CHARITY
Community Action
SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN RIGHT NOW , AFTER ALMOST TWO YEARS OF LOCKDOWN LIMBO , NOW ’ S THE TIME TO STAND UP AND TRY TO REBUILD CENTRES THAT SUPPORT OUR COUNTY . HERE AT insideKENT WE ARE PROUD TO SHOWCASE THESE GRASS-ROOTS ACTION PROJECTS THAT ARE CHANGING THE COMMUNITY AROUND THEM FOR THE BETTER .
MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCE HUB
First we caught up with Donna McLean project manager at the Multiple Intelligence Hub ( MIH ), a centre that offers children and young adults with special education needs and disabilities ( SEND ) a way to re-engage with education , find support for their mental wellbeing or find alternative learning paths through horticulture or other activities . The exciting news is that MIH was recently awarded a combined loan and grant of £ 13,400 by Kent Community Foundation , to ‘… improve the infrastructure on their site and allow them to double the number of children and young people with SEND that they could support each day .’
Thanks to this generous funding the project has been able to add a garden room where the children who attend the Hub can be taught about gardening and horticulture , they are also in the process of adding a sensory garden and mini ‘ Farm Shop ’.
When we spoke to Donna about how the MIH got started , she explained ; ‘ I am a proud mum of my 12yr old daughter that has Autistic Spectrum Condition . With supporting my daughter in her needs over the years , I have developed strong views on the limited ‘ individualised ’ opportunities / activities that were available for her . I was very lucky to have access to our facilities ; an 8.5-acre site with outbuildings and was determined to put it to better use .’ After successfully applying for planning permission , holding a few incredibly successful ‘ out of term ’ sessions with a group of just three , she had parents basically banging down her door to extend the services to term time .
Now in 2021 , the centre takes on children of all ages and helps them to develop skills in a non-traditional environment , while helping them develop ‘ various skills , such as confidence and self-esteem building , memory , problem solving , manual dexterity and concentration ’ with activities that are designed to mimic real life situations . The money provided by Kent Community Foundation has been making a difference at the Hub already , with the addition of an outdoor timber shelter to protect the centre from the elements , and with plans to grow the animalassisted activities portion of the Hub , with the potential addition of donkeys and alpacas later in the year ; the money has opened up new opportunities to focus on learning in a non-academic environment . And the renovations won ’ t stop there , with plans to offer parents and caregivers training and workshops as well as ‘… an adventure scheme , wildlife and environmental projects and additions to our facilities , such as a recreational and sports area .’ Whatever the future holds for the Multiple Intelligence Hub , it looks like the future is bright for the centre and its students .
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