NEWS
STORY
THE ICE RINK AND WINTERLAND TO RETURN TO BLUEWATER
Bluewater has announced that its much-loved Christmas activities, the Ice Rink and Winterland, are set to return for Christmas 2026, with tickets on sale now.
The Ice Rink will return from Thursday 5 November 2026 until Sunday 3 January 2027, while Winterland will be open from Saturday 7 November 2026 until Sunday 10 January 2027. Both will be located outside The Village.
Offering plenty of fun for guests of all ages, the undercover Ice Rink will return with its regular Friday Disco Nights, 2-for-1 skates, plus special parent and toddler and quiet sessions.
Bluewater will also host weekly Skate & Sing sessions, which will take place every Wednesday from 18 November to 16 December. Alternating between two exciting themes each week, guests can choose from family-friendly Kids Pop sessions packed with chart-topping singalongs and colourful entertainment, or 80s and 90s parties. Featuring live music, themed performers, interactive games, giveaways and photo opportunities, Skate & Sign promises an unforgettable experience for skaters.
Guests can also give back while taking to the ice with the return of Bluewater’ s‘ Skate to Donate’ sessions, raising funds for its charity of the year, ellenor.
“ We are thrilled to bring back our much-loved attractions for 2026, with Winterland returning with a fresh new look,” said centre director, James Waugh.“ From brand-new festive photo spots and playful sculptures to the return of our classic rides and the Ice Rink, Bluewater is the ultimate destination to create festive memories.”
LOGISTICS UK TEAM STEPS UP FOR MENTAL HEALTH CHARITY CALM
Logistics UK colleagues have covered more than 500 miles on foot this autumn, raising over £ 1,000 for suicide prevention charity CALM through the business group’ s annual series of charity walks.
Held during September and October, the four walks saw 60 colleagues take on routes across the country, from circumnavigating Bewl Water reservoir in Kent to crossing 11 bridges over the Thames in London. Others completed the Callander and Oban Railway Circular Walk in Scotland and circled the Fewston and Swinsty Reservoirs in North Yorkshire.
The money raised will support CALM’ s work providing life-saving services and practical mental health
support. Participants wore official walk T-shirts supplied by sponsor, Soval Safety Jogger.
“ We are proud to be supporting CALM as our chosen charity this year and congratulate everyone who has taken part in one of the fundraising walks,” said chief executive Ben Fletcher.
“ The work CALM does to raise awareness and provide support is aligned closely with Logistics UK’ s THRIVE campaign, an initiative we launched earlier this year to raise awareness of the challenges logistics professionals can face, as well as providing a curated collection of resources on a range of topics that include sleep, nutrition and fitness.”
KENT RELIANCE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION BACKS EIGHT LOCAL CHARITIES
The Kent Reliance Community Foundation has awarded £ 421,505 in grants to eight charities across Kent, supporting projects tackling homelessness, supporting vulnerable families, improving community facilities and expanding opportunities for people facing disadvantage.
The funding will support a range of initiatives across the county, from creating accommodation for homeless veterans and vulnerable adults to expanding inclusive cycling opportunities and helping families access essential support services.
The organisations receiving funding include Folkestone Rainbow Centre, Cyclopark Charity, Royal British Veterans Enterprise, Porchlight, Margate Football Club
Community Trust, Catching Lives, AMAT UK and Mama to Mama Baby Bank.
Established to support charitable causes across Kent, the Kent Reliance Community Foundation works with local organisations to help them make lasting differences in their communities.
“ Each project that we support is different, but they all demonstrate a commitment to lasting change,” said chair of trustees, Jon Hall.“ At the Kent Reliance Community Foundation, we want our funding to do more than address immediate needs. By supporting charities to develop services, improve facilities and reach more people, we hope we can create stronger, more resilient communities across Kent.”
226 • www. insidekent. co. uk