipment from the old, inland site to the immediate vicinity where it is predominantly used will also hugely reduce the demand on volunteers time in moving boats and equipment to and from the store by road for every session on the water, often 2 hours work for a 2 hour session. It will also permit 24hr access to our equipment including weekends whereas at present it is only accessible during office hours on weekdays. This also represents a significant difficulty for volunteers as the majority of meetings and activities take place at weekends or in the evening.
Establishment of the shoreside store with 24 hour and weekend access greatly reduced the time commitment required of adult volunteers for every water activity session.
At the same time it has enabled the Group to spend more time on the water with the children on a more regular basis. It has enabled the Group to increase the level of water activity with the younger sections. It has also brought the Group’s centre of activity right back into the heart of the community the Group serves at Viking Bay at the centre of Broadstairs, increasing public visibility and awareness of the Group and the opportunities it offers.
Lastly it has increased the safety of group members and the public by removing the need to tow 5-6 boats down and up a busy high street and harbour access in the evenings and at weekends, especially during busy summer months.
Establishing the boat park has taken nearly 5 years from initial contact with the council in 2019 having been delayed and complicated by COVID. We have been very lucky to have fantastic support from Broadstairs Town Council throughout, including a grant towards the costs. The constancy of this support has also been important with the grant deadline having to be extended twice due to delays with the project.
The practical support of town councillors in dealing with TDC has also been pivotal to completing the project (particularly Cllr, now Mayor, Mike Garner). The Kent Community Foundation also provided a grant towards the cost of storage containers at the site, essential for the security and protection from the elements of water activity equipment.
The site was finished in June this year with Group volunteers and parents completing the works to erect the fencing and it has been used since then to deliver boating activities for the Group.
The site will be formally opened on 17 August, when it will be named ‘The Jerry Tracey Boat Park’ for a former longstanding Group Scout Leader who was a very keen advocate of water activities and who sadly passed away at the end of 2022.
Disability Awareness Birchington (DAB)
DAB started in 2023 with the aim of co-ordinating, providing information, offering help, identifying activities or groups especially for people with disabilities.
The group has officially launched with a Disability Awareness Day held on Dog Acre on July 27 with MP Sir Roger Gale officially opening the event.
The colourful SandraArt4All showed us what can be achieved and that Disability is not Inability. Community Lifesavers with their human size doll was unusual but drew people to their stand. Kent Association for the Blind “Iris” van, Dementia and Diabetes were there for support and answers. Thanet Lions Club were there with their ever popular Message in a Bottle together with Crossroads, East Kent Carers, E Kids and Chartwell.
However most important was our DAB questionnaires; the answers will be collated to guide us as to how we can improve conditions for those with any disabilities.
Problems with vehicles parking on pavements, hedges and bushes overhanging footpaths, accessibility to shops and businesses and state of paths were four of the most important problems that we have to report and monitor.
Margate WI
A quiz night aimed at raising funds for good causes is returning to Margate this September.
Organised by Margate Women’s Institute (Margate WI), the evening aims to be filled with fun and games, while raising money along the way.
Proceeds raised on the night will be split between the Garden Gate Project and Margate WI, which is a charity dedicated to supporting, inspiring and educating women, as well as campaigning for change to create a brighter future for all.
This year the Garden Gate Project in Northdown Park, is Margate WI’s chosen charity of the year, and it supports those with disabilities or mental health needs by bringing them together through learning about gardening and the environment.
As well as a quiz and some smaller games during the evening, there will also be a raffle, featuring prizes donated by local businesses.
Vice President of Margate WI, Justine Larkin said: ‘Last year was the first time we had organised a quiz night and we were left humbled by the overwhelming support we received, both from people who came along to the event, and also from the businesses who donated such wonderful goods and vouchers.
‘We have such a vibrant community here in Thanet and it was so good to be able to showcase the brilliant shops, cafes, bars and other businesses through our raffle prizes.
‘We look forward to seeing everyone come along and join in the fun, and help support good causes.’
The Margate WI Quiz will be held on Friday 20 September at Cliftonville Community Centre in St Paul’s Road, Margate, CT9 2DB. Doors open at 7pm and the quiz begins at 7.30pm. Tickets are £6 per person and tables fit a maximum of eight people. Smaller parties might be grouped together.
Tickets are now on sale for the quiz night, available by emailing [email protected] with the subject ‘Quiz Tickets’.
Any businesses who are interested in donating a prize can also contact Margate WI through the same email address.
QEQM Rainbow Ward
Hospitals are not usually associated with fun and laughter but that’s exactly what was on offer at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital last week.
Youngsters were invited to a special party on Rainbow ward, organised by staff to help change their perception of coming to the hospital.
Local businesses including a face painter, make-up artist, nail technician and massage therapist volunteered their time to offer pampering sessions, and there was also a visit from a Disney princess and Nintendo mascot Mario.
The event was organised by play leader Terri Shaw, who said it was a huge success.
She said: “We wanted to give the children a positive experience of being at the hospital, because for many of them it’s associated with tests or feeling really unwell.
“It was aimed at some of the young people who visit us most regularly, and we also invited their siblings as they can sometimes feel left out in a family where one child has complex needs.
“It was wonderful to see so many smiles and I’m so grateful to all the businesses who volunteered their time to make the children and their families feel special.”
Among the visitors was 13-year-old Hallie Robb, who has osteopetrosis, a rare life-limiting condition that has left her blind and needing to use a wheelchair.
She said: “It was really good fun to come to the event today. Everyone on the ward is very nice and kind so I was very happy to be invited.”
The team held similar events before the coronavirus pandemic and are hoping it can become an annual celebration for their young patients.
Margate U11’s and Treetops Residential Home
Margate u11s are an exceptionally talented team, winning on average 4 trophies each season, since they were u8s.
Managed by Wes Hammond and Ant Cassar, last year they succeeded in numerous competitions:
– EKYL Festival Winners
– Alex Larkin Cup Winners
– Charlie McDonald Plate Winners
– Bearsted Tournament Winners
– Team of the Year 2024 for the third consecutive year.
The team have successfully partnered with Treetops Residential Home, owned by Dr Misha Kathirgamanathan and Denver Rajaratnam. A well-established, family run care home located in Margate. The Under 14s team has also been sponsored by their sister home, Wychdene Care Home in Broadstairs.
Residents at Treetops have a deep fondness for children and many have supported Margate FC for years.
One of the residents, Gerry explained: “I used to teach and I love it when the children come over. We look forward to watching them play. (Sponsoring the team), It is a lovely thing to do.”
Both the players and residents are excited with their new partnership and blossoming relationship. We look forward to the Treetops’ residents cheering on the team to win more future trophies. Go Margate!
Margate Sea and Royal Marines Cadets
The Margate Sea and Royal Marines Cadets band will be parading this summer and autumn thanks to a gift from Annington, the developer responsible for refurbishing former MOD homes, who donated six drum slings to the East Kent-based unit.
Annington is refurbishing homes in Manston; once used to house personnel serving in the Armed Forces, these homes have since been made available to purchase.
The cadets are part of the UK’s oldest nautical youth charity, which sees young people aged between 10-18 gather each week to learn life skills, teamwork, respect and self-confidence. The slings will help the unit distribute the weight of the drums during marches and parades, reducing strain and fatigue during performances, allowing the band’s drummers to easily perform in public. The youngsters often perform at community events and parades, including most recently the Armed Forces Day parade and D-Day celebration in June.
Kate Hart, Chair of Unit Management Trust for the Margate Sea and Royal Marines Cadets, said: “The cadets have been practicing hard and were excited to perform for the community this summer, and these slings from Annington have made that possible. Since we’re a non-profit charity, we are heavily reliant on donations and fundraising to operate. Annington’s gift will help us to ensure these young people from Margate and Ramsgate continue to have a safe, fun and educational environment where they can grow into the best version of themselves.”
The Margate Sea and Royal Marines Cadets help to improve opportunities for local young people, while celebrating Margate’s rich nautical heritage. Providing a structured programme of events and meetings to encourage discipline and leadership skills, the Cadets help young people to develop life skills and develop a feeling of belonging by getting involved in their local community.
Stacy Whitehead, Marketing Manager for Annington, added: “The Margate Sea and Royal Marines Cadets is doing vital work in the local community, teaching valuable skills, a lifelong love for music and encouraging young people to learn more about the world around them. We hope our donation allows the group to continue making a difference to the lives of these young people, and we look forward to seeing the band perform!”
The unit’s headquarters is located in Margate, just a few minutes’ drive from Annington’s development on Bell Davies Drive in Manston, where all lightly refurbished former MoD homes are now sold out.
For more information about Annington, visit www.annington.co.uk.
Kent Wildlife Trust
KWT is running free 6-week wellbeing programmes and wellbeing walks at Pegwell Bay Country Park.
Wilder Wellbeing for parents with children under 18 months
This is a new opportunity to the area specifically designed to support the wellbeing of parents and carers in the Thanet area with children under 18 months. We know that parenting can be challenging and stressful at times impacting on parents mental health. This programme will offer parents a toolbox of relaxation techniques, information on local services and connect them with other local parents to support their wellbeing- all whilst enjoying gentle walks their baby on this beautiful reserve.
Wellbeing Walks – 7th and 14th August 10-12pm. 6 week programme – starting Wednesday 21st August 10-12pm running every Wednesday for 6 weeks (While we encourage participants to commit to all six sessions, we understand that occasional medical appointments or sickness may result in missed sessions).
Join through our online booking form Wilder Wellbeing (jotform.com) or email us at [email protected] and we can complete the form over the phone.
Paralympian Channel Swim
This month Australian Paralympian Gerrard Gosens OAM will attempt to make history by becoming the first totally blind person to swim 33.7km across the English Channel to France
Gerrard is hoping to raise $337,000 AUD for the charity Great Dreams to enable young people to reach their sporting and creative potential.
Gerrard and team are staying in Ramsgate and training in the area.
Swimming the Channel is one of the most difficult sporting feats on the planet which less than 2,500 people have achieved.
Gerrard has absolutely no vision at all. Although as he puts it: “I don’t have to see the French coastline to know it is there and be determined to reach it.”
In comparison, just under 12,000 people to date have climbed Everest (Gerrard has done this too!). Gerrard, who is from Brisbane, has also run from Cairns to Brisbane five times (more than 580,000km), performed on Dancing With The Stars (Australia, 2009), and is one of the world’s first blind chocolatier.
He will be supported by six experienced guide swimmers including Rosie Ning, Jo Smallacombe, Phil Edwards, Hayden Armstrong, Alexis Tannock and Dr Sarah Brereton. They will each take it in turns to be tethered to Gerrard during the Channel swim, using a short bungee-type cord, guiding him from Dover to Cap Gris Nez, near Calais.
Internationally-acclaimed adventure filmmaker Anthony Gordon has been documenting the extraordinary journey for the past 12 months to produce a film called Changing Channels, due to be released in late 2024.
Anthony said: ““When Gerrard asked me to document his swim, I wasn’t sure there was anything new I could film. Most swimming stories have been told before and they are quite dry – in a wet sort of way. But we spoke more and I learnt more about the guide swimmers and the bigger picture, and I thought ‘we can tell a new story here that hasn’t been told before’.
“When people ask me why I want to make a film for a blind guy who will never see it, I tell them that Gerrard sees far better than most people.
“Not everyone can be an athlete. Gerrard has created a family in his team and it’s extraordinary.
“There are six guides but they have to be as if they are one swimmer when they are with Gerrard in the water. The little tether is like an umbilical cord – there is so much information that can pass through it. That’s what I find really interesting, the communication between the swimmer and guide – that’s what I hope to find out through the documentary.
“Gerrard is a unique human, which has nothing to do with his lack of sight but rather his exceptional vision.”
To donate to the Great Dreams Foundation, go to: https://greatdreams.com.au/channelling-the-great-dream/