Club Meeting: Kent Young Carers

Mon, Jan 28th 2019 at 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Mark Blamey - Kent Young Carers

President Peter introduced our speaker Mark Blamey from Young Carers.

Mark has had a very varied career, qualifying as an Estates Manager and then retrained as a Vicar. He has lived in Weymouth, Oxford, Jersey and now Canterbury. He began working for Cluttons in Canterbury. He served as a curate in East Oxford and was manager of the Jersey Alzheimer's Association.

Mark now works for IMAGO which is an organisation providing a range of services for all ages. They provide advice on a consultancy basis to other charities. He told us that there are 800,000 secondary school pupils in England who have a caring role. Their average age is 13.

Young carers are more likely to have anxiety or depression than other children their age. Half of them feel stressed and lonely as a result of their caring roles. They are often late for school due to their caring duties and because not all families let schools know their situation, the carers are often picked on and bullied. A quarter say that their caring role has made it more difficult for them to form friendships. One in five has never had a summer holiday.

There are 800 young carers on the books in the Ashford and surrounding area, 80 of whom have high level needs. Mark thanked us for our support for Kent Young Carers. He attended the children's Christmas party and saw how smoothly it ran. There followed a question and answer session.

Sue F gave he vote of thanks.

'What We Do' Main Pages:

Fundraiser success

Bryan, Mark, Carol Ann are congratulated by Renate at the close of the event.

Charity Concert success as 3 top musicians entertain an excited audience in Ashford's St Mary Church

We will move our meetings to The Ashford Holiday Inn North from 25th March.

Bryan Gipps, Director of Music, St Mary’s Church, Ashford, is presented with a cheque by Sue Brown from London Beach Hotel Tenterden, with Rotary President, Alan Jose. This donation will go towards the Church Organ Restoration Fund.

REnate hands over to incoming President Alan and wishes him well

President Renate welcomes incoming President, Alan

The Mayor of Ashford, Cllr Callum Knowles, Ashford Rotary President, Amanda Cottrell and Leader of the Council, Cllr. Gerry Clarkson open the shelter

The Rotary Club of Ashford's Community Shelter at Conningbrook Lakes Country Park was opened today.

On Monday 10th January, following a frugal supper, PP Kitty Brook, her granddaughter, Kristina, and Kristina's partner, Akeem, gave a talk on 'Malcolm's Soup Kitchen'.

John Harris spoke of the work of the CWGC

Rtn Peter Gammon spoke on Criminal Law

On Sunday 26th June we ran a Charity Cream Tea Party for around 100 people in aid of President Liz's chosen Charities -'Canine Helpers' and 'Kent MS Therapy Centre'. Thanks to all who helped make it a memorable afternoon.

The Club learnt of the support given to the hearing impaired by HI Kent

President Liz Stuart-Smith received a cheque for £600.00 from the Ashford Muslim Association

The Rotary Club of Ashford join partners to collect for earthquake victims

The new Interact Club of Towers School is now up and running.

Paul Mott of McArthurGlen, Rotary President Renate Beerling, and the Mayor of Ashford, Larry Krause. Over £1,000 was made for Charity.

McArthurGlen Management teams up with the Rotary Club of Ashford to raffle prizes freely donated by many retailers at the Outlet Centre.

Lilia with some of her collection and President Liz Stewart-Smith.

We were delighted on Monday night with a talk by 12 year old Lilia who explained the meanings of Ichimatsu Ningyo, Hina Ningyo, Daruma Ningyo, Kokeshi Ningyo and Gosho Ningyo; various forms of Japanese Doll.