NEWS
TASTE OF KENT AWARDS OPEN FOR VOTING
Recognising and celebrating the best food and drink that Kent has to offer , the Taste of Kent Awards 2022 ( TOKA ) is now open to public voting . Facilitated by Produced in Kent , Kent ’ s membership organisation for the local independent food and drink industry , the TOKA nominations are open to any food and drink business located in Kent .
Now in its 17th year , the TOKA will see three new categories added to the self-nomination line-up , to support new Kent businesses ; New Kent Food & Drink Product and Kent Start Up Food & Drink Business as well as Kent Farmer of the Year , to recognise the Kent farming community .
Voting is open to the public until 28th February , with the awards encouraging people to nominate anyone from fantastic restaurants to local producers . Finalists will be announced mid-March with winners crowned at the awards ceremony at the Kent Event Centre on the 12th May .
To vote , visit www . tasteofkentawards . co . uk .
FINANCIAL TIMES RECOGNITION FOR CANTERBURY-BASED PHARON
Chartered firm , Pharon has been offering independent financial advice in Kent for almost half a century and the business attributes part of its 2021 trading success to a significant increase in the number of people in the South East taking or planning for early retirement , with more expected to follow in the next couple of years .
Pharon has also seen a general increase in the number of people seeking professional financial advice , which it attributes in part , to persistently low interest rates offered by high street banks as well as changes in lifestyle and personal circumstances following the pandemic . This activity has contributed to sustainable business growth and helped the team to celebrate its prestigious top three ranking in the Financial Times ’ 2021 Top 100 Financial Advisers in the UK and top firm in the South East .
DIRECTOR AT PHARON , NICK O ’ SHEA
DISABILITY FOOTBALL COACHING SCHEME LAUNCHES IN KENT
Residents at Lady Dane Farmhouse are kicking off the new year by taking part in a 12-week pilot football coaching scheme thanks to a recent grant from Kent Sport . The care home in Faversham was recently awarded a grant of £ 1,185 to work with local sports coaching organisation , Inclusive Sport , to deliver football coaching sessions for people with disabilities .
Registered home manager , Leanne Anslow , said : “ There is a real passion for football in our home among our clients so we ’ re really excited to get going on the sessions . We ’ re so thankful to Kent Sport for the grant money and for Inclusive Sport for working with us to deliver the coaching . This project is about tackling inequalities , encouraging our residents to be active and ultimately giving them the same opportunities that someone without disabilities would have .”
The 12-week pilot will end in March and if successful , Strode Park Foundation will look to seek further funding to make it a more longer-term project for the residents .
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