Local News

Swale Borough Council is making £162,800 available for local groups to support projects that benefit the community over the next year.

The funding pot was announced at the council's Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 20th May when Cabinet Member for Localism, Cllr Mike Whiting, tabled a letter confirming the grants.

Cllr Whiting told SFM's "In The Bourne" listeners: "We are lucky to have such a wealth of local groups that are doing a tremendous amount to improve lives across the Borough, and these grants are part of our commitment to supporting them in their work. Councillors have more than £110,000 available between them to support schemes in their areas - be it extra bins, supporting events, or helping local good causes. Even small amounts of money really can make a big difference, so I am looking forward to seeing all the applications for support over the next year."

There are currently five grant schemes available to the community to support a range of projects within the Borough and to improve the local cultural and leisure offer.

The grants available are:

• £112,800 Members' Localism Grants - £2,400 per councillor
• £10,000 Heritage Grants - up to £1,000 per project
• £5,000 Culture Grants - up to £1,000 per project
• £20,000 Sport and Physical Activity Grants - between £200 and £1,000
• £15,000 WW1 Centenary Grants - up to £750

To find out more about the grants on offer, and get information on how to apply, visit www.swale.gov.uk/localism-grants.

Gordon Henderson, Member of Parliament for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, has welcomed the news that post office services are finally being restored in Bredgar.

The village Post Office was closed in February following a burglary and had been set to re-open on Saturday (23rd May) but encountered some broadband connection problems. These have now been resolved and the Post Office will be re-opening from 9.15am tomorrow (Wednesday 27th May).

Mr Henderson told SFM News "I am very pleased this much-needed service is re-opening. The damage caused by the raid was extensive and I congratulate everyone involved in getting the work done so quickly. Village Post Offices lie at the heart of their communities and we have seen too many of them close over the years. Having the Post Office open again in Bredgar is great news for the village and I would encourage villagers and visitors to use it. I wish postmaster Teresa Hudson well when she re-opens tomorrow."

Tenants on the Kent Science Park in Milstead have been giving blood when the mobile lorries visited the Park last week. Over 80 units of blood were donated with eight new donors turning out to give blood.

Each year, Kent Science Park holds three donation sessions that are promoted to the 1600 employees based on the Park, ensuring the donation mobile is always fully booked with appointments. This time round, the grid was fully booked leaving the National Blood Service working a full capacity across both days.

Selina Charles, Senior Marketing Coordinator at NHS Blood and Transplant told SFM News: "We are very grateful to all those who donated. Every blood donation can save or transform up to three lives. Many people know that blood is often used in accident and emergency situations, but more than 60 percent of blood is used for non-surgical treatment, which includes treating cancers and other blood disorders. With around 6,100 donations needed by hospitals in England and North Wales every day, I would encourage both new and returning donors to make a date to roll up their sleeve and donate. Giving blood should take around an hour from the time of your appointment to completing your donation. So make the time to give blood, you never know whose life you could save".

Kent Science Park tenants have donated over 3,000 units of blood to the National Blood Service over the past 15 years.

The blood donation mobile will return to Kent Science Park and Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd May for KSP workers and there will be a general Blood Donation Session at the UKP Club on the Avenue Of Remembrance between 9.30am - 1.30pm On Sunday 31st May.

A 17-year-old, who assaulted two teenage boys and stole their mobile phones in the space of five minutes, has pleaded guilty to robbery.

At about 8.15am on Thursday 7th May, a 13-year-old boy was walking to school along St John's Avenue in Sittingbourne when he was approached by two older boys. They asked him the time and after taking out his iPhone 5 to help them out, the victim was held in a headlock and his mobile phone taken.

Just five minutes later, a second victim - a 16-year-old boy - was attacked while walking along Canterbury Road. As he took his phone out of his pocket to look at it, someone ran past and snatched it out of his hand. Just as he turned to see what happened, he was punched in the face. The victim suffered a cut lip, which required hospital treatment and 10 stitches.

Officers investigating the reports made an arrest later that evening.

The following day, a 17-year-old boy from Sittingbourne, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with two counts of robbery. He appeared at Maidstone Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 12th May and pleaded guilty to both offences. He will now be sentenced at the same court on Monday 15th June.

Investigating officer, PC Grant Broad of Kent Police, told SFM News: "Two innocent young boys on their way to school were attacked for the sole purpose of stealing their mobile phones. While these two incidents happened one after the other and very quickly, so was the police response. We quickly located an offender and arrested him later that day. Thanks to the wealth of evidence against him, within five days of the offence happening, the teenager was charged and pleaded guilty to both robberies. While these incidents have understandably caused some concern, I hope the community will rest assured police have investigated thoroughly and dealt quickly and robustly with the offender. He will remain in custody and off the streets where he can pose no threat to the public until he is sentenced next month."

• *** UPDATE ***  A second person, a 15-year-old boy from Sittingbourne, was also arrested on suspicion of robbery and has been bailed until Monday 8th June pending further enquiries.