If you need Food, Essentials or Support over the Holiday period
If you need Food, essentials or support over the Holiday period, Ashford Holiday Kitchen is up and running. You can find all the details www.ashford.gov.uk at 01233 3311111
Complete our Survey and Win 1 of 3 x £50.
Community Plan Consultation Autumn 2020
“A Community Plan”
“To gather, consider, priortise and action the views of the SWAN Community”
SWANCC is undertaking the production of a SWAN Community PLAN to help gather your opinions as to what needs to be done to improve the quality of living in our area. Attached is a short consultation asking just three simple questions. Your replies will help us shape the SWAN Community Plan. The date to qualify for the Prize Draw is 18th December 2020 by Midday. Email to clerk@swancc.org.uk
Foodbanks and Compassion Services in SWAN and Town Wide
Ashford has a wonderful community and a Foodbanks and Compassion Services which are widely supported and easy to access, if you would like to access support locally Salvation Army offer along with alot of practical support if wanted, a 3 day emergency food parcel with a family cooked meal if needed from their centre on Cudworth Road, they are open Friday mornings or any time a staff member is on site they will be very happy to help you. SWAN CC were delighted to give £2000 during the last lockdown towards this splendid work.
You can access Bright City Church on Bank Street for Foodbank services or Ashford Vineyard Renew they offer a foodbank plus many other helpful and kind services.
Please don’t struggle unnecessarily during this difficult and unusual time, support is available and discreet.
A list of all food bank other essential supplies can be found here,
#KentTogether How To Access Current Support During Covid 19
How to access support during Covd 19 Lockdown.
Set up in response to the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak and working in partnership with District and Borough Councils, thousands of vulnerable people in Kent have already been supported and protected from hardship and isolation during the crisis, through Kent Together.
If you need practical help with accessing food, medicines, dog walking, putting bins out, a friendly ear or a facetime chat, advice on shielding, or financial assistance, Kent Together is an Umbrella of all the Council and Voluntary Supports in place. You can call them for yourself or anyone you’re concerned for or complete an online form on their website.
The Helpline number is Kent Together Helpline, 03000 41 92 92.
Or access the website here at https://www.kent.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/health/coronavirus/kent-together
Council vacancy – advance notice
A vacancy has arisen on South Willesborough and Newtown Community Council
Community Councillor Matthew Harris has resigned from his position as Councillor due to a job change and re-location to the Middlesbrough area. We all wish him well
Matt was elected in May 2019 when the Council was formed and latterly was elected Chair of the Council’s Planning and Highways Committee.
SWAN Community Council will start the procedure of filling the vacant position by co-option by liaising with Ashford Borough Council, which oversees all parish and community elections and Councillor appointments. There are rules to follow but once we get the go-ahead from ABC we will start the selection process
Having recently taken over the management of the Gas House Fields Allotments, SWAN Community Council is gathering momentum and it is an exciting time for anyone with a deep local interest to get involved.
Councillors need to be at least 18 years old and be a British citizen or an eligible Commonwealth citizen and meet at least one of the following four qualifications:
a. You are, and will continue to be, registered as a local government elector for the parish/community in which you wish to stand from the day of your nomination onwards.
b. You have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the parish/community area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.
c. Your main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of your nomination and the day of election has been in the parish/community area.
d. You have lived in the parish/community area or within three miles of it during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.
If you satisfy the criteria, we would be happy to receive expressions of interest from you now.
To do this you can E-mail clerk@swancc.org.uk – or write to the Chair of the Council, Councillor Sue Mullan, at the office address
Ashford leads the way in helping families build new lives
Ashford Borough Council wins national award in recognition of its commitment to welcoming Syrian refugees
Ashford’s proud record of welcoming vulnerable refugee families has earned national recognition , with its Syrian Resettlement Programme winning the Diversity and Inclusion category of the prestigious LGC Awards 2020.
Gerry Clarkson, Leader of the Council, said that often-praised work in helping Syrian refugee families to settle here and create a new, peaceful and secure life for themselves was praised by judges in the first-ever virtual Local Government Chronicle Awards.
More than 1,500 of the most senior figures in local government gathered online for the annual awards.
Commenting on Ashford’s entry, the judges said: “A great strategic approach to an important integration project with both organisational and community buy in. This has secured very impressive outcomes and transformed lives with backing of the local community. The project exemplifies the best in officer and political leadership and demonstrates what can be achieved when innovative approaches are championed at all levels.”
Winners of the 21 LGC awards are heralded as the councils doing the most to innovate to ensure they best serve their residents.
To win this award when Ashford was up against incredibly strong entries is a true testament to the life changing impact that its scheme has had for dozens of desperate families who now call our borough home. It is making a huge difference to the lives of people most affected by the global refugee crisis.
The Leader thanked all those staff who dedicated themselves to making this programme such a success. The support from local residents, voluntary organisations and community and faith groups continues to be key to enabling successful integration.
The project coordinator, Anne Forbes responded to the news by saying : “We were absolutely thrilled to win this award against such strong opposition. It’s a testament to Ashford’s approach to resettlement, the team, partners and wider community and also to the huge resilience, hard work and willingness of the refugees themselves. They have worked with us and the community to build new lives and create strong bonds. In these unprecedented times they
have taught us a lot about how to deal with adversity.”
Developing Neighbourhood Watch
We strongly support the view that areas with a strong Neighbourhood Watch scheme in place will be better off than those without one and that residents who join the scheme will be better off than those that don’t. On Monday 2nd November, the Council heard an interesting and impassioned presentation from Peter New, the Police […]
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