NEWS
CHILDREN ’ S HOSPICE BENEFITS FROM £ 11,000 DONATION
A children ’ s hospice in Sittingbourne has received an £ 11,000 boost from a local housebuilder ’ s fundraising efforts . Bellway ’ s Kent division raised the money for Demelza Hospice by holding a golf day for Bellway staff , contractors and suppliers at East Sussex National Golf Club in Uckfield , and one member of staff went the extra mile by completing Weymouth Half Iron Man for the cause .
Around 80 budding golfers put their skills to the test over 18 holes and raised over £ 22,000 , which was then split between Demelza Hospice and Cancer Research UK .
Claire Ellis-Waghorn , head of fundraising for Demelza , said : “ Without the support of incredible business partners and the individuals who work for those businesses , we really couldn ’ t continue to provide the care and support that we do to so many families with extremely ill children . Thank you Bellway Kent – we are really proud to be partnered with you .”
Demelza is a charity which provides specialist facilities for children and young people who have life-threatening or life-limiting conditions throughout the South East . The charity also offers support and care for family and friends , and Bellway Kent has already taken part in a number of charity events this year to help the charity .
SOUTH EAST WINS FUNDING TO DELIVER INNOVATIVE CULTURAL TOURISM PROJECT
A £ 1.3million project to create a new cultural tourist trail and arts ‘ treasure hunt ’ along the South East coast has been given the green light , it was announced in October .
‘ Culture Coasting ’ will bring together organisations across the South East to significantly grow the visitor economy for the region , targeting key international markets with a completely reimagined take on a traditional tourist trail . It will combine original artworks created by internationally renowned artists , geocaching technology and bookable itineraries along the South East ’ s spectacular coastline . Building on the South East ’ s growing reputation for its world-class cultural offer , the project will bring new visitors to the region .
Visit Kent and Turner Contemporary have been awarded funding from VisitEngland ’ s coveted Discover England Fund ( DEF ) and Arts Council England respectively to launch the project , in partnership with several leading arts venues in the region .
Director of Turner Contemporary Victoria Pomery OBE said : “ We ’ re delighted to have secured Culture Destinations funding to deliver Culture Coasting . By truly putting arts and culture at the core of the project , we aim to create a unique , cohesive visitor offer which celebrates our distinctive coastline and significantly grows the visitor economy for the region .
This ambitious project will create an experiential trail , relevant to key markets , through digital technologies and partnerships across the South East .”
The trail route will include Southend- On-Sea , Whitstable , Margate , Folkestone , Hastings , Bexhill and Eastbourne , showcasing some of the most dramatic coastal scenery and creating an immersive cultural and thoughtprovoking experience for all .
The £ 40million Discover England Fund ( DEF ) was launched in 2016 to ensure that England stays competitive in the rapidly growing tourism industry , with funds spread over three years . Last year , Visit Kent successfully submitted a bid for the Year One ( 2016 / 17 ) funding pot and was awarded £ 240,000 for its Gardens & Gourmet project , in partnership with four other destinations .
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