Foundation Highlights Quarter Three
October to December 2014
Introducing Town and Country Foundation Creating Places Where People Prosper Welcome to our first newsletter. It provides
Our aspirations are to create communities that
you with a flavour of the Foundation’s work
have these defining characteristics :
over the current quarter. • Enhanced wellbeing and aspirations The Foundation are the Charitable arm of
• Community cohesion and safety
Town and Country Housing Group and work
• Greater financial security / stability and
towards making a positive difference to individual, family and community life. It was established in January 2007 and has a team of six officers and freelance staff. We focus predicting and responding to social needs.
prosperity • Increased influence over services that impact on quality everyday life • Sustainability – environmental, social, economic
So we ‘incubate’ projects and initiatives and
• Choice, control and independence
are striving to create a legacy of sustainable
• Sense of place and belonging
projects across Kent.
• Integrated and cohesive communities
All our projects link to the following themes:
are offered various benefits including a yearly
l
Learning, Skills, Employment & Enterprise
networking event to meet our other supporters
l
Health & Wellbeing
and logos present on marketing materials
l
Local Services, Community Facilities /
of the supported project. Sponsorship of a
assets / housing l
Environment Enhancements.
event, mentoring a young person or training in useful skills such as IT or marketing are
The Foundation works with a wide number
all examples of ways supporters may be
of corporate partners and acts as a catalyst
involved. With Bronze, Silver or Gold levels
for positive changes. If you want to join us,
of supporters, corporates are encouraged to
corporate supporters are invited to support
develop their support.
the Foundations projects with volunteer time,
Call us on 01892 501644 or email
in kind donations or financial donations. They
Foundation@tchg.org.uk
T
wo Worlds is a project created and conceived by the Foundation, with the aim of supporting veterans through their journey
from Service to Civvy Street. Working with local veterans and artists, the project included three exhibitions which were created to improve public understanding of the transition a veteran goes through. The final exhibition, Legacy commemorated and explored conflict throughout the last hundred years through personal memories and objects, collected from members of the community. The exhibition included heirlooms and memories passed down through generations, discovered, lost and found. Some items came with a story told by the owners personal experience.
Two Worlds Final Exhibition Legacy The Legacy Exhibition launch was well attended with over 140 people coming on the night. The exhibition received media attention including local TV news, printed and online media gaining over 75k of exposure during the life of the project.
Project Summary The project has moved on since the first exhibition in January 2013. CLICK HERE to read the key positive changes
Love Where You Live Awards 2014
L
ove Where We Live Awards is sponsored by Town and Country Housing Group and the Foundation encouraged our associated projects
to enter the awards. The awards recognised those doing great things in their community by awarding certificates and prizes (including grants) to community groups, projects, charities and individuals within Tunbridge wells and surrounding areas. This years winners include DAVSS, a charity created and conceived by the Foundation (winner of Best Group, pictured bottom left) and Grays Tea Room which the Foundation supported with seed corn funding, advice and support during their development. (Winner of Ethical Business, pictured bottom right). Other winners, including the Good Neighbour project, Polly from Pickering Cancer Trust, Mindwell Disability Arts Group, The Cyber CafĂŠ and Rosie Alston from West Kent YMCA, were all projects supported by Town & Country Group Foundation.
All the winners of the Love Where You Live Awards
Charity of the Year Award
Grays Tea Room, Winner of Ethical Business.
All the finalists of the Love Where You Live Awards
Polly won the Lifetime Achievement Award
DAVSS, ‘Love Where You Live’ overall winner and winner of Community Safety Award
Pop Ups - Quarter three Foundation and Customer Engagement hold a minimum of two Pop Ups per quarter, one in East and one in West Kent. We use Pop Ups to consultant informally on a range of service priorities, from holding a stand at a Community Fun Day to creating our own events. Since April 2014 these Pop Up events have involved over 3,000 participants.
Christmas on a budget This quarter we focused on saving money at Christmas time, including crafts, a hand out guide to saving money and where possible, a member of the Money Support Team was on hand to give advice. Events are attended by partners such as the Citizens Advice Bureau, Community Safety, Police, Schools, Children Centres and Fire Service. Pictured is the first of our Christmas Pop Ups which took place at Priory Fields School, Dover and was attended by more than 20 local residents. An additional Pop Up took place in Thanet on 22 November.
Foundation and Customer Engagement held a 1950s themed afternoon tea party with live band ‘The Dad Pack’ and cakes. This engaged residents, reduced isolation and improved awareness of the Foundation, the work we do and of the engagement opportunities available to our sheltered residents.
Simmonds Court Pop Up
Cameron Smith and finalist and judges including our own Bob Heapy, an East Kent judge.
Young Start-Up Talent (YST) is an entrepreneurial initiative that helps young people into business, including a ÂŁ50,000 prize made up of support and advice in getting their business off the ground. Town and Country Housing Group are sponsoring the West Kent region competition for three years, while the Foundation offers support including staff time for one day a week. Foundation supported YST in branching out into East Kent. In November YST launched
First East Kent winner, 18 year old Cameron Smith
in East Kent for the second year. YST reaches 60,000 young people a year and runs inspiring and interactive workshops.
The launch of YST in West Kent in November. The second East Kent launch took place on 24 November.
WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS Customer Service Week During this week at TCHG included a variety of customer Service activities. Foundation supported a Kent High Weald Partnership (KHWP) workshop clearing rhododendron by Sherwood lakes, with eight staff volunteering time. This supported the KHWP and their staff, volunteers and community members in their efforts to make the woods and lake more useable.
Alan from IT getting stuck in!
Dover Kent Wildlife Trust
Folkestone Jobs Fair
Workshop
In partnership with JobCentre
The Foundation worked with
Plus, we engaged with more
Kent Wildlife Trust in October
than 30 direct participants
to clear the woods next to the
offering and consulting on
nature reserve at Old Park.
what future training could
Lots of families attended,
be provided to jobseekers,
including volunteers from
including residents.
France! Over 120 people
Dover JobCentre Plus
were involved on the day.
We spent time at Dover
Kent Wildlife Trust focused
JobCentre Plus engaging
on clearing the scrub from
with Employment Support
the area to restore the
Allowance clients informing
chalk grassland. The chalk
them of training opportunities
grassland is a rare habitat
and consulting on finding out
and the work being done
what projects and training they
will benefit wildlife as well as
would like to see in the area.
provide an outdoor space for the community.
y t r a P e v i Fest at Old Park Saturday
6th December
12noon - 2pm
With our partners from “Troubled Families’ and local children. Over 150 attended.
Come along and join us for
Free Christmas craft fun
for all the family Free Santa’s grotto, Free Party games, Free Lunch and refreshments Free Family photo
To reserve your place
Please call Sara on 07545 207 038
Making your views count! @tandchousing 100 95 75
25 5 0
www.facebook.com/townandcountryhousing
Training conceived and created by the Foundation Foundation sponsors Mosaic Cookery Classes who work in partnership with Nourish Community Foodbank, local volunteers and local churches. There has been such a high demand for these courses that they are running for a second time and will be supported as an on-going training resource.
Results this quarter: 6 residents into jobs 14 residents into volunteers 35 residents gaining qualificiations.
Other events & dates for your diary All through December Art Trail ‘Artists Unveiled’ Through Tunbridge Wells Recent events: 6 December Pop Up Eastbourne - Fishermens Club
27 January Energy Awareness - Priory Fields School, Dover
8 December Pop Up Brenchley - Grays Café
5 February Energy Awareness - Old Park
15 December Pop Up Sheltered - St Stephens Court
2 - 6 February Pop Up Energy Awareness Café BLISS, Tunbridge Wells
16 December Trinity Gallery launch - Sylvie Howitt Coming up...
6 February CREATE Lantern Parade - Tunbridge Wells (workshops throughout January)
13 January ‘New Year, New You’ in partnership with Southern Housing Group - Old Park
17 February DAVSS Conference ‘Men Standing Up Against Domestic Abuse’
15 January Energy Awareness - Old Park
17 and 18 February Youth Engagement Days - Old Park
22 January Energy Awareness training for front line staff.
26 February Energy Awareness - Old Park
Head Office Town & Country Housing Group Monson House Monson Way Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 1LQ Foundation 01892 501644 or email foundation@tchg.org.uk @tandcfoundation www.tchg.org.uk