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.

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

FOLKESTONE Town Centre Management (FTCM) has invited local businesses, entertainment providers and community organisations to help present next year’s events programme as an all-embracing Festival of Festivals. It would include the town’s traditional summer season festivals and carnivals as well as local celebrations to mark unique national events.

Branding the events programme as a three-month something-to-please-everyone festival, claims FTCM, would enhance the marketability of Folkestone as a leisure, recreation and shopping destination and create extra sales opportunities for commercial and other enterprises which cater for and entertain holiday and day visitors.

Says town centre manager John Barber: “Folkestone hosts hundreds of events, large and small, during the summer months. Our idea is to raise the town’s visibility by promoting them under one label – Folkestone Festival of Festivals is the provisional name – starting in 2012 which, with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Games, is shaping up to be one of Britain’s most exciting years.

“Locally, the Multi-Cultural Festival, Green Fair, carnivals, regattas, entertainment, sporting, cultural and a diverse range of other events – including Jubilee and Olympic Games celebrations – will provide great opportunities for the kind of high-impact promotion which cohesion via an overall branding would offer.

“With organisers developing their own ideas, FTCM would act as the co-ordinator of Festival of Festival activities which would be promoted by our partner organisation, Discover Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh. There has been enthusiastic response to our invitation and we will announce plans to take it forward shortly”.

For more information, telephone 01303 850522.

Media contact: John Barber – 01303 850522

NOMINATE BRITAIN’S UNSUNG HEROES

A BRAND NEW ITV1 SHOW IS LOOKING TO RECOGNISE INSPIRATIONAL PEOPLE

Do you know an inspiring individual who has set up a small charity?

Do you know someone who has battled adversity but fundraises incessantly despite their own difficulties?

Is there someone who works tirelessly for others in your local community?

Would you like to reward a great volunteer in your local area?

Would you like to thank someone for an act of bravery or for saving someone’s life?

Do you know someone who has made great sacrifices to help others?

If you know someone who deserves to be recognised then please get in touch!

We ask that you do not tell the person or cause you have nominated as we would like this to be a surprise!

Email hero@12yard.com with your name, daytime telephone number, nearest major UK city and a brief description of the person or cause you would like to nominate with your reasons why.

Or send this information by post to: Hero Applications, 12 Yard Productions, 131-151 Great Titchfield St, London W1W 5BB

Internet services provider’s fees may apply. We will not reimburse any postage costs incurred by you in writing to us.

All nominees must be over 18 years of age

The closing date for nominations is 11^th July 2011. Nominations received after this time may not be considered.

The tired old lunch box may soon be a thing of the past, with the arrival of a new venture in Folkestone’s Creative Quarter that aims to tempt the palate with exciting tastes from across the world. Partners Philippe Vialon and Daryl Hodgkins will open “Fresh & Easy” as tenants of the Creative Foundation at 17-19 The Old High Street in mid May, offering a wide variety of gourmet sandwiches, salads, desserts, pastries and chocolate, amongst other temptations.

Philippe was born and trained in France, where his family owned and ran a restaurant, and has extensive experience as a senior chef in locations around the world, principally in Australia and across Europe, and including London’s prestigious One Aldwych. He has worked in businesses varying from small patisseries to five star hotels and restaurants, and has managed large corporate kitchens and restaurants. Daryl, who will provide management support to the business, is an experienced event, bar and restaurant manager.

Fresh & Easy will offer nutritious food using fresh ingredients. Central to the concept will be a typical lunch box, consisting of a choice of fresh fruit juice, a main course and a dessert, based on a variety of dishes from around the world. Examples include: baby octopus & marinated in chilli & coriander salad, duck & orange pate with a green salad and a slice of crusty fresh bread, roasted mixed vegetables with French bleu d’auvergne cheese baguette, spinach & ricotta cheese with herbs de provence quiche, and for dessert raspberry tart, pineapple & vanilla crumble. Customers can also choose from a range of croissants, yogurts, fruit salads, homemade chocolate and truffles, cakes for special occasions, homemade jams, pickles and sauces, fresh fruit juices, smoothies and milkshakes. Wherever possible produce and meats will be sourced locally.  Even dog owners are not forgotten: Fresh & Easy will offer a variety of homemade nutritious treats for dogs!

Fresh & Easy will also provide catering for special occasion lunches, parties and for local businesses in the area.  And to complement the lunchtime service, Fresh & Easy will be open a few evenings during the week to offer a relaxed environment where people of all backgrounds can meet to socialise and discuss issues that affect the community.

Philippe said: “We are re-locating to Folkestone from London to take advantage of the exciting opportunity that Folkestone offers, and in particular the attractive premises and terms on offer from The Creative Foundation. We believe that we bring a new dimension in food to Folkestone with our attention to hospitality and friendly service and our determination to serve a wide choice of fresh and interesting food in a creative manner.”

Daryl added: “We believe our passion and enthusiasm, combined with our very different formula, will create a very convivial atmosphere in which our customers can eat, drink and chat. We shall work with local community groups and with schools, and in time we hope to be recognised as a venue where people can meet people from all walks of life over a good cup of coffee and an even better slice of cake!”

Gardens can be wonderful places for wildlife. It really is easy and inexpensive to create a mosaic of wildlife rich areas - From a simple window box to an imaginatively planted vegetable plot.

So if you’re proud of your wildlife friendly garden, then why not share the secrets of its success with Kent Wildlife Trust?

It’s FREE TO ENTER and open to ANYONE WHO GARDENS IN KENT, however large or small their plot and whether they are a business, community group, school, allotment, private garden or even a collection of adjoining gardens. The closing date is 30 June.

Shepway DC is supporting this friendly competition again this year (main contact is Laura Pinkham in Environmental Services). Are you interested in taking part? Or perhaps you may be able to promote the scheme to groups you work with e.g. allotment groups, schools, residents etc.

It’s a simple entry form, free and open to anyone who gardens in Shepway/Kent, however large or small their plot and whether they are a business, community group, school, allotment, private garden or even a collection of adjoining gardens. The closing date is 30^th June.

Further info including online application form on following link…

http://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/our-work/wild-about-gardens/