CHARITY
Claremont Pupils Race for Life
Claremont School runners of all ages braved the wind, rain and the
odd river of oozing mud to complete a 5k Race for Life, raising in
excess of £2,500 for Cancer Research UK. Children as young as 4
battled the elements as they ran and walked, laughed and shrieked,
wallowed in mud and splashed in puddles on their way around the
gruelling course.
Headteacher Gavin Bunker, who also put on his running shoes, said
“The spirit of Claremont was certainly out in force. The grit and
determination the runners showed in pursuit of the finish line was
truly humbling’.
On completing the course, Stephanie Edmunds, deputy head (academic)
and marathon runner in her spare time, added: ‘As it comes to the
festive time of year, we realise how lucky we are in so many respects.
We felt that by putting on our own Race for Life, we could give
something back to society and help raise much needed funds for
Cancer Research. The children loved it!'
Nominations open for The Kent
Charity Awards
Kent Freemasons step-up to support
RBLI’s STEP-IN programme
Charities, both large and small, from across the county can submit
their entries and gain much deserved recognition for the incredible
work they do at The Kent Charity Awards
Entering the KCAs, which is now in its 6th year, is a great way for
good causes to gain exposure, increase stakeholder funding and can
also be great for staff morale. In an area where people often work
tirelessly to help make the lives of others better, receiving extra
recognition can really make a difference and be a tremendous boost.
Chairman of judges, Susan Robinson from Kreston Reeves said: “The
Kent Charity Awards are a wonderful way of saying thank you and
well done for work that often goes on under the radar. In 2019 the
judges faced an incredibly difficult task of shortlisting the finalists as
we had so many great entries. During our judges visits we were inspired,
we laughed and we cried, but overall we came away humbled. We
witnessed so much innovation and collaboration within the Third
Sector and throughout these challenging times we saw hope and
possibilities. We are really excited to be moving into our 6th year and
look forward to receiving lots of great entries.“
Thanks to a major donation of £135,000
from Kent Freemasons, more than 350
vulnerable military veterans will be
supported by Royal British Legion
Industries’ (RBLI) pioneering welfare
programme.
Through its STEP-IN programme, RBLI
helps individuals with multiple, complex
health needs and severe disabilities. It
will provide each of the 360 veterans
with a tailored plan based on their own
needs to give them the tools to overcome
challenges and move them towards
independence.
As in previous years, they are also looking for your favourite Trustee
and Volunteer. Full details on how you can nominate someone for
the Trustee and Volunteer awards, as well as those in the other exciting
categories, can be found at www.kentcharityawards.com
Deadline for entries is 2 April 2020
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The grant from the Masonic Charitable
Foundation, which is funded by
freemasons, their families and friends,
from across England and Wales, will
help veterans across Kent to maintain
their independence and quality of life
over the next three years. The
programme offers a range of activities
including gardening, music and fitness;
as well as a specially-designed relationship
with Kent schools, where pupils will be
helped with reading and literacy while
offering the veterans tips on using
computers.
Mark Estaugh of Kent Freemasons, said:
“I’m very pleased we’ve been able to
help the veterans in the RBLI village to
get access to a wide range of activities,
helping them keep their independence
and improving their quality of life.
“These are people who have given a
tremendous amount to our country and
we’re proud to be able to give something
back to them.”
Steve Sherry CMG OBE, chief executive
of RBLI, said: “With 100 years’
experience, we have produced a
pioneering model of care, which is both
cost effective and replicable, and which
can help veterans overcome multiple
challenges at once.
“Our STEP-IN programme tackles the
growing demand for integrated care, and
encompasses health, social care, welfare
and employment in one single place to
help the country’s most vulnerable
veterans turn their lives around more
quickly. And this generous gift from the
Masonic Charitable Foundation will help
us to support more veterans.”
The grant will also help deliver
community events for veterans of all ages
and the local community, including a
Christmas market and summer concerts.