Involve Kent

Last Sunday, our team attended the Gravesend Eid Mela organised by CohesionPlus . Despite the rain, it was a fantastic community event, and we really enjoyed speaking with attendees and connecting with some of our partners. 💚

Kent Muslim Hands Rethink Mental Illness

is almost over, and what a fantastic week it's been celebrating out carers across West Kent! Here's a look at what we've been up to:

🏰 On Tuesday we took 12 carers to Leeds Castle, Kent where carers enjoyed a tour of the castle and grounds, a trip on the boat and a tasty packed lunch. One carer shared, “Thanks for a lovely time at the castle, very relaxing.” Our sincere thanks to Leeds Castle to welcoming us and providing a lovely day.

🍰 On Wednesday we hosted a cream tea in Southborough, attended by over 50 carers. A huge thank you to Orida Hotels Maidstone for kindly donating 3 raffle prizes, including 2 afternoon teas and an overnight stay. These will be hugely appreciated by the lucky winners. We're also thankful to the Rock Choir for their uplifting performance, and to Braeburn Care for their support on the day. It was a truly special and emotional afternoon for everyone involved.

🌸 Thursday saw 16 carers visit Sissinghurst Castle - National Trust . Huge thanks to the National Trust for accommodating us. Despite the rainy weather, everyone enjoyed a wonderful day exploring the meticulous design of the gardens and finishing with a delicious lunch.

🎨 We also ran a special Draw Together session, where we created mini sketchbooks using recycled materials, perfect for taking on walks, into the garden, or enjoying a quiet moment. Together, we reflected on our caring roles, using words and ideas from the group to design and build the pages. We were pleased to be joined by MBC councillors, Cllr Stuart Jeffery and Cllr Thompson, who shared their own experiences of caring and listened to carers one what matters most to them in building a more carer-friendly community.

🏥 And finally, we had a stand at Maidstone Hospital today, speaking to people about our carers service available for patients at the hospital.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this week so special, and most importantly to our incredible carers, we celebrate you not just this week, but every day. 💚

Research from Carers UK suggests that roughly 19 million people in the UK have provided unpaid support to a loved on without ever officially identifying as a carer.

You might not think of yourself as a carer, but if you regularly help a family member or friend, who couldn't manage without your support, you could be a hidden carer.

If this sounds like you, you're not alone. Recognising yourself as a carer is the first step towards accessing help, advice and support. Find out more about our support for carers here: https://involvekent.org.uk/how-can-we-help/caring-for-someone/

We still have spaces left to attend our Carers' Forum on Tuesday 16th June, 12:30pm - 4:00pm in Maidstone. If you look after someone unpaid, then this event is for you! Hear from local services and find support amongst other carers.

Speakers include:
- Involve
- Kent Fire and Rescue
- Kent County Council Community Wardens
- The Emergency Planning & Resilience Partnership

A light lunch will be provided. If you would like to book your FREE space, email [email protected] or call 03000 810005 (phone lines open 9am - 5pm Mon - Thurs, 9am - 4:30pm Fri)

This week is , an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face, and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. This year the theme is 'Building Carer Friendly Communities' 🫶

To us, a carer friendly community looks like this...

To close out , we hosted a special celebration at our office. The day began with volunteers meeting at Turkey Mill before enjoying a walk through Mote Park. They then joined us back at the office for a tour, followed by lunch with staff, where our CEO, Gary Wells, presented certificates. The celebration concluded with a cake-cutting by two of our longest-serving volunteers, Tim and Colin.

A huge thank you to all our wonderful volunteers for another year of fabulous work! 💚

Volunteers are the heart of Involve 💚 Here's what some of them said about volunteering with us...

Yesterday, we attended Maidstone Borough Council Volunteer Day at the Market Hall in Lockmeadow. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with local voluntary organisations and chat with the community about our volunteering opportunities.

It was also our Volunteer Coordinator Celia’s (left) first event with us, having joined the team just last week!

Find out more about our current volunteering opportunities here (with more coming soon): https://tinyurl.com/4va4am4w

Happy Volunteer Week! ⭐ Thank you to every volunteer who gives their time, energy and compassion. Whether you're behind the scenes, taking phone calls, driving people to appointments, or helping young people have fun, you make a real difference. We're celebrating you, today and everyday!

On Friday 1st May, 7 Involve carers took part in a consultation for the “Reconnecting Scotney” project. 🏰 They took part in a gardening activity, history tour and a mindfulness session led by staff and volunteers at the castle. Afterwards, there was ample time to hear about the project, view plans, give constructive feedback, and share their own ideas abut how Scotney can engage with all members of the community.

A big thank you to the staff of Scotney Castle- National Trust who made us all very welcome, provided tea and cake, and showed their gratitude by giving each person a gift token. The carers all had a wonderful time and valued having their opinions heard. 💚

One carer said: “What a very lovely day, thank you so much for organising it. Incredibly generous thank you from them too, for what I found interesting and fun. I couldn’t stop thinking about what they asked and what they are trying to achieve all evening. Absolutely brilliant.”