East Kent Mind
East Kent Mind’s Veteran’s Project lead Karen Brinkman has won a prestigious award at the BBC Radio Kent Make a Difference Awards.
Karen won the ‘Morning Live Make a Difference Community Award’ for her work as East Kent Mind’s Armed Forces Connector, a role in which she supports the wellbeing of veterans, reservists and the adult family members of the armed forces.
Karen was recognised by the judging panel for taking a leading role in supporting ex-military in east Kent who are suffering from anxiety, depression, social isolation and alcohol and drug dependencies.
The ceremony was held at the Smithery in Chatham on Wednesday 4th September and saw eight community champions from across Kent being championed by the BBC for their exceptional work.
The BBC Radio Kent Make a Difference Awards celebrates local heroes who give their time to improve their communities. It was set up in 2020 at the start of the first coronavirus lockdown.
The Morning Live Make a Difference Community Award is awarded to an individual or group of people who have helped to genuinely change the lives of others within their community, and Karen scooped the award for her work with East Kent Mind.
Karen said: “I was shocked to have just been nominated for the Community Award, but to win it was an amazing feeling. It gives me the drive to make a difference to all those people who may want to volunteer in the future.
“Winning the award is a huge personal honour, but it’s also a win for the entire veteran community I work with. The highlight of my night was being escorted by two of the very first veterans I met, David Murray, ex-Royal Engineer and Kevin Hobbs, musician for the Royal Engineers and the Irish Guards, whose unwavering support has been amazing.”
In her role as Armed Forces Connector, Karen also created the Thanet Female Veterans Group and talking about the group, she said: “I’m incredibly proud that it brings women veterans together to form new friendships, allows them to access any support they need, and helps to combat social isolation. Seeing how the group has grown and how it is positively impacting lives has been the most rewarding experience.”
For the third year running, the Make a Difference awards received a record number of entries celebrating people doing extraordinary things in their communities.
Thanet fundraiser Graham Burns (pictured), known as the Piano Man in Broadstairs, was also a winner at the awards.
He has raised almost £130,000 for Breast Cancer Now and cancer research by completing 10 London Marathons and five Great North Runs – all whilst carrying a karaoke machine and singing.
Thanet finalists included Broadstairs Town Shed and Nina Jones who is a wildlife warden at Pegwell Bay in Thanet.
To read more about the East Kent Mind visit: https://eastkentmind.org.uk/
Margate Civic Society 2024 Town Pride Awards
The results of this year’s Town Pride Awards were announced at the meeting of the Margate Civic Society held at Holy Trinity Margate Hall, St Mary’s Avenue, Margate on Thursday, 5 September.
We are delighted to reveal that this year’s winner is: –
Wilderness-to-Wonderland in continuing recognition of an outstanding volunteer-led Greening Project, promoting Civic Pride.
Recipients of Town Pride Framed Certificates are:
Commended – Margate Women’s Institute (In recognition of making a major contribution to civic pride whilst protecting the environment)
Highly Commended • LJW Antiques, 48-50 Northdown Road, Cliftonville (In recognition of innovative, sensitive, and eye-catching design, making a major contribution to the regeneration of Cliftonville)
Highly Commended – Special Award • Uwe Derksen, Founder and Director of The Margate School (In recognition of making a continued major contribution to the arts and regeneration of our area)
The results of the 41st Town Pride Awards were announced by the Society’s Chair and President, Pamela Pople and presented by the Vice Chair, Harry Scobie.
Pamela who organised the event, said: “I should like to thank everyone who has been involved, contributing to making this this year’s event such a special occasion. This year, we have focused on paying homage to local community projects, celebrating civic pride and the positive impact they have made in the local area, often in very challenging circumstances.
“Expression Signs were commissioned to create the bespoke signs, depicting the Margate Clock Tower, which has become a symbol of our Society.”
For further information, please contact Pamela Pople (Mobile: 07903 126 530) or go to www.margatecivicsociety.org.uk.
Ramsgate RNLI
Ramsgate RNLI are pleased to announce that volunteer crew Wayne Goldfinch has passed out as volunteer Coxswain.
This brings the total number of Coxswains at Ramsgate to five and continues a long tradition of RNLI service by the Goldfinch family.
Wayne’s great, great, great Uncle Thomas H. Goldfinch was a volunteer crew on the Prudential Lifeboat that took part in Operation Dynamo in May 1940, rescuing soldiers from the beach at Dunkirk. In honour of their actions the Coxswains received the Distinguished Service Medal and the crew including Thomas received the RNLI Thanks on Vellum for their ‘Dunkirk’ spirit.
The tradition of serving in the RNLI continued into the next generation with Wayne’s grandad Bert becoming Coxswain for a short time taking over from Coxswain Tom Cooper and then handing over to Ron Cannon when the Waveney class Ralph and Joyce Swann arrived in 1976. Bert’s brother, great Uncle Ernie was volunteer crew at the same time.
The two brothers, Bert and Ernie owned a wooden clinker vessel built in Deal called R75 Khaki which they used for whelking. The Goldfinch family owned the cockle and whelk stall on the harbour and the brothers would fish in Pegwell Bay, land the whelks, cycle home with them to cook them in their shed and then sell them on the stall.
The Khaki was eventually given to the Maritime Museum initially and then ended up in a local pub, Mariners Bar, owned by another volunteer crew Jason, where the bow and stern are positioned either side of a fireplace.
Wayne’s father Laurie was a volunteer crew for over twenty years and Wayne himself joined the RNLI thirty years ago in June 1994.
With a family history of seafaring it was no surprise that Wayne would go to sea and his daytime work job is Senior Coxswain on the Estuary Services Ltd.
The thorough examination started on Saturday with a navigation exam and then on Sunday under the eye of Dan Guy, Staff Coxswain passage planning had to be carried out. Wayne then took command of the Tamar class Diamond Jubilee and planned and carried out search exercises with simulated fires onboard, man overboard drill and boat handling under a single engine with no bow thrusters. He was then passed out as Coxswain.
Full time Coxswain Ian Cannon said: “Ramsgate RNLI are delighted that another volunteer coxswain has passed out. It’s a tough course and this is a great achievement for Wayne.”
Margate Yacht Club
Margate Yacht Club ran its first ever school holiday sailing programme this year.
Catherine Hodges from the club reports: We held a three-day event for our junior sailors, working towards RYA Youth Sailing Stages and having fun. It culminated in a fourth day, racing with the club’s main fleet in a special series.
After meeting Commodore, Sue Anderson, The Mayor and Mayoress of Margate got out on the water with some of our instructor team to take a learn more about the opportunities that sailing can provide!
This season with support from local businesses and Margate Rotary, we have been able to work with a local primary school, Cliftonville Primary, to offer four fully funded youth learn to sail places to young people who would significantly benefit from the opportunity and may not be able to access it otherwise.
Inspired by the fantastic teaching of our Instructor Team, this season has seen several youth sailors complete their stages and go on to advanced modules ready to start their journey as Assistant Instructors next year.
Find out more about Margate Yacht Club, which was a finalist in the RYA Community Club of the Year 2024 awards.
The Rotary Club of Thanet
Turner Contemporary will welcome pupils from local secondary schools for a special day sponsored by the Rotary Club of Thanet.
Students will enjoy workshops with Nick Hornby’s Ministry of Stories and the chance to speak with YA (young adult) phenomenon Moira Ruffini on Friday October 4th.
Rotary President Maria Blackburn encourages partnership with schools and academies to promote reading and boost creativity.
She said: “Thanet Rotary Club provides books to local secondary schools and organised an essay competition as part of its Literacy Matters! project. Now we are delighted to be working with Margate Bookie and Turner Contemporary to help pupils develop their skills in a writing workshop and a meet-the-author session.”
The day starts with a workshop on Creating Gothic Fiction with Jessica Randall of Nick Hornby’s Ministry of Stories. Then Moira Buffini – one of the UK’s leading scriptwriters who wrote The Dig (Bafta-nominated), Harlots, Jane Eyre and Tamara Drewe – will tell the pupils about Songlight, her highly-anticipated debut novel set in a post-apocalyptic future.
Toby Parkin, head of learning and participation at Turner Contemporary, said: “We’re thrilled to connect young people with authors through this exciting new schools’ day at Turner Contemporary. With our children’s art library and the partnership with Margate Bookie, this event offers a fantastic opportunity to inspire a love for books and reading among students.”
The Margate Bookie is a registered charity founded by Andreas Loizou. From a single afternoon in a disused warehouse, the friendly litfest by the sea has grown to a week of events and 5,000 visitors a year. At the heart of the Bookie is a love of how books bring people together to learn about new worlds, fire imaginations and turn strangers into friends
More details here: https://www.margatebookie.com/schoolsday
Or follow @margatebookie on Facebook, Instagram and X
For further information about The Rotary Club of Thanet go to: http://rotary-club-of-thanet.org.uk/
Copperfield Court
Copperfield Court care home, part of the Oyster Care Homes group, is delighted to share the success of its Summer event. Designed to foster community engagement and showcase the vibrant atmosphere of the home, the event brought together residents, their families, and members of the local community for a day of fun, laughter, and connection.
The festivities were highlighted by a delicious BBQ, expertly prepared by Copperfield Court’s talented kitchen team. The tantalising aroma of grilled favourites filled the air, enticing everyone to gather around and enjoy a hearty meal in the beautifully maintained gardens.
One of the day’s most delightful surprises was a special visit from a pair of friendly alpacas, who quickly became the stars of the event. Residents and guests alike were enchanted by the gentle creatures, enjoying the chance to pet and feed them. The alpacas added a unique and memorable touch to the celebration, sparking joy and laughter throughout the afternoon.
In addition to the alpacas, a range of garden games provided entertainment for all ages. From classic lawn games to more modern activities, there was something for everyone to enjoy. The spirit of friendly competition and shared fun made the day even more special.
No summer event would be complete without a sweet treat, and Copperfield Court ensured that everyone’s cravings were satisfied with a visit from a traditional ice cream van. Serving up a variety of ice cream flavours, the van was a hit with residents and guests, offering a refreshing break from the warm summer sun.
Eve, the General Manager of Copperfield Court Care Home, said: “This event was a wonderful opportunity to bring our residents, their loved ones, and the community together in a fun, relaxed setting. Seeing everyone enjoy themselves was truly heartwarming.”
Guests at the event also shared their positive experiences. One attendee commented, “The atmosphere was fantastic, and the alpacas were a huge hit! It was a perfect way to spend a summer afternoon with our loved ones.”
Residents were equally enthusiastic about the day’s activities. One resident said: “I had such a great time, especially with the alpacas. It was lovely to see everyone having so much fun. I can’t wait for the next event!”
To learn more visit: https://oystercarehomes.co.uk/care-homes/copperfield-court/ or call 01843 423207.
Sports Connect
Sports Connect is proud to announce the completion of a vibrant and impactful summer season, during which hundreds of young people across Kent were engaged through a dynamic series of sports activities. Over the span of just six weeks, Sports Connect delivered more than 70 events across seven districts, creating memorable experiences and fostering a love for sports in the community.
The summer programme was made possible through a strong partnership with Kent Police and the Kent and Medway Violence Reduction Unit, who helped to offer free sports activities to participants. Additionally, Sports Connect collaborated with The Education People to deliver the Holiday Activity and Food programme at Aylesford Bulls Rugby Club and supported the Family Hubs in various districts.
The team’s commitment to community engagement saw them reach out to young people in Thanet, Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone, Medway, Maidstone, Ashford, and Swale. With the support of Kooth, an organisation dedicated to mental well-being, many sessions also included free support for young people and their families. The Kent FA Adult Calm Clubs continued to provide a vital space for community members to stay active and connected through sports.
Lisa Sparkes, Head of Community at Sports Connect, expressed her pride in the team’s accomplishments: “Having put together such an ambitious programme for the summer, along with working closely with new and existing partners, I am incredibly proud of the Sports Connect team and all the hours they have dedicated to providing so many safe spaces for our young people to engage in through the power of sport. The summer holidays can be a challenging time away from the school day routines, and having so many free opportunities for the young people to engage in and stay active has been incredible.”
One of the summer’s highlights was the introduction of the Soccerena, Sports Connect’s portable sports arena, which brought free football sessions to high-traffic locations such as Canterbury High Street, the Thanet Games, and Sheerness. Additionally, free sports sessions, including box fitness, dodgeball, and multi-sport activities, were held in local parks and other designated areas, providing essential diversionary activities for young people.
Sports Connect also offered a free Level 1 multi-sport qualification, which was embraced by local policing teams who put their new skills into practice by engaging directly with their communities during the sessions. The success of this initiative has sparked interest among young participants, leading to plans for additional qualification opportunities in October.
As the summer season wraps up, Sports Connect and its partners are now focusing on Term 1 community delivery. The organisation is eager to continue working alongside schools and community groups to provide even more engaging opportunities, ensuring a positive impact on the lives of young people through the power of sport.
For more information about upcoming programs or to learn more about Sports Connect’s initiatives, please visit their website www.sportsconnect.uk or contact Lisa Sparkes on [email protected]
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