6th Ramsgate Sea Scouts
After five years of dedicated leadership, Shirley Appleby is stepping down as Group Lead Volunteer and Trustee of the 6th Ramsgate Royal Harbour Sea Scouts.
Since taking on the role, Shirley has spearheaded an ambitious project to renovate the historic Ice House in Ramsgate’s Royal Harbour, transforming it into a permanent headquarters for the group.
Her leadership has not only helped to create a home for young people to develop vital skills for life but has also laid the groundwork for an exciting future project—establishing a community centre to benefit the wider area. This project remains ongoing, with the group actively seeking partnerships with non-profit organisations to bring this vision to life.
Shirley is handing over the role to Matthew Sayer, who has been part of the 6th Ramsgate journey since joining as a Cub at the age of eight. Now, as the new Group Lead Volunteer, Matthew’s story is a testament to the power of Scouting in developing young leaders and strengthening communities.
Reflecting on her time with the group, Shirley said: “It has been an absolute adventure working with the Sea Scouts and our fantastic team of volunteers. I am so proud of what we have achieved together, and I leave knowing the group is in great hands with Matthew at the helm. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for 6th Ramsgate.”
The 6th Ramsgate Royal Harbour Sea Scouts continue to welcome new members and volunteers. For more information or to support the group, visit www.6thramsgateseascouts.org.uk or contact [email protected]
Phases Pole & Aerial Studio and East Kent Mind
Phases Pole & Aerial Studio recently hosted their first-ever Junior Showcase, raising £200 to support East Kent Minds vital mental health services. The event featured breathtaking performances by talented young pupils aged 8 to 13, who wowed the audience with routines on silks, hoops, and trapeze.
Karen Brinkman, East Kent Minds Engagement Project Officer, attended the event and was thrilled to witness the impressive display of skill and creativity from the young performers.
Co-owner Heather Walker explained the studios decision to support East Kent Mind: “A lot of students say that coming to our classes helps with their mental health and wellbeing. We know how important mental health support is, so we wanted to give back to a charity that provides vital services and wellbeing activities.”
With ticket sales and generous donations, Phases raised £200, which will go directly towards supporting mental wellbeing initiatives in the community.
A presentation cheque was proudly held by co-owners Kristina Walker and Heather Walker to mark the studios achievement.
East Kent Mind extends a heartfelt thank you to Phases Pole & Aerial Studio and everyone who contributed to this fantastic fundraising effort.
Central Harbour action plan meeting
Central Harbour Councillors Becky Wing, Raushan Ara and Tricia Austin are inviting Central Harbour residents to a meeting. Their aim is to discuss key issues that are important to people living in the ward and get feedback on a draft Central Harbour Ward Action Plan they have drawn up.
The meeting details are: Tuesday 4th February – Radford House; Effingham Street, Ramsgate – 7.15pm until 9pm
Agenda
- Devolution – What we know to date.
- Residents Parking Schemes
- Home Energy Grants
- Central Harbour Action Plan
The three Councillors speak regularly with residents in and round the town and are involved in many activities in their community. Talking points often revolve around the ‘public realm’, litter, graffiti, dog poo, parking, toilets, weeds are regular frustrations, along with town centre crime. The trio decided to create a Central Harbour Action Plan that embraced issues under 5 key areas: Welcoming, Cared For, Clean, Safe and Special Projects.
The Plan gives brief details of specific areas, a basic assessment, progress and achievements, with areas for future work. The overall aim is to give residents a chance to have an input in the Action Plan and to undertake ‘Ward Walks’, with Officers from RTC, TDC and KCC to help highlight concerns and maximise efforts to deal with them.
Progress has already started in many areas – antisocial behaviour in the town centre, graffiti removal, phone box removal, litter picking etc -with better coordination and focus between the 3 Councils, residents, Councillors and other organisations, for example the Police. The 3 Councillors believe that with services stretched, working together can result in positive outcomes – and the efforts of the 1000s of locals volunteering is testament to the community’s desire to make things better.
The Councillors are keen to give residents as much information as they can about; Devolution, the possibility of extended Resident Parking Schemes and Home Energy Grants available via TDC.
Cllr Raushan Ara said: “Residents constantly express concerns about anti-social behaviour in the town centre in particular on Harbour Street and we have set up a group to help report this type of crime which is often not reported. As a result, we have developed a much better relationship with our Police who are responding positively, because ASB is being reported, although it still remains a serious concern for us all.”
Cllr Tricia Austin said she is ‘keen to ensure our residents have as much information as possible about the fast-approaching local government reorganisation and devolution of powers, although information for all of us is limited at present’.
She added: “There are nearly 1500 homes in our ward with Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) of E,F and G that may be able to benefit from getting in touch with TDC’s Home Energy Team to access grants, so we want to make sure everyone knows about this service.”
Cllr Becky Wing knows that ‘many of our residents would like to see an extension of the residents’ parking schemes, and many responded to the consultation on TDC’s Parking Strategy, so we need to work out how to move this forward’.
She added: “Undertaking a Highway Improvement Plan and Action Plan for the ward was a really positive experience: it has helped us focus on the concerns of our residents, and target our work to make a real difference and maximise efforts by all.”
Channel Dash Memorial Service
The Channel Dash Memorial Service at Ramsgate for 825 NAS takes place on 12 February .
Muster from 10am at The Queens Head Ramsgate Marina for Tea/Coffee and Bacon Butties.
Standard Bearers to be ready in all respects by 10:35am for a brief.
Service starts at 10:45.
Afterwards at the Ramsgate RNA Club where all are welcome for a buffet.
QEQM Hospital League of Friends
We are delighted to have funded 3 sleeper chairs at a cost of almost £4.5k for birthing partners in Maternity. The chairs, which are specifically designed for the hospital environment and are infection control compliant, convert easily as shown from a bedside chair to a full-length flat-lying bed.
Deputy Head of Midwifery Peyma Hajilou thanked us for our ongoing support and said: “These chairs provide a more comfortable resting place for birthing partners. Comfortable seating encourages partners to stay close to provide more emotional support for women while they are giving birth.
“The chairs’ design has helped improve the overall ambiance, making a birthing room feel more welcoming and less clinical. The chairs enhance patients’ experience and support the birthing individual, creating a more positive and supportive birthing environment.
“Last week a woman who had a complicated caesarean shared some very positive feedback with our team. The family were grateful for the comfort facilitated by the sleeper chair.”
Broadstairs Youth Forum
On Wednesday morning, Broadstairs and St Peter’s Town Council hosted the second Broadstairs Youth Forum and welcomed student delegates from the Town’s local secondary schools.
The Forum was set up last year to give young people the opportunity to have their voices heard and share ideas about how to improve the town for residents and visitors. The Town Council’s current action plan is focused on making Broadstairs and St Peter’s cleaner, safer and kinder, and all new initiatives fall under these aims.
Last year, it was agreed that in order to achieve these aims, the council would need to improve its engagement with all its different communities, especially the young people who live, visit and go to school here.
It was acknowledged that young people are a group who are often not included in the council’s outreach but who are a key part of our town and whose opinions and ideas should be heard. The council decided to create a Youth Forum, similar to the Town Forums which take place twice a year and are mainly attended by adult representatives from local community groups, voluntary organisations and businesses.
In contrast, the Broadstairs Youth Forum would specifically be attended by young people from local schools to enable their voices to be heard about local issues important to them and also provide opportunities for inter-school collaborations on shared projects that might benefit the town.
Last October, Cllr Joanne Bright, who currently acts as the school liaison representative for the council, contacted all the town’s secondary schools to ask if they could each arrange to bring up to 6 pupil delegates to the inaugural forum.
With representatives from Charles Dickens, Dane Court, St George’s Secondary and Stone Bay school in attendance, the first forum got off to a flying start with students raising issues about road safety around schools, the need for more youth-friendly activities and events, and more opportunities to take part in community projects and collaborate with other schools and different community groups.
There was concern about anti-social behaviour in public spaces and parks, and agreement that more education and enforcement is needed to reduce littering and dog-fouling. It was agreed the Youth Forum would meet once per term.
At the most recent Youth Forum, delegates from East Kent College were also in attendance.
This time, the delegates heard from a Strategic Planning Officer from Thanet District Council, about plans for a walking and cycling zone in our town to improve the safety of pedestrians walking to and from school. This was welcome news to many of the pupils who had concerns about road safety near their schools. The delegates then had a chance to put democracy into action by voting for their favourite design for the Broadstairs Youth Forum logo, submitted by some of the attendees. The winning logo was designed by Kevin from Stone Bay School.
An insightful and enthusiastic discussion took place about the council’s new plans to make Broadstairs a dementia-friendly town. The delegates were keen to learn more about dementia, and suggested awareness-raising workshops would be a good idea in schools.
They also liked the idea of helping to organise a dementia-friendly cafe, or coffee morning at Pierremont Hall. A suggestion from a pupil from Charles Dicken’s School to set up a social media communications team to amplify positive messages about the Youth Forum’s work, was very well-received.
The agenda for the next forum in April will explore these ideas further and will also involve a plan to organise a community event where all schools play a part.
Cllr Joanne Bright said, “The Youth Forum is a great opportunity for young people to experience local democracy and to have a chance to influence policies and projects that have a real impact on their local communities and neighbourhoods. The delegates who attend the forum are encouraged to spread the word about issues and projects we’ve discussed and to encourage different delegates to bring new ideas to the Forum each time.
“These young voices are incredibly important to us at the Town Council and the pupils’ willingness to play an active part in their community is a quality that must be encouraged and facilitated at every opportunity.”
The Mayor of Broadstairs and St Peter’s, Cllr Mike Garner, said: “It’s important for us to engage with and listen to everyone across our community and the Youth Forum has worked as a great platform for young people to tell us what’s important to them so that we can act on their behalf. I’m looking forward to seeing more young people from across the town attending future meetings.”
Street collection notice
Street collections were held in Margate (high street and old town) on 4th January on behalf of Reach out and recover (ROAR) Kent.
We raised a total of £72.30, all proceeds will be going directly to ROAR and the creation of SMART recovery meetings in Kent.
Date of the collection: 4th of jan 25
Name of the individual licensed: Daisy Ashe
Area of collection: Margate high street and old town.
Charitable cause benefitted: Reach out and recover (ROAR) Kent.
Amount collected: £72.30
Amount of expenses incurred: £0
Sunken Garden Society
Written by Jenny Duff
We were pleased to wake on Saturday morning to blue skies and sunshine, Storm Eowyn had blown through and we were left with a bright and slightly breezy day for the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch.
Thank you to those that came along with their binoculars and knowledge – Greg from Bird Wise East Kent and members of Thanet RSPB, plus Little Egret Pottery with their beautiful ceramic bird feeders. Between us we spotted more than seagulls (although we discovered that is a mis-nomer from one of the Bird Wise leaflets ‘There’s no such thing as a seagull!’) and managed to spot blackbirds, woodpigeons and the chirpy robin, along with flocks heading further afield flying overhead.
Cllr Jack Packman, Mayor of Margate, joined us with his Mayoress, Mrs Karen Brinkman and they spent time chatting to the volunteers, bird spotting and learning more about the work of the Sunken Gardeners.
We were delighted that they could join us and grateful for the funding awarded by the Mayor and Charter Trustees of Margate towards the brilliantly successful 2024 Eco Fair.
Following the visit Cllr Packman wrote on social media: “We caught up with the team about the funding the Mayor and Charter Trustees provided towards their Eco Fair in October and saw firsthand the incredible work their volunteers do to maintain the gardens and bring key events to life.
“Margate is so lucky to have such dedicated and inspiring people making a difference in our community!”
It was also a pleasure to see Danny Rouse of United Lift Services, who are a sponsor and supporter of the Sunken Garden Society.
Thank you to all those that came and took part in the Birdwatch, spent time gardening and are supporting the Sunken Garden.
If you’d like to find out more about sponsorship of Sunken Garden Society and the Sunken Garden Eco Fair 2025, please get in touch by email to [email protected]
Look out for our announcement of the date of the Eco Fair, coming in early autumn.
The February Community Gardening Day will take place on Saturday 22nd February from 10am to 12 noon – come along to give a helping hand with the Garden and join in with a Seed Swap – we have saved seed from the garden plus you are welcome to bring seeds along to swap.
Windmill Community Gardens
Barratt David Wilson Homes, who is building homes at its Spitfire Green development in Ramsgate and Roman Walk development in Minster, has donated £1,500 as part of its Community Fund initiative to Windmill Community Gardens in Margate.
The donation was towards a second poly tunnel for its ‘market garden’.
Established in 2004, Windmill Community Gardens Margate is a hidden gem composed of two once-acre sites that were transformed from derelict wasteland allotments to a community and market garden after local families requested somewhere safe for children to grow food.
The community garden features a growing space, accessible pathway, forest garden, poly tunnel, kitchen, wildlife habitats and more. Whilst the market garden is a chemical free food growing space including no-dig beds, vegetable, herb and edible flower beds which supply the weekly vegetable bag schemes, their market stall and local restaurants.
The aim of these gardens is to improve the physical and mental health, well-being and community cohesion of their visitors through educational and environmental activities. With the help of Barratt David Wilson Kent’s donation, Windmill Community Gardens Margate will be able to install a secondary poly tunnel, enabling the group to extend their offering to the community and lengthen their growing season allowing further access to fresh seasonal food.
The £1,500 donation comes from The Barratt Foundation, the housebuilder’s charity partnership, which aims to support local charities and groups wherever Barratt Developments PLC operates across the UK.
Martina Knight, Communications and Veg-Bag Coordinator, said: “The donation from Barratt David Wilson Kent is appreciated by everyone here at the Windmill Community Gardens in Margate.
“Donations like this one help keep the gardens blooming, especially as we want to involve the local community in any way possible whether it’s through workshops, courses and clubs. We also host a number of events throughout the year, where we want to encourage everyone to get involved to support with their mental and physical well-being, so without these funds it would be difficult to make them happen.”
Natalie Perry, Sales and Marketing Director at Barratt David Wilson Kent, added: “The team and I feel privileged to support a local garden community group. Being outside and surrounding yourself with nature is of the upmost importance for well-being and has been linked to improving concentration and attention, so it is fantastic to see all the opportunities that Windmill Community Gardens Margate has to offer to the local area, including two types of gardens. We look forward to seeing the gardens bloom over the spring and summer months!”
For more information on Barratt Homes visit www.barratthomes.co.uk / www.dwh.co.uk or 0333 355 8502 / 0333 3558 503.
The gardens are supported by volunteers, and all are welcome.
To find out more about volunteering and other activities in the gardens visit www.windmillcommunitygardensmargate.com.
Chartwell House
Raising awareness and offering support for stroke survivors were at the heart of Chartwell House Care Home’s recent Stroke Awareness Day, led in collaboration with the Stroke Association.
Held on Tuesday, 28th January, the event welcomed over 20 attendees, including healthcare professionals, speech and language therapists, NHS stroke specialists, and stroke survivors, fostering an environment of learning, empathy, and empowerment.
Stroke survivors shared their personal journeys, offering powerful perspectives on recovery. One survivor expressed that, following their stroke, the emphasis had been on what they might no longer be able to do, rather than what they could still achieve. Their words struck a chord with NHS professionals, highlighting the importance of a more positive and supportive approach to post-stroke care. Discussions focused on recognising stroke symptoms, understanding long-term effects, and ensuring access to vital resources that empower individuals on their recovery journeys.
As the driving force behind the event, the Stroke Association provided invaluable training, helping participants deepen their understanding of stroke recovery and the ways in which care teams can offer meaningful support.
Lynn Vincent, Engagement Officer for the South East, praised the initiative, saying: “I just wanted to say a massive thank you for hosting the stroke awareness day. The training was so relevant for the team, and the afternoon was a great success too. Thank you again for all your support with stroke survivors.”
The commitment to stroke awareness doesn’t stop here. Chartwell House is proud to host the Thanet Stroke Support Group, in partnership with the Stroke Association from February 2025 ensuring that stroke survivors and their families have a welcoming space to share experiences, build friendships, and find continued support.
Chartwell House will host the group on the second Tuesday of every month from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM, with refreshments available for a small contribution of £3 per person.
Jude Coveney, Admissions Manager at Chartwell House, said: “The day was an incredible opportunity to listen and learn from stroke survivors. Their stories were deeply moving, and I believe everyone in attendance, including NHS professionals, left with a greater appreciation of the challenges survivors face. We are committed to continuing this important work and fostering an inclusive and supportive community.”
For more information about the Thanet Stroke Support Group or to learn more about stroke awareness, please contact Chartwell House at 01843 260 970.
Pilgrims Hospices shop Margate
Renowned British painter Sophie Tea is on a mission to raise the profile of local charity shops nationwide, wielding her paintbrush with purpose.
On Friday 24 January, Sophie visited Pilgrims Hospice in Margate and met the amazing team headed up by store manager, Lil. She also transformed an antique shire horse ornament.
Throughout the day, she dropped clues on her social media channels, leading to an eager crowd of buyers ready to snap up an original Sophie Tea at a fraction of the price.
Sophie has also visited Bristol, Worcester, London, Hertfordshire, Solihull, Exeter, Stroud and even Whistler, Canada – to name a few – over the past 25 weeks, transforming everything from a monopoly board , skis and antique clock, to a luxury dolls house, into a masterpiece.
Sophie is well underway with her new series, Charity Shop Friday – which has amassed over a million followers and over 150 million views – where she visits charity shops across the country, buys an item, paints it that day, and returns it for the same price.
On the day, she drops breadcrumbs hinting at her location and fans scramble to discover her whereabouts in hopes of owning a Sophie Tea original.
Sophie’s artwork has previously sold for up to £25,000, and in April this year, her show “Send Nudes Live” sold out at The London Palladium. Her following has grown to over a million people, captivated by Charity Shop Friday.
Sophie aims to raise awareness about the importance of shopping locally and supporting second-hand stores through her series.
In Margate, she bagged a beautiful ceramic shire horse and after spending the day giving the horse the Sophie Tea touch, she returned to raffle it off to one lucky winner! Upon returning, the team were overjoyed with the extra traffic as around 45 people gathered to meet Sophie and try their luck at winning themselves this bespoke piece!
Sophie also hung around to draw on over 60 items people had bought in store, contributing even more to a very successful day for the team.
Followers can submit their locations on Sophie’s website, www.sophieteaart.com for a chance to receive a visit from Sophie soon! Social media: @sophieteaart
Martha Trust
The Superior Healthcare Group is thrilled to announce its continued partnership with Martha Trust as their Headline Events Sponsor for 2025.
The collaboration is founded on their admiration for the outstanding service provided by Martha Trust to individuals with profound disabilities and the comfort they bring to clients and their families.
Martha Trust is a UK charity that provides lifelong care for individuals with profound physical and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD).
The charity organises a range of events throughout the year, providing an opportunity for fundraising and raising awareness of the charity’s cause. Superior Healthcare is honoured to be associated with such a fantastic organisation and support them in their fundraising efforts.
“We are delighted to renew our commitment as the Headline Events Sponsor for Martha Trust in 2025,” said Stewart Thorp, CEO of The Superior Healthcare Group. “As a provider that is focused upon providing care and support for people who have complex health needs to live in their own homes as well as working with local care homes to ensure that they have a sufficient number of skilled carers and nurses on duty to care for their residents, we recognise the importance of the amazing work that Martha Trust does. This partnership allows us to work together to enhance the charity’s fundraising efforts and enable our employees to give back to the community by volunteering their time.”
As the Headline Events Sponsor, they will support Martha Trust’s various events and fundraising activities throughout the year, including their German Music Night, Golf Days, Car Challenge – ‘Monte Carlo Madness’, and Martha’s Music on the Farm.
In addition, The Superior Healthcare Group will be providing employees with time away from their desk to volunteer with projects at Martha Trust, fostering a culture of community involvement and social responsibility.
“We are thrilled to have continued our Partnership with The Superior Healthcare Group as our Headline Events Sponsor for 2025,” said Julie Gayler, CEO of Martha Trust. “Their support will help us to raise vital funds for our ongoing work plus their employees' involvement in volunteering projects will have a significant impact on the people we support.”
