Action with Communities in Rural Kent has a number of very interesting and worthwhile work experience placements available for young people across Kent. These opportunities are part of our European funded project, Progress, Greener Futures for Young People. Please see attached project information and recent press release.

We are looking for young people ideally between the ages of 17-25 (but this is flexible) who want to find a job for themselves in the not-for-profit sector. Job description attached.

They will work as volunteers for 3-6 months helping to develop a project within their host organisation. All this is based on Social Enterprise and Community Entrepreneurship, which is the theme of our project.

There’s an interest and very practical training course that runs alongside the work placements and the young people will become part of a county-wide network to exchange ideas and to develop their knowledge (and confidence) in the hope that with mentoring of their host organisation’s staff plus the project team etc, they will be able to help generate new income that could lead to creating a career for themselves.

In this project we are working with partners in Sweden, France and Spain, all from the Social Economy and each with a really interesting way of working. Keen young people will be able to take part in the wider work of the project and could enjoy some travel to our partner countries (this would be optional of course).

We have a number of community groups and social enterprises waiting for a young person to join them on placement. We also have one or two spaces left for organisations who might wish to offer a placement to a young person.

So, if you are working with, or know of, a young person who might be interested in our project would you please put them in touch as soon as possible? Equally, if your organisation would like to benefit from being part of our project please let us know.

Please contact Maureen Walby on 077030 48602 or email Maureen.walby@ruralkent.org.uk for more information.

Thank you for your cooperation.

The archaeological dig at the Roman villa on Folkestone’s East cliff, part of the project A Town Unearthed: Folkestone before 1500, will feature in the first programme of the second series of BBC 2’s Digging for Britain to be broadcast on Friday 9 September at 9.00 pm. The programme, which will include interviews with Dr Lesley Hardy of Canterbury Christ Church University and Dr Andrew Richardson of Canterbury Archaeological Trust, concentrates on Roman Britannia, featuring the Villa alongside other archaeological digs taking place this year.

Dr Hardy said “We are very pleased that the villa dig has been chosen to feature in “Digging for Britain” as the finds increasingly demonstrate that the site, even in pre Roman times, was one of the main points of contact between Britain and Europe.”

A Town Unearthed is a three year project of community archaeology in Folkestone, organised by Canterbury Christ Church University, the Folkestone People’s History Centre and Canterbury Archaeological Trust. It is funded by The Heritage Lottery Fund and The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust with additional contributions by Folkestone Town Council, Kent Archaeological Society, Kent County Council, Shepway District Council, East Folkestone Change Together and the Tory Family Foundation.

Folkestone Literary Society

a town that reads succeeds

Sponsors of the Folkestone Book Festival

Dear Friends,

‘FLITS’ Volunteer Reading Scheme

As part of our Volunteer Reading Scheme, we are organizing training for people who are interested in reading in schools, retirement homes, or to the disabled and housebound.

Initially we are concentrating on six Shepway primary schools, where they need particular help to boost reading skills. I am sure that you are already aware of the poor literacy attainment of some under 11’s, and the difficulties that they face if they are allowed to go on to secondary school unable to read.

We are looking for volunteers to spend at least 2 hours a week in a local school, over a minimum 5 week period, under the guidance of a designated literacy teacher. This may mean working with one child, or several, reading with them, talking to them, and assessing their progress. You will be able to choose when you go to the school.

If we can show improvement in reading ages in the Shepway area, we should be able to get some funding from KCC to enable us to take it into other local schools, and the community at large.  The KCC’s local Literacy Officer, Sue Dinsdale, has put the programme together, and she is thrilled that she will have volunteers from ‘FLITS’ to help carry it out.

Two literacy teachers will be running our initial training session on Monday 19th September from 4.30 pm to 8 pm – the venue is yet to be decided.  If you would like to attend, please contact me on 01303 240289 (leaving a voicemail message if necessary) or email: info@flits.org.uk.

I started reading in schools about 8 years ago, and I absolutely love it. It is so satisfying to see children understanding books, and learning what an important part they can play in their lives. If you would like to join us, we would be most grateful for your time.

If, however, you feel that reading in schools is not for you, but think that you might enjoy reading to adults in the wider community, please let me know, so that I can keep you informed of our progress with future literacy projects.

Kind regards,

Jenny Coleman

Chair – Folkestone Literary Society (FLITS)

Tel. 01303 240289

at the Quarterhouse, Tontine Steet, Folkestone on Sunday 31^st July.

Talk and Discussion led by Andy Brockman 5.00 pm

Film – “The Eagle” 6.00 pm

£3.50 in advance £4.50 on the door. Tel: 01303-858500

Historian and archaeologist Andy Brockman will talk about the fascinating story behind Rosemary Sutcliff’s Roman novels, including The Eagle of the Ninth and The Silver Branch, in which Sutcliff takes us to the Roman villa on Folkestone’s East Cliff. Andy will also discuss our continuing fascination with Ancient Rome and how Rome is represented in film and literature.

Rosemary Sutcliff (1920-1992) is best known as a writer of Historical fiction that was primarily meant for children though the quality and depth of her writing is such that she is read by many adults and indeed she once said her books were “for children of all ages from eight to eighty-eight”.

Andy Brockman is a working archaeologist who specialises in community archaeology, where local communities work alongside professional archaeologists, and the Archaeology of Modern Conflict.  He was Project Archaeologist on the “Take Me To The River” project on the Thames Foreshore at North Woolwich and devised and managed the “05-45” and “Normans to Normandy” projects in schools in Woolwich and Bexley, both funded by the National Lottery.

He is also Research Director of the ongoing Digging Dad’s Army Project which is looking at the impact of war and the preparations for war in south east London.  This is a role which has led to Andy acting as a consultant on The Real Dad’s Army for Channel 4 and the forthcoming Reel History of Britain for the BBC as well as appearing on screen in Channel Four’s Time Team [Blitzkrieg on Shooters Hill:  2007] and  ITN Productions “Mud Men” with Johnny Vaughn made in 2010.

He is currently undertaking PhD Research at the University of Southampton into the use of shipping in Roman Britain.

The Eagle, adapted by Jeremy Brock from Rosemary Sutcliff’s The Eagle of the Ninth (1954), tells the story of a young Roman officer seeking to recover the lost Roman eagle standard of his father’s legion in the northern part of Britain. The story is based on the Ninth Spanish Legion’s supposed disappearance in Britain. It is, Andy Brockman says, “a viscerally exciting action adventure that also has some very interesting things to say about how we define our identity and our relationship with our military and the foreign adventures our governments send them on.”

“Swords and Sandals” has been organised by A Town Unearthed, which is a three year project of community archaeology in Folkestone, organised by Canterbury Christ Church University, the Folkestone People’s History Centre and Canterbury Archaeological Trust. It is funded by The Heritage Lottery Fund and The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust with additional contributions by Folkestone Town Council, Kent Archaeological Society, Kent County Council  Shepway District Council (East Folkestone Change together)and the Tory Family Foundation.

A Town Unearthed activity in association with BBC Hands on History – Dig!

Saturday July 30th and Saturday 6th August 2.00 - 3.30pm

at the East Cliff Roman Villa Dig, Folkestone

This free outdoor workshop, for children aged 7 -12, on archaeology at the magnificently sited Roman Villa on Folkestone’s East Cliff will involve  an introduction to the history of the villa with an account of how the Romans came to Britain and how they lived. There will be a short walk along the cliff followed by an opportunity for the children to see the remains of the walls of the villa and archaeologists at work. The session will include the chance to handle finds and draw on site as well as other practical activities throughout the visit.

What is Hands on History?

Hands on History is a two year history campaign from BBC Learning which aims to get all the family hands on with history out and about and back at home. It supports a range of BBC TV programmes and brings history to life through family activity packs, events and details of historic sites to visit across the UK and is suitable for all the family.

This summer Dig! aims to get thousands of families hands on with archaeology at events and activities taking place across the UK.

bbc.co.uk/history/handsonhistory