NEWS
CHATHAM CHARTS IT COURSE TO £ 3M PRIZE FOR UK TOWN OF CULTURE
COOPERBURNET LLP TO SUPPORT THE GOOD COMPANY PEOPLE
Tunbridge Wells’ solicitors, CooperBurnett LLP, has announced The Good Company People as its chosen charity partner for the next two years.
Based in Crowborough, The Good Company People brings together carers, volunteers, community members and people with lived experience of ageing and dementia. The organisation works with those over 65 who may be at risk of loneliness, including people experiencing cognitive changes or dementia, as well as those who care for them.
Chatham has announced its intention to bid for the first ever UK Town of Culture title- one that would bring up to £ 3 million to the Medway town for a year of cultural celebration in 2026.
For more than 400 years, Chatham has been shaped by innovation, craftsmanship and community. Since 1547, the dockyard has played a central role in the town’ s identity, producing generations of skilled workers and ships that helped define Britain’ s maritime heritage.
“ This campaign is about backing local people and making sure they have the opportunities they deserve,” said local MP, Lauren Edwards.“ Town of Culture status would mean investment, jobs and new chances for young people to build their future here at home. I’ m proud to support this bid to champion Chatham at every opportunity.”
Over the coming weeks, cultural organisations and community groups will help develop the vision through a series of workshops. These sessions will shape the town’ s Expression of Interest for the programme, ensuring the bid reflects local creativity, heritage and ambition.
If successful, the title would bring significant cultural investment to the town while celebrating Chatham’ s heritage and creative community.
CooperBurnett LLP is officially recognised by Kent County Council as a Dementia Friendly Business, the first in Tunbridge Wells to achieve this status. Senior associate Katie Hancock volunteers for Dementia Friends, supporting the firm’ s wider efforts to promote greater awareness and understanding of dementia in the workplace.
“ We are thrilled and thankful to have CooperBurnett LLP onboard; this is a very exciting charity partnership with so much potential,” said Lucy, founder of The Good Company People.
Alongside The Good Company People, CooperBurnett LLP will also support Taylor-Made Dreams, which helps children with life-limiting illness achieve their dreams, The Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre and Sustain, the alliance for better food and farming.
UK’ S LARGEST BEACH SPA AT FOLKESTONE HARBOUR OPENS
The UK’ s largest beach spa has opened on the seafront at Folkestone Harbour Arm, bringing a new Nordic-inspired wellness experience to the Kent coast.
Operated by Sea Scrub Sauna, the new spa features two eco-friendly wood-fired saunas, temperature-controlled plunge pools and a hot tub, all set directly on the shingle with views across the English Channel.
At the centre of the spa are two distinct sauna experiences: a Scandinavian sauna designed for traditional guided‘ aufguss’ sessions, and a smaller shepherd’ s hut sauna built locally in Kent. The site also features an event space that will host private sauna masterclasses, private wellness days and yoga classes alongside a Japanesethemed wellness café combining two traditions to complement the spa’ s holistic and restorative experiences.
“ We’ re seeing an exciting shift in the UK from exclusive high-end spas to more accessible, communal and‘ wild’ sauna experiences, and it’ s brilliant to be part of this,” said Robin Bartlett, co-founder of Sea Scrub.“ We can’ t wait to welcome new faces and grow a community of sauna enthusiasts in Folkestone, from regular locals to intrepid day-trippers and holidaymakers.”
This opening marks the latest addition to the evening leisure offer at Folkestone Harbour Arm, which has become a popular destination for coastal experiences.
© Folkestone Harbour Arm © Folkestone Harbour Arm
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