The Cow Shed and East Kent Mind
The Cow Shed Bar & Grill in Birchington has once again shown its dedication to supporting local causes, raising £110 for East Kent Mind through their monthly charity meat raffle. This follows their creative support for East Kent Mind’s Wear it Blue campaign last year, when they designed a special Blue Cocktail to mark Mental Health Awareness Week.
Holly, from The Cow Shed team, said: “To date we have raised for different charities £10,675.00 since 2023! We chose East Kent Mind as a charity as we know how important looking after people’s mental health is.
“With over 40 employees, it is fundamental that we ensure all of our members of the ‘herd’ are supported and listened to when they need it most. Each month, The Cow Shed raises funds for incredible causes like East Kent Mind, all while bringing the community together. “With just £5 per strip of raffle tickets, you’re in with a chance to pick from 10 tasty meat prizes — first come, first served!”
East Kent Mind’s Community Engagement Officer, Karen Brinkman, added: “We’re so grateful for the continued support from The Cow Shed. Local businesses like theirs play a vital role in helping us raise awareness and much-needed funds for mental health services in East Kent. Their fundraising efforts make a real difference in our communities.”
East Kent Mind is encouraging other local businesses to take part in their Wear it Blue campaign this year — a flexible initiative that raises awareness and funds for local mental health services. Whether it’s a dress-down day, a themed product, or a community event, every idea and every pound raised helps support the mental wellbeing of people across the region.
If your business would like to get involved, contact East Kent Mind to find out how you can take part.www.eastkentmind.org.uk
Kent Wildlife Trust
Our livestock play a vital role in the conservation of our nature reserves. Their grazing helps maintain habitats that are essential for a wide variety of wildlife. To ensure their health and wellbeing, every animal needs to be checked daily.
As a volunteer Livestock Checker, you’ll receive full training on how to interact with our animals safely, and what signs to look for during your checks.
What’s Involved
- Daily Welfare Checks: All checks should be completed before 12 noon and during daylight hours, in line with Kent Wildlife Trust’s Health & Safety policy, which prohibits lone working in the dark.
- Training: Initial training will be delivered outdoors in small groups. You may be asked to attend training at a different site or on a different day than your assigned location.
Volunteer Availability
- We’re looking for volunteers to commit to 1–2 days per week.
- The role operates on a rota basis, so some flexibility is appreciated (though not essential).
- After your initial enquiry, you’ll be assigned a regular day each week. This may occasionally change if livestock are moved between sites.
- Volunteers who are happy to cover additional sites or swap days are always appreciated.
What You’ll Need
- You must be 18 or over to apply
- A smartphone (for logging checks and communication)
- A high level of commitment – animal welfare is our top priority
- Your own transport, many of our sites are remote
Join our dedicated team of volunteers and help protect Kent’s stunning landscapes and the wildlife that depends on them.
https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/volunteering-opportunities/livestock-checker
Margate Civic Society
This year’s Town Pride Awards will be held on Thursday, 1 May at Holy Trinity Margate
Hall, St Mary’s Avenue, Margate CT9 3TN, commencing 1930 hrs. Attendees are requested to take their seats by 1915 hrs.
Following the awards’ presentations, speeches and photographs, there will be a ten-minute interval when refreshments will be on sale including delicious homemade cakes. As is our tradition, after the Members Notices, a complimentary glass of wine or juice will be served with time for everyone to socialise, ending with our fund-raising raffle draw.
Merchandise and raffle tickets (priced at £1.00 per Strip or 6 for £5.00) will also be on sale throughout the interval and after the presentations.
The results of the Town Pride Awards will be announced by the Society’s President and Chair, Pamela Pople and presented by the Vice Chair, Harry Scobie.
Non-members most welcome – £4.50 admission
For further information see: www.margatecivicsociety.org.uk
Broadstairs Town Team
Broadstairs Town Team would love to encourage more people to get involved in working outdoors on community gardens. They have a free and open event happening at Crampton Tower, Broadstairs on Thursday, 8th May from 2pm.
Refreshments provided.
Sue Wainwright from Town Team said: “We like to revisit all the achievements made by the team over the past year, and discuss and plan all about the coming year with our volunteers on a regular basis.
“It also gives us a great opportunity for anyone curious about community gardening and the benefits it brings to everyone, to learn more about the many different ways they can get involved. Free Tea and cake are always a bonus for all of us too!”
For further information, go to : https://www.broadstairstownteam.org.uk/activities-what-s-happening-this-year/gardening-groups/
Or contact [email protected]
Thanet Schools Young Artists Festival
The Margate Rotary Club presents the 16th annual Young Artists Festival from May 12-18 at Sainsbury’s Westwood Cross, open 8am to 10pm. Prizegiving on May 17 at noon.
Some 34 Thanet schools are taking part with 650 paintings from young artists from 3 to 18 years old on display.
McDonald’s Discovery Park
Discovery Park McDonald’s restaurant team took part in a litter pick in a bid to keep their local area tidy. Six crew members and helpers from the restaurants, which are owned and operated by local Franchisee Paul Crocker, collected an impressive eight bags of rubbish between them, including an old tyre!
Areas tidied up included Sandwich town centre as well as its outskirts.
McDonald’s franchisee Paul Crocker, who owns and operates the restaurant, said: “Since opening our doors in October 2023, we have been committed to giving back to the community that has welcomed us so warmly. I couldn’t be prouder of my fantastic team for giving their time to our local community, ensuring the areas we all enjoy are clear of litter – making them a better and brighter place for those that live here. We continue to put people at the very heart of what we do, and this is just one example of our dedication to being a good neighbour.”
McDonald’s crew members have been cleaning up litter dropped in local communities for over 35 years. Crews across the UK cover a total of 5,000 miles each week on litter patrols (where they collect all types of litter, not just McDonald’s branded packaging). This equates to 260,000 miles, or the distance from Earth to the Moon since the programme began in the late ‘80s.
McDonald’s is tackling litter in local communities, both by litter picking and reducing the amount of waste its restaurants produce. The brand has been working to make recycling easier over the past four years too, and since 2015, has installed over 1,100 new recycling units, meaning it’s easier to separate plastics and cups for recycling in 85% of its restaurants. McDonald’s also collects used oil from its kitchens and turns this into enough biodiesel to fuel more than half of its delivery fleet.
London Array Community Fund
The annual £40,000 London Array Community Fund is open for applications from small charities & community groups in Thanet, but the deadline for applications is fast approaching. Interested applicants should apply online by 30 April for 2025 grants via the Kent Community Foundation.
Apply here: https://kentcf.org.uk/funding
Since construction in early 2012, London Array has supported charities and community groups in the local area via the Kent Community Foundation who manage the applications and distribute the £40,000 fund on behalf of the wind farm.
Grants of up to £5,000 are now available for applicants working within one or more of five key areas:
- Environment, Children
- Young People and Families
- Elderly and Isolated
- Employability, Skills and Enterprise
- Vulnerable Adults
If your group is a registered charity based in Thanet and meets the criteria, please make your application before the deadline.
Churchill Living
Churchill Living is calling for local people, especially armed services veterans and their friends and family, to join in with a special celebration event in the lead-up to the 80th Anniversary of VE Day. The event will take place on Friday 9th May from 2pm-4pm at Invicta Lodge on Nash Road, Westwood Cross.
Everyone is welcome to join Churchill apartment owners to raise a glass and celebrate the 80th anniversary of this historic moment which effectively marked the end of the Second World War. Visitors will enjoy a warm welcome, free refreshments, 1940s music, and an opportunity to share VE Day memories in the development’s comfortable Owners’ Lounge and gardens.
Churchill’s Senior Marketing Manager Anne Scherrer said: “Our VE Day event is the perfect opportunity for local people to come and celebrate the 80th anniversary of this huge moment in our history. We’d love to welcome anyone with interesting memories to share about the original VE Day celebrations, whether they joined in as children or have a family member who played a part.
“ It’s also a chance to meet our owners and our friendly team and learn about the freedom, security and independence that can be enjoyed in a new Churchill apartment. I’d encourage people to come and see for themselves the wonderful community atmosphere on offer here.”
To find out more and register to attend, please call 01843 498204 or visit churchill-living.co.uk.
Martha Trust
Charity Martha Trust’s annual event Music on the Farm 2025, a fabulous one day festival, is back in the fields of Solley’s Ice Cream Parlour in Ripple on Sunday June 29th from 12noon – 8pm.
A host of local acts will be performing a variety of musical styles from folk rock to bluesy beats, dance classics and cheesy tunes.
Your performers for the day are: The Martellos, Muzz & Joe Duo , Endless Knot, Lofty Harris, The Moles and Shiva.
There will be dance displays by Dean Academy of Performing Arts.
Deal Radio’s Mr C Marc Carey will once again take to the stage to be your compere for the day, with Chris Mansfield and Sharon Powell the official photographers.
There will be plenty to keep the kids busy too with six hours of children’s entertainment organised by Creative Arts Workshop Leader and Event Planner Lizzie Willis- and her dedicated team of workshop leaders. All the children’s activities in this area are included in the ticket price.
There will also be face painting and hair glitter by Anna’s Face Candy, hand neck and shoulder seated massages with Mother Earth Therapies, a visit from the Fire Brigade plus more!
The Martha Tent will be present, Hook a Duck, Coconut Shy and other traditional games for a small cost-plus merchandise so there really is something for all the family to enjoy.
Revolootion will also be onsite, making the event fully accessible for all. They are a mobile accessible toilet with adult-sized changing bench, hoist and a friendly attendant in a van.
There will be a selection of local to Kent Food & Beverage vendors that include a woodfired BBQ by Wild Tayberry, The Larder serving delicious treats including vegan and vegie food, Soul Chef Kitchen serving authentic Jamaican food, Woodfired Pizzas by BJ’s Pizza, The Mac Shack with Mac n Cheese plus toppings, Lillyroos full bar and Gin Bar, Ruby Rose & Pearl horsebox bar, teas & coffees, , The Cheeky Tipple Cocktails and Prosecco Bar, plus Tash’s Cakery with delicious cakes and of course Solley’s Ice Cream.
All of our partner vendors will be donating 20% of their sales back to Martha. There will be a big auction plus a raffle and barrow of booze to win on the day.
The Main Event Sponsorship has been provided by 2025 event Sponsors Superior Healthcare Group, Solley’s Farm Ice cream and Cook Fabrications Ltd.
If your business would like to learn more about sponsoring this event or can supply a raffle or auction prize, please contact Fundraising on 01304 610448 or email [email protected]
Deal Radio will be broadcasting live throughout the day from the event if you cannot attend.
Doors open at 12 noon and tickets, in advance, cost £40 for a family (2 adults and up to 3 children under 16 years of age), single tickets cost £16 per adult and £7 per child.
You can purchase tickets online at www.marthatrust.org.uk/musiconthefarm
Tickets are also on sale from Solleys Ice cream in their parlour in Ripple.
Kerry Banks BEM, Fundraising & Events Manager for Martha Trust, said:” We are really excited to be delivering our festival with our long-term supporters and friends at Solley’s Farm Ice cream. We have lots planned – you are in for a treat!
“If you would like to be involved with showcasing your brand and company by sponsoring the event or you can assist with auction, raffle or drinks for our barrow of booze, we would love to hear from you!”
