Cader Idris Poultry Farm in Wrotham
THE EGGSELLENCE AWARD
Does your favourite eating place use free-range eggs? Well now is the time to find out as the Battery Hen Welfare Trust launches their new Eggsellence Award!
The Eggsellence Award can be presented to any organisation that serves food and uses only free-range eggs in its produce. If 100% of the eggs are free-range the restaurant receives the Gold Award. Only 95%? Then it’s the Silver Award. BUT eateries must beware of the ‘hidden egg’ which lurks in such unexpected places as mayonnaise and ice cream when calculating their free-range percentage. So if you think an eating place near you uses free-range eggs then nominate them for the award by getting in touch with CSV.
SWALE VOLUNTEER FAIR
Have you ever thought about volunteering? No idea where to start? Well in March, CSV went along to the volunteer fair in Swale to find out more about volunteering opportunities in the area. So if you fancy maybe teaching a child how to read or helping out the elderly or disabled with odd jobs around the house or a host of other things then get in touch with CSV and we’ll put you in touch with your local volunteer centre.
GETTING TOADS OUT OF A HOLE
Has a toad hopped across your path recently? Well the Kent Reptile and Amphibian Group want to know! This spring, ‘KRAG’ as the group are known, launch their new project ‘Getting toads out of a hole’ to help conserve frogs and toads following growing concerns over their declining populations. So if you have spotted a frog or a toad then let CSV know the details and together, we can help KRAG save our toad populations!
CHARITY SHOPS
When was the last time you cleared out your wardrobe? Charity shops across the county need your cast-offs. Although people are increasingly buying used items to save money during the credit crunch, charity shops cannot keep up with demand and are experiencing a huge stock shortage. So if you know that you haven’t worn those flares since the 70s why not drop them off at your local shop. Here at CSV we can put you in touch with the right charity what ever you wish to donate. Remember: one man’s rubbish is another man’s treasure!
RECYCLING
This year CSV are backing Barnados in their appeal for all sorts of items to recycle from mobile phones to ink cartridges. So once you’ve donated all your old clothes and furniture to charity stores, why stop there? Recycling electrical equipment such as computers and televisions is also important so get in touch with us at CSV and we can send you a fact sheet covering all your recycling needs or alternatively we can direct you to your nearest shop or recycling bank.
ADULT LEARNERS
Here at CSV we are great supporters of Adult Learners and encourage anyone who is interested in learning a new skill to get back into education no matter what your age. We can also tell you about awards for those adult learners who are an inspiration to us all.
STREET PASTORS
A pioneering Christian group which offers all kinds of help to clubbers in Maidstone is appealing for more volunteers. The Street Pastors, as they are known, spend the night wandering the streets of Maidstone offering emotional and practical help to anyone who needs it, from a sympathetic ear, a number for a taxi, or a blanket and even flip flops. Helena Noifeld from our CSV team joined them for a weekend and had a very rewarding time. If you would be interested in helping Street Pastors then do not hesitate to get in touch.
PENSION CREDIT
Do you have a family member or friend over the age of 60? Then they may be entitled to pension credit, which is an extra cash award available to many people reaching the age of sixty. Are you missing out? Could this be you? Just pick up the phone and find out.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY
Every year CSV support Make a Difference Day in October –the UK’s largest day of volunteering. In 2008, it’s estimated that over 115,000 people gave a little of their time to really make a difference in their local area. In the past the BBC has supported a range of events from packing up gifts to send to our troops in Afghanistan to clearing brushwood at Shorne Wood Country Park. Keep an eye on the CSV website for details of this year’s Make a Difference Day.
COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
Last December we had a ‘Come Home for Christmas day’ as the charity Missing People released their new report on the types of people who go missing. We spoke to several listeners currently seeking relatives and put together a factsheet on all the agencies that might be able to help with the search for those missing. So if you are looking for someone, whether they have been reported missing, or are just someone you have lost touch with then feel free to ring or email us and we’ll do our best to help.
VOLUNTEERING AT CHRISTMAS
Tired of the turkey? The indulgence, the in-laws and brussel sprouts? Well there is a choice! This Christmas you could really do something special and in doing so make a big difference to someone else whose Christmas is not always as special as they would want. Every year the CSV team organise a factsheet with a variety of ways you can volunteer this Christmas and have a real impact on the lives of others.
REMEMBRANCE 90
November 2008 marked the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War and the BBC South East commemorated the anniversary at Newhaven Fort where the public had the opportunity to take part in re-enactments, drill practice, Morse code and much more. There was also an eager team of volunteers helping visitors to research their family history from the era and to upload some memories onto BBC’s Cyber Remembrance Wall. The young volunteers enjoyed their role of uploading to the remembrance wall so much that they even volunteered to do more!
VETERANS LAPEL BADGE
Whether you’re 18 or 108; whether you’ve served in peace time or conflict; whether you’ve been a frontline soldier or a cook; if you have served in Her Majesty’s Forces, you are a veteran and entitled to a Veteran’s Lapel Badge. So if you would like more information about acquiring a badge then do not hesitate to get in touch with the CSV team.
STAMPS
Send us your used stamps and we’ll donate them to Oxfam and RLIB for fundraising purposes. Thanks so much for all your help with this appeal so far, we’ve had a great response.
PEPPERCORNS COMMUNITY CENTRE
2008 saw the grand opening of the new and improved Peppercorns- an exciting Community Centre in Dartford town centre. It offers a variety of services including a training and employment scheme, together with theatre, dance, music and keep-fit opportunities for people with learning disabilities and the community in general. The centre also houses a fully equipped hairdressers and beauty therapy room. Be sure to make use of these wonderful facilities!
LIVE LIFE THEN GIVE LIFE
Sadly the number of organ transplants that can be performed is constrained by the desperate shortage of donors. Every year more than 400 people die while waiting for a transplant as a suitable donor cannot be found. CSV, to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the first heart transplant, ran our Organ Donation day and we continue to urge you to join the Organ Donor Register.
MENINGITIS AWARENESS
Would you know the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia?
Last year in the UK, there were more than 3,000 cases of these life-threatening illnesses and tragically these resulted in around 230 deaths with many survivors experiencing horrible after-effects.
During Meningitis Awareness Week, BBC Radio Kent explored the devastating effects that meningitis and septicaemia can have on individuals and families. Now, the CSV Action Desk is offering a free wallet sized symptom card for parents and carers to make sure you can recognise the first vital signs.
Dominic King with the Kent Air Ambulance
FIRST AID AND FIRST RESPONDERS
The knowledge of First Aid can mean the difference between life and death.
Last September we welcomed guests from The British Red Cross, St. John Ambulance and Kent Air Ambulance as well as hearing from people who have saved a life or had their life saved. If you wish to learn more about first aid including where you can brush up on your skills then please get in touch with CSV and we can send you our factsheet.
FAMILY WANTED
Last July we had our Family Wanted Week and interviewed all sorts of people from Nikki Campbell who has traced both his birth and adoptive parents and Blair, a father who put his children into care while he got his life back on track. You might think that you are too old, too young or in the wrong relationship to become a foster or adoptive parent but these special people come in all shapes and sizes and there are so many children out there who need you.
If you would like to find out more, we have a free factsheet.
EDUCATION MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCE
Have you finished your GCSES? Are you considering continuing your education at either school or college? If you are, you are probably worried about how expensive these two years will be- but help is at hand.
The government has been running a welcome scheme for the last three years called Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) to ease the financial burden for 16-18 year olds. As long as their household income does not exceed £30,810 per year, students can claim between £10 and £30 per week-paid directly into their bank account-towards anything they need such as books, travel or equipment. Students can also work part-time which will not affect their allowance.
VOLUNTEER WEEK
Can you spare a few hours in your week to help those in need in Kent? Every year from June 1-7 there is a national celebration of volunteers and volunteering. It plays a big part in raising the profile of England’s 22 million volunteers and it inspires others to consider volunteering themselves. The Action desk accompanied driver Tony Chant last year who volunteers his time to help an elderly lady with failing sight to do her shopping.
ACTION FOR PRISONERS’ FAMILIES
Action for Prisoners’ Families promotes the just treatment of prisoners’ families by the prison system and society across the UK. They are calling for all voluntary and statutory agencies to respond to the needs of prisoners’ children and families and ensure vital family relationships are maintained.
One of the practical ways Action for Prisoners’ families can help is with their free and confidential Helpline for prisoners’ families. They can feel confused or lonely and would often like someone to talk to and help with questions about the prison system and keeping in touch.
JOURNALIST NETWORK
CSV’s Journalist Network matches media professionals with charities needing help with Press and PR. Over 350 charities have received advice and practical support from the network, including help with promotional campaigns, producing newsletters and insuring coverage of local services.
If you think you have the necessary skills to help a charity or if you are one of those charities that could use the help of a volunteer then the Journalist Network could help you.
Bluebells at Shorne Wood
SPRINGWATCH
Although launched for spring, this fact sheet offers year round advice on making your garden wildlife friendly. By putting up a bird box, for example, you can help birds suffering from a shortage of natural nesting sites and by providing bird food you will attract a wide variety of feathery visitors to your garden.
Maybe you’d like to help wildlife in your area by volunteering with conservation groups or taking part in a wildlife survey. Our factsheet gives details of all the organisations in Kent that need your help.
BECOME A CONSERVATION VOLUNTEER
If you are interested in trees and hedges and would like to become a tree warden then the Kent British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) would like to hear from you.
As a volunteer warden you would be surveying woodlands and hedgerows and carrying out maintenance and planting work. You do not need any previous experience as BTCV runs training courses.
DO SOMETHING AMAZING – GIVE BLOOD
One in ten people have received blood themselves and one third knows someone who has received a transfusion. Yet, only 6% of the eligible population actually give blood. So if you think you would like to save a life, contact us.
Call the CSV Action desk on 08000 680 675 or email us at radio.kent.actiondesk@bbc.co.uk if you would like more information on any of our appeals.
