KENT MATTERS

New basement launch for Change

2011-05-03T01:43:00.000-07:00

Change Youth organisation is currently awaiting for tomorrow's launch of their new basement centre.

Change Canterbury is an organisation that encourages the community to get involved in charity cases and organises different events for their causes.

Dan Blythe, one of the organisers talked about their project. "From the basement we are really hoping that we can do a lot more. We spend so much time setting up that we miss actually hanging out with the youth. The Basement gives so much potential and we are really looking forward to do more nights with a variety of activities.”

The event will be taking place on 4^th of May starting at 06:30 pm at Canterbury’s Baptist church. Carla Harding from 14-7 prayer will be a guest speaker meanwhile the guests will be entertained by “shenanigans like Xbox, pool, tuck, worship and more.”

Last year Change organized a fashion show to fight against child trafficking. The show was a success and managed to raised a significant sum. This year they are part of another fashion show called LSH. The Love Shouldn’t Hurt project aims at school years nine to 13 and fights against domestic violence and abuse. The idea is to raise awareness of what a healthy and safe relationship is.

Showing off the classics

2011-05-01T01:48:00.000-07:00

Herne Bay put on show the best classic cars and bikes in the county last Saturday in the town centre. Many exhibitors were present to show off the classiest, luxurious and unique vehicles both on two and four wheels.

The guests enjoyed six entertainment areas including Pip the Clown, Punch & Judy, Steamboat Jazz band, Morris Dancers, The Crooner and on the main stage, The Doris Day Tribute, David Sheppard and a surprise band

The cars being the main attraction ranged from early 1900’s to 1990’s. The Coastal Towns Manager (Herne Bay & Whitstable) Chris West said: “The aim of the Classic Car & Bike Show is to bring visitors to the town and to improve the town’s economy and hopefully they will have a good experience and wish to return.

“The event brings the community together, as we give local charities and community groups the chance to exhibit at the show, to promote their own organisations.” According to Mr West the turnout for the day was around 10,000 people.

The show lasted from ten o’clock in the morning till around four in the afternoon. For those who missed this show, not to worry. In August, Herne Bay is hosting another motor show on Saturday, the 27^th. If you are interested in being part of it with your own motor please fill the booking form here.

How Kent celebrated the Royal Wedding

2011-04-30T02:37:00.000-07:00

Kent street party celebrating the Royal Wedding

London is not the only one who celebrated the Royal Wedding last night. People all over Kent made lots of efforts to organise parties and get-togethers in order to join the nation on this lovely occasion.

On the 29 of April several venues organised parties, fireworks, dinners and even street parties. Leeds Castle near Maidstone set up an Open Air Cinema showing the wedding live and later on the musical Mama Mia and entertained the guests with fireworks, being open from 9 in the morning.

In Chatham at the Pentagon Shopping Centre there was a Prince Charles lookalike and the household guard. Many lovey family activities to enjoy including a Punch and Judy show, a prize draw, craft workshops, face painting and a chance to sign the giant congratulations card for Will and Kate.

Almost every town organised a street party with neighbours coming outside with food and listening to bands.

Watch below a video of one street party that took place on Martyrs Field Road in Canterbury

Adoption rate decreases

2011-04-28T12:11:00.000-07:00

A recent survey reveals an 6% decrease in the adoption rate in Kent in the last two years. While children waits in foster centres most genuine parents interested in adopting blame the long and complicated process of being approved to become adoptive parents.

With 4,655 children in the Adopted Children register following court orders, the figures of completed and successful adoptions continue to drop. It should come as no surprise that the children most sought by adoptive families are really young. Almost 60% of children adopted in 2009 were aged between one and four, compared with 15% of children aged 10 and over. Most of the children in the Adopted Children Register following court orders were born outside marriage.

Ruth Pack, social worker at Ashford Adoption Team, explained the process through which a family can adopt a child. “The process has two stages the assessment part and the matching part. In the first part we try to evaluate the family, give them as much information as possible and decide whether they are suitable and determined to receive a child in their care. After they are approved by a panel, they enter the matching process. This part depends on the availability of a child suitable for the family.”

Mrs Pack emphasised the fact that the parents are given chances to back out of the project every few weeks and with more and more information about what they should expect if they are chosen as possible parents. “It is important that they know what they’re getting themselves into. They need to have real expectation of what it’s going to be like,” added the social worker

“It is not something they should enter lightly. They need to be motivated, to accept the child for who he is.”

Assessing the parent or parents usually takes around 8 months. Though it seems a long time, Mrs Pack says it essential to prevent cases in which the adoption is not successful and the child’s placement is even further delayed.

Mrs Jane, who asked us not to reveal her surname, said: “Me and my partner are now waiting to be approved by the panel. It’s been a long run so far and it’s not over. But I can understand why they need so much time to check everyone. Plus it gives you as a future parents the time you need to get accustomed to the idea that this is happening and you will finally be a parent.”

Nowadays there are less children to place, but also less adoptions happening. In the 1970s there were 21,495 adoptions in England and Wales. Following the introduction of legal abortion in 1967, this number hit a rapid decline in the children available for adoption.

The Act suffered several changes throughout the years, but in 2005 the Adoption and Children Act was implemented, modernising the legal framework to include as possible parents single people and same-sex couples.

Margate Stadium redevelopment

2011-04-25T02:00:00.000-07:00

Margate Football Club is seeking to appeal to Thanet Council’s decision to deny changes to its stadium development plans.

The club is currently consulting legal experts of possible solutions. They have been discussions proposal for a Travelodge hotel, education facilities and a pitch at Hartsdown Park. This project was approved planning permission five years ago.

But this year the club and its development partners have made some amends to the plans, one of which is to build a smaller hotel. The council did not take into consideration the changes as just an “amendment” to the initial approved plan and is not asking for a new application from the club.

Fans were those who rejected the council’s decision in fear that it will postpone the final date of the project and may even put it in danger of being cancelled. According the supporters’ comments on website, they blames the council “of going back on its previous decisions.”

Meanwhile the club’s website displayed a statement saying: "The club and development partners are reviewing the options available to them; continue to consult with legal advisors, while maintaining dialogue with Thanet District Council."

Club director Keith Piper provided the council with a petition revealing five thousands signatures supporting the development. He said: "The development will provide 20 full time and 30 part time jobs and continue to be a significant source of revenue in the local economy."

The Home Front Bus alert

2011-04-22T01:36:00.000-07:00

The Home Front Bus has been intriguing Canterbury residents ever since it’s been set up on High Street. The bus gives a tour of the 1940’s lifestyle in the UK.

The Home Front Bus has got on display detailed reconstructions of a 1940’s living room, a shop, a street destroyed by bombs and an air raid shelter, each containing period features and artefacts similar to the sights and sounds during World War 2. It is meant to educate young children of the experience that their grandparents had during the war and aims to do it in an exciting way.

Organisers Norman Burnett and Eddie Chambers claim the bus aspires “to fully utilise the Home Front Bus by making this unique resource available to schools and the general public and to employ people in period costumes to bring the displays to life, some of whom experienced the trauma of those times first hand.”

Visitors, young and old, seemed thrilled by the experience. Every aspect has been taken care of, from the costume of the salesman in the shop to the ticket, the conductor hands you when you enter the bus. Anna, who was barely 12 when her town was bombed, said: “A bomb fell right outside my house, so I am lucky to be alive. I think they (the Home Front Bus) are doing a wonderful job, teaching young ones about that time. It should help them value life more.”

Watch the video below to see how the tour went

Have it Greek!

2011-04-17T02:18:00.000-07:00

On High Street in Canterbury, behind a black pub-looking window and door, there is hidden the most amazing Greek cuisine.

The Manolis Taverna is the only Greek restaurant in town and has not more than 8 tables. Decorated in white and blue and with souvenirs original from Greece, the restaurant surprises with its genuine and delicious Greek food.

The owner and chef is Rhodes-born Manolis who welcomes every client and introduces him into the Greek culture. He said: “After I serve all the meal, I like to come into the restaurant, talk to the customers, find out their story. I tell them about the food and the island where I grew up. “

Hidden behind the till, there is a wall full of pictures taken with customers, previous staff and family. “I’ve taken these in order to memorise some great moments during parties or just regular meals. They are all taken here and give it an element of familiarity and intimacy.”We are not posh, but we are very friendly and happy about any customer that walks through the door.”

Watch the video to find out more about your new favourite restaurant in Canterbury

Social enterprise to be launched in Canterbury

2011-04-10T02:06:00.000-07:00

Canterbury HM Prison has used the services of many volunteers from both University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University. Now MBE Paul Marsh, coordinator of the volunteering programme, is setting up a social enterprise designed to employ those who would otherwise volunteer.

The organisation will soon be launched and it will have in place programmes some of which will involve working with offenders in order to help reoffending.

Mr Marsh says: “I strongly believe this social enterprise will benefit the community. It will be of great help to the prison as well as providing paid opportunities for the volunteers.”

Mr Marsh was recently awarded the prize ‘local legend’ from the organisation ‘Canterbury People’. The award will help increase the chances of receiving even more funding for the enterprise.

Watch the video to find out more

Local Legend is chosen

2011-04-10T02:03:00.000-07:00

Canterbury people have spoken up and decided on their local legend. While it wasn’t an easy fight against Orlando Bloom and the archibishop of Canterbury, MBE Paul Marsh got the prize.

Retired last year, Paul Marsh was awarded MBE at the Queen’s birthday last year in return for his services to HM prison. A year before that he and the Multifaith team in HM Canterlbury prison won the Butler’s Trust award. With so much success and recognition, it should come as no surprise that Canterbury residents wanted him as their local legend.

The prize was given by the online organisation ‘Canterbury People’ and Mr Marsh has become the face of Canterbury People. You will be able to see him on billboards around town. Based on a public vote, three finalist were chosen. A panel of judges looked at each case and after analysing the votes and the finalists’ profiles.

The panel included managing director of Northcliffe Digital, Roland Bryan, and Lisa Buckingham, the editor of the Financial Mail on Sunday, who was recently awarded an OBE for services to journalism and women's issues.

A representative of the judges said: “In Paul, we found someone who demonstrated a real passion for their work and commitment to their town. It was for this reason that we felt Paul really deserved the title 'Local Legend'.

Watch the video below to find out more about Paul Marsh

Kent Police uses Facebook

2011-03-27T01:56:00.000-07:00

The police take an active role in the community and encourage the public to call and report any crimes. More than this they are actively using Facebook to inform residents of any meetings and services available as well as warn them of any possible dangers.

On the 27^th of March they asked to the community for help in regards to two suspicious incidents in the Thanet Area. The case in questions involved a man who invited a five-year-old girl to sit in his car and talked to another three-year-old boy in his back garden.

Detective Sergeant John Cooper said: “Clearly these incidents are concerning and we are keen to hear from anyone who has any information that will help us with our investigations.”

Kent Police car in Ramsgate harbour

People flooded their Facebook page asking for details in their investigation hoping to hear good news.

Kent Police in Ramsgate said: ‘We want to hear from anyone who may have information about these, or similar incidents, to come forward. We are fortunate to benefit from a close knit community in Thanet and I am confident that local residents will play an important role to ensuring the safety of our children.’’

A Kent Police analysis shows crime rates have decreased with almost 5% in Kent.

In the Sittingbourne area the crime figures have gone down with a record of 13.7%. The average number of crimes in Kent has decreased from 9222.7 to 8816.7 (4.4%) the smallest being in Dover