Head of Partnership-Progress Report April 2011
Speaking Up Network:
Please see our website for latest web pages and progress reports
We now have 6 Speaking Up Groups (at the last board meeting we had 7)
1. Sittingbourne – Chris and Deborah (social work student) are supporting people this group. People
organised two open days in partnership with Sheppey SUG. One event was at Meadow Fields School and
the other at the Healthy Living Centre on Sheppey. Although both events were well advertised they were
not supported well by other organisations.
2. Isle of Sheppey – Louise Allen supports people in this group but the latest feedback is that people feel
ready to move on to do other things.
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3. Ramsgate – Elvis and Peter B are supporting people in this group. They are making regular visits to
residential homes but they will also take the lead with the development of the community café in
partnership with Pie Factory.
4. Dover – Human Rights Group,
5. Deal – We decided that we do not have enough funding or capacity to take on the community café at North
Deal Community project.
6. Folkestone – The last SUG meeting was on the 6th of April. The start up grant has come to an end and
most people have moved on to do other things, some people have decided to join New Romney SUG.
7. New Romney – There are quite a few people in this group with high support needs (Elvis has feedback
that it can be really difficult to support). People do speaking up for about two hours then work on the
Shepway Schools project for a couple of hours also.
In the past people have said that they would like to develop Speaking Up in Ashford but as funding for this type
of work is getting harder and harder to obtain we are not sure if this will happen in the near future.
Social Enterprises:
Eco Shed:
Please see website for latest progress reports
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Three people are now on the pay roll (all part-time). People are working really hard and have built up a quantity
good quality stock. They are getting involved in selling at more fairs and markets. They have emailed and put
on message board the dates of the events they will be trading at.
Jargon Busters:
We decided not to recruit for a new project lead for Jargon Busters, as we do not have enough funding for this
post at the moment.
We were not able to get a KCC member to support one of the bids, which had been prepared for the
development of JB.
Jargon busters have had really positive feedback from work they have done recently. We are collecting this
information to use in support for future bids.
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Gardening Projects:
Sittingbourne: We are looking into finding another garden, perhaps a bit bigger than the one at the house. We
have already made a few enquiries, one with Swale Borough Council, Charlotte, who is the Economy &
Community Manager, is going to get back to us with suggestions.
Dover: No updates – looking for more funding.
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Schools Project:
We are still waiting to hear if we were successful with the bid for £10.000 we put in to Roger De Haan.
Dover Arts Development:
People in the Healthy Living Group and in the Media Group have been working with Edda, who is a local artist,
and Dover Arts Development on an exciting new arts project – rollDover. A live painting action & film exhibition
project in Dover
Edda is putting in a bid to uScreen.
Unfortunately we were not successful with this bid but Edda is going to look for other funding.
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The Pulse (community café in Sittingbourne)
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The work is progressing really fast both outside and inside. Birgitte visited the site Thursday the 7 th of April and
spoke with the builders, who said that they have almost finished outside. We are still waiting for the company
commissioned to put in the new windows. They need to do that before the work can finish inside.
 We have put in a bid for £10.000 to Sita Trust for kitchen equipment and interior decorations.
 We have bought the furniture second-hand and most is stored at the house.
 We had a meeting with Nick from Eco4, please see photos. They are a local, eco friendly, fair trade
coffee/tea delivery business
 We have made enquiries with a leasing company about hiring a coffee machine.
 We have emailed partners asking them to register their interest.
 We have had a meeting with Charlotte Heston, who is the Economy & Community Manager in Swale. She
is very enthusiastic about the project and is going to put us in contact with lots of local businesses.
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