NEWS
STORY
NEW MAGGIE’ S CANCER SUPPORT CENTRE TO BE BUILT IN MAIDSTONE
A new cancer support centre, Maggie’ s, is set to be built at Maidstone Hospital by 2028, providing free, tailored practical and emotional support for people at all stages of cancer, as well as their family and friends.
Since the first Maggie’ s centre opened in 1996 in the grounds of Edinburgh’ s Western General Hospital, the charity has redefined what cancer care looks like, offering free psychological, emotional and practical support for those living with cancer.
Now, almost 30 years on, Maggie’ s is preparing to expand into Maidstone Hospital, extending its vital support to communities across the county and helping progress towards its goal of establishing 60 centres across the UK.
Designed by Assemble, the new centre will feature a kitchen area, private rooms for one-to-one support and larger spaces for group sessions, exercise classes and workshops. Once open, the centre will support the 11,000 people diagnosed with cancer in Kent each year as well as their loved ones and is expected to welcome around 20,000 visitors annually.
“ This new centre will offer patients and their families a sense of community, guidance and strength at a time when they need it most,” said Miles Scott, chief executive for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.“ We are looking forward to seeing the project develop and the positive difference it will make for our communities over the coming years.”
COMMUNITY DUO PRAISED FOR SCENIC MAIDSTONE TRAIL
Two Kent residents have been formally recognised by the Mayor of Maidstone for their work in creating the Scenic Maidstone Green Trail, a new long-distance walking route connecting green spaces across the borough.
Phil Riches and Derek Eagle recently met with the mayor to receive commendations for their contribution to the project, which opens up new opportunities for residents and visitors to explore Maidstone’ s countryside and natural landscapes.
The trail was first conceptualised during the Covid-19 pandemic by Phil Riches, who began exploring the area on foot and recognised the importance of accessible green space close to home. Working alongside Derek Eagle, the project became a true labour of love, carefully connecting public rights of way, historic villages and transport routes to create a continuous walking experience
“ This is a fantastic example of what can be achieved through local passion, commitment and community spirit,” said the Mayor of Maidstone, Martin Round.“ The Scenic Maidstone Green Trail is a wonderful asset for our borough, encouraging people to enjoy the outdoors, connect with nature and discover the countryside.”
Their recognition comes ahead of the Heart of Kent Walking Festival, which celebrates walking and outdoor activity across the borough through a programme of self-guided routes and bookable walks, with the new trail set to become part of the event.
MUST HAVE IDEAS CROWNED NUMBER ONE IN THE UK’ S TOP 100 SME LIST
Must Have Ideas, a leading UK E-commerce retail company based in Kent, is celebrating a landmark achievement after being ranked first overall in the prestigious Elite Businesses 100.
Succeeding against hundreds of businesses from a wide range of sectors, Must Have Ideas secured the number one position in the annual list, recognising it as the UK’ s highest-performing SME.
The EB100 rankings assess businesses across multiple criteria including innovation, growth, community engagement and resilience. Achieving first place puts the company among the country’ s leading small and medium-sized enterprises.
“ To be ranked number one SME in the UK is an incredibly proud moment for our entire team,” said co-founder, Amy Knight.“ We’ ve built Must Have Ideas with innovation and our customers at the heart of everything we do, so to receive this level of national recognition, especially against such strong competition, is truly special. This achievement belongs to our team, our partners and our local customers who continue to support our growth journey.”
Now in its fourth year, the Elite Business 100 has seen a significant rise in applicants, making this year’ s competition particularly strong. Judges highlighted the company’ s sales performance, growth trajectory and community engagement as key factors behind the top ranking.
174 • www. insidekent. co. uk