SERV KENT, THE BLOODRUNNERS

We are able to quickly respond to requests for donated breast milk which helps mothers & their babies at this important time in their lives. Since February 2013, SERV Kent volunteers have been working in partnership with the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance Trust to supply them with regular stocks of blood which are carried onboard the aircraft, enabling the specialist Doctors & Paramedics to provide instant emergency treatment at the scene of an incident. This service was the first of its kind in the UK outside London and ensures that the people of the three Counties receive the highest quality trauma care possible. Many lives have been saved since the service began.

SERV Kent, also known as the ‘Bloodrunners’, is a registered charity that delivers blood, blood products, samples for testing, home dialysis samples from patients who have kidney disease & other medical items to hospitals across the County of Kent, 24 hours a day, free of charge, whenever and wherever they are urgently needed.

Riders, drivers and controllers all give up their free time to be on call, on a rota basis. We have up to six riders/drivers on duty every night plus two on the Air Ambulance run and a controller, 24/7, 365 days a year.

In May 2015, we began transporting Breast Milk. This is collected from donor mothers and taken to a Milk Bank and from a Milk Bank to a mother’s home or NICU Unit (Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit) where it is used for premature & sick babies and for mothers who need help at this important time.

One of our most important hospitals is Darent Valley. In addition to blood products, we also have a donated breast milk ‘hub’ at the hospital which is used to store frozen breast milk for when it is needed at the Neo-natal Intensive Care Units (NICU) in Kent. Units are based at Darent Valley, Medway Maritime, Tunbridge Wells at Pembury & William Harvey at Ashford.

We have also been working with the Demelza Children’s Hospice & the Ellenor Hospice Group since 2013 to transfer urgent medication and equipment between the Hospice and hospitals, pharmacies and even to family homes to bring parents whatever is needed for their children.

We rely entirely on donations for our income. Our riders and drivers generally use their own vehicles and pay for their own fuel. Your donations could help to save a life. Our charity needs around £50,000pa to cover the costs of our motor fleet; business insurances; HQ running costs and training costs.

In June 2021, we were awarded THE QUEEN’S AWARD FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE

In December 2021, we were winners of THE KENT VOLUNTEERING AWARDS arranged by the KM Charity Team.

In March 2022, we were awarded the High Sheriff of Kent Consort’s Award for our volunteering services.

Everything we do helps someone, somewhere – we cover every part of Kent. Visit our website: www.servkent.co.uk for more information or email us on: membership@servkent.org to join our crew of volunteers.

Titanic The Musical The Orchard Theatre, Dartford

MON 26 JUNE - SAT 1 JULY 2023 | 2.30PM, 7.30PM

Win a pair of tickets to see Titanic the Musical at The Orchard Theatre.

Based on real people aboard the most legendary ship in the world, Titanic The Musical is a stunning and stirring production focusing on the hopes, dreams and aspirations of her passengers who each boarded with stories and personal ambitions of their own. All innocently unaware of the fate awaiting them, the Third Class immigrants dream of a better life in America, the Second Class imagine they too can join the lifestyles of the rich and famous, whilst the millionaire Barons of the First Class anticipate legacies lasting forever.

What port did the Titanic sail from on it’s fateful voyage?

A: Liverpool

B: Tilbury

C: Southampton

D: Dover

Email competition@dartfordliving.com by the 20th June to be in with a chance of winning.

RULES: 1. The winner(s) will be the first correct entry/entries drawn. 2. The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 3. Prizes are as stated and no cash in lieu or an alternative prize will be offered.. 4. Winners will be notified by telephone or email by the Orchard, within 5 working days of the competition being drawn. 5. Employees and the immediate families of participating companies are ineligible to enter. 6. Closing date for the competition is stated above. 7.. All entries will be added to the Dartford Living mailing list to receive a copy of the magazine by email once a month. Please state when you enter the competition if you don’t wish to be added www.dartfordbusinessdirectory.co.uk

Lemon Meringue Squares

By Debbie Dickinson

These are equally delicious - and moreish - with or without the meringue layer. Cut into different size squares for adults and children.

What you need:

For the base:

175g Plain Flour

75g Icing Sugar

150g Cold Butter, cut into small cubes

1 Egg Yolk

For the filling:

2 Large Eggs

200g Caster Sugar

2Tbsp Plain Flour

4Tbsp Lemon Juice – Either juiced fresh or from a bottle is fine.

For the topping:

2 Egg Whites – it’s important to make sure no Egg Yolk is in this.

What to do:

Preheat your oven to 180° C Fan.

Put the Plain Flour and Icing Sugar in a large bowl.

Add the cold, cubed Butter and rub the flour into the butter – using only your fingertips –until the mix resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir the Egg Yolk into the flour mixture and combine into a dough. Pop into the fridge for 20 minutes while you weigh out the ingredients for the filling.

Press the dough evenly into a greased & lined 8” square cake/brownie tin. Silicon brownie trays are good as there is no need to grease/line them.

Prick the shortbread with a fork. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until the surface looks slightly golden.

While the base is baking, make the filling. It is important to add the lemon mix onto the base while the shortbread is still hot so the lemon curd will start cooking immediately. To make the filling, simply whisk all the ingredients together until light and fluffy.

As soon as the base is looking golden, pour the lemon mix on top of the hot shortbread, return to the oven and bake for another 1525 minutes – until the surface starts to turn a light golden.

Take out of the oven for a few minutes while you make the meringue – but these treats are equally delicious without the meringue if you prefer.

To make the meringue, whisk the Egg Whites until they create soft peaks. Continue whisking while you add the Caster Sugar - gradually - until all the Sugar has been combined and the mixture creates stiff peaks when the whisk is lifted out.

Spoon or pipe the meringue, carefully, over the surface of the lemon mix and pop back in the oven for 5 minutes (or until perfectly coloured).

Leave to cool, then cut into squares and enjoy! xxx

Design. We Print. We Deliver.

Sneak

Most babies learn best when they see hear touch, taste and smell Our multi-award winning classes will introduce you and your baby (or babies) to a world of sensory delights, where you can relax, spend quality time with each other and enjoy meeting other new parents

Specifically designed from birth to aid your child s development, the programme is packed with an incredible variety of sound, smells, sights, textures, music, dance, signing and massage - and you ll never experience the same class twice!