Chartwell House
Chartwell House by Boutique Care Homes is celebrating a fantastic double victory at the Kent Care Awards 2025, as two members of its outstanding team were recognised with top honours.
Recruitment, Retention and Recognition Award – Winner: Diane Collins
Dementia Champion Award – Winner: Jude Coveney
These wins are a true reflection of the heart and dedication within the Chartwell House family, recognising both a culture that values and supports its team and a commitment to enhancing the lives of those living with dementia.
Home Manager, Diane Blake has been recognised for her innovative, values-led approach to creating a workplace where people truly thrive, grow, and belong. Chartwell House runs an inclusive recruitment campaign called ‘Keep Doing What Makes You Happy’, which has built strong community partnerships with Broadstairs College, the Restart Scheme, and veteran employment pathways.
The home’s focus on retention has cultivated a culture of growth and pride, with her team feeling supported in their role. In just two years, Chartwell House has overseen 10 internal promotions and supported 11 team members in gaining nationally recognised qualifications.
Recognition is also at the heart of her leadership, with initiatives like Team Member of the Month, WOW Cards, and Quarterly Team Awards making appreciation part of daily life.
Diane plays a vital role in ensuring every team member feels celebrated, motivated, and proud to work at Chartwell House. She said: “I’m truly honoured to receive this award, but it really reflects the dedication of our whole team here at Chartwell House. Every day, they give so much of themselves to support not only our residents, but also one another. I feel so lucky to work alongside such caring and committed people, this recognition belongs to all of us.”
Admissions Manager Jude Coveney has been honoured as Dementia Champion for her work in enhancing the lives of people living with dementia, both at Chartwell House and across the wider community.
Her initiatives have had an extraordinary impact, from launching the Nostalgia Café in 2023 to creating Broadstairs’ first Dementia Friendly Folk Concert, which doubled in size in its third consecutive year and went on to achieve national recognition. As Co-Chair of the Thanet Dementia Action Alliance, Jude has championed local improvements and awareness, while her Westwood Cross Safe Space Project and the creation of over 131 Dementia Friends have helped make Thanet a more dementia-inclusive community.
She is also part of the team that leads on veteran-friendly initiatives, ensuring former service members living with dementia feel recognised and supported. Jude continues to walk alongside families and residents with compassion, empathy, and unwavering commitment.
She said: “Winning this award means so much to me, but it’s about shining a light on how important it is to make life enriching and inclusive for people living with dementia. Our Dementia Friendly Folk was just one example of how music and community can bring joy and connection. I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved and excited for all the future events to come.”
Ameet Kotecha, Founder and Managing Director at Boutique Care Homes added: “We are overjoyed to receive two awards at the Kent Care Awards 2025. This reflects the hard work, compassion, and commitment our team shows every single day, both to one another and to the residents and families we support. These awards are our whole community who make Chartwell House such a special place to live and work.”
Free music workshop for young performers
Young musicians across Thanet are being invited to a free workshop at Olbys on 16th September designed to help them take their talents to the next level and start earning from their music.
Pro Music: Turning Your Talents Into Income will be delivered by Kerri Layton — a music agent, singer, and industry mentor with over 20 years’ experience in the live music sector.
Date: Tuesday 16th September
Time: 6pm–8 pm
Venue: Olby’s Creative Space, Margate
For: Performers aged 24 and under (soloists, singers, instrumentalists, duos, and bands)
What attendees will learn:
How to refine their artistic vision
Choosing songs that showcase talent
Strategies for securing paid bookings
How to begin creating an Electronic Press Kit (EPK)
Real pathways to turn music into income
“This is a chance for young performers to gain insider knowledge of the music industry and practical tools to start booking gigs and building a career,” said Kerri. “It’s about showing them what’s possible and giving them a clear next step.”
Places are free but limited. Registration is essential via Eventbrite: Register Here
We Shall Overcome
A fundraising concert in aid of St George’s Church and East Kent Mencap will take place on October 11.
The event will feature the Thanet Male Voice Choir performing at St George’s Church in Ramsgate.
Doors open at 7pm. Tickets cost £9 plus booking fee at https://wegottickets.com/event/657471
Margate School of Art
Artist David Mullet usually paints and exhibits from the Community Pharmacy Gallery in Market Street, Margate but this month he is supporting the renamed Margate School of Art and his work can be seen daily at the venue, in lower High Street, Margate, open daily until 4pm.
David is accepting sealed bids for any of his works on display with winners to be revealed at the end of the month. The exhibition and sale is a fundraising exercise in support of The Margate School of Art.
Business Survey for Ramsgate’s £20m Plan for Neighbourhoods
Local businesses are being reminded to complete the Business Survey that will inform Ramsgate’s £20 million Plan for Neighbourhoods. The survey closes on Monday 15 September, 11:59pm.
Ramsgate Space CIC held a series of meetings for the local business community at Albion House and in town centre locations to explain the Plan for Neighbourhoods and how it works. We’re now asking businesses to take five minutes to share their priorities.
Complete the survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfuSNA-l8MBx8TIDxW4GP5QmTtEXGvblG9dQ9vtzUh286_V_A/viewform
Feedback from the survey will be used by Thanet District Council and the Neighbourhood Board to shape the plan and highlight priority themes, including local centres and high streets, public spaces, skills and business support, community safety, and connectivity.
This is the last call to complete the survey, not the last chance to help shape the plan; further engagement will follow.
Louise Brooks of Ramsgate Space CIC said: “Thank you to everyone who joined us at Albion House and around the town centre.
“If you haven’t yet completed the survey, please do so by Monday night; your input will help set the priorities that are taken forward.”
The plan is due for submission by the end of November 2025. Survey findings will be considered alongside wider community engagement as the draft is finalised.
Kent Community Foundation
To mark their 25th anniversary, leading grant maker Kent Community Foundation is inviting charitable organisations to participate in a photographic competition which will be judged by a panel including royal photographer Arthur Edwards MBE
Kent Community Foundation is inviting charities, community groups, and CICs across Kent and Medway to take part in its first-ever photography competition, ‘Community in Focus’, as part of its 25th anniversary celebrations.
The competition calls for authentic, powerful images that showcase what “community” really means. Entrants are encouraged to submit photographs that capture the spirit of their organisation’s work and the people they support. The most compelling images will feature on Kent Community Foundation’s new website, helping to tell the story of the incredible community efforts taking place across the county.
The competition is open to any charity, voluntary group, or Community Interest Company in Kent and Medway with an income under £3 million. Submissions are welcome from staff, volunteers, trustees, or beneficiaries. No professional photography experience is needed; Kent Community Foundation is looking for genuine, heartfelt moments that reflect community life.
The overall competition winner will receive a professional photography session (worth £400) to capture impactful images for their organisation’s use, along with a £200 donation. The two runners-up will each receive £200. All three will be featured on the Kent Community Foundation website, on promotional materials, and be presented with a framed print of their winning photo. This competition and its prizes are generously sponsored by Kent-based Warners Solicitors, whose long-standing commitment to supporting local communities makes them the perfect partner for this initiative.
To enter submit:
A photo that represents “community” in your organisation.
A short description (50–100 words) explaining the story behind the image.
JPEG or TIFF files (minimum 300dpi, recommended file size at least 1MB).
Confirmation that consent has been obtained from any people in the photo.
Entries must be submitted here https://kentcf.tfaforms.net/53 by Friday 31st October 2025.
Entries will be reviewed by a panel of four judges: Arthur Edwards MBE, renowned royal photographer who has spent more than 40 years capturing defining moments in the life of the Royal Family, Graham Baker, a local full time professional photographer, Tim McHugo of Warners Solicitors and Catherine Glover, Chief Executive of Kent Community Foundation.
Catherine Glover, Chief Executive of Kent Community Foundation, said: “For 25 years we’ve been inspired by the extraordinary people and organisations who bring communities together across Kent and Medway. To mark our 25th anniversary in 2026, this competition will be a wonderful way to shine a spotlight on their work and celebrate the stories that define our county. We can’t wait to see how our communities capture the spirit of what they do.”
To find out more about the competition visit: https://kentcf.org.uk/news/articles/celebrating-25-years-our-community-in-focus-photo-competition-2025-09-11 or to contact Kent Community Foundation about funding email [email protected] or visit www.kentcf.org.uk/funding
Martha Trust
Creativity and sense of fun is behind every one of Martha Trust’s fundraising events and their annual car challenge is no exception. On 20th September, teams are headed, for Monte Carlo in their fundraising adventure – Monte Carlo Madness. Long-term supporters of Martha, The King’s Head in Deal, are once again taking part.
James Stiles from the King’s Head in Deal said: “I am taking part in this year’s Monte Carlo Madness because not only is it great fun and a bit of a challenge but also gives us a chance to personally raise money for such a great local charity. There is a real sense of camaraderie on Martha’s car challenges, it’s a really fun experience!”
The intrepid teams will set off from Folkestone on Saturday 20th September driving across Europe to arrive in Monte Carlo on Monday 22nd September before flying home on Tuesday 23rd September.
Julie Gayler, CEO of Martha Trust and a team member of the Martha car, said: “The annual car challenge is such a great event to be involved in. Driving an old banger through Europe is a real adventure and you meet some wonderful people, enjoy some breath-taking scenery and help to raise thousands of pounds for a really good cause. We are very excited to be setting off for Monte Carlo this September.”
Monte Carlo Madness is only made possible with the generous support of the main sponsors – Agilico, Nick Cunningham Plumbing and Heating Engineers, Sota, Superior Healthcare Group & Eurotunnel. Their support ensures as much of the individual car sponsorship as possible goes towards the work Martha Trust does transforming the lives of people with profound disabilities.
This year will be the 16th time the charity had organised such a challenge, and in that time they’ve raised in excess of £377,000.
Martha is looking for companies who are able to sponsor the Martha car by visiting their Just Giving page https://www.justgiving.com/page/alice-moir-1755591596074
