£250,000 boost for volunteering in rural West Kent

£250,000 worth of equipment, support and marketing is being brought into West Kent by Volunteering England over the next 2 years. This will fund the development of outreach outlets to boost the level of voluntary working within our rural communities. Now West Kent Partnership funding has stepped in to help provide staffing resources to implement this exciting pilot project.

The scheme will be delivered by a consortium of the five Volunteer Centres in West Kent. Volunteering England will be working with the consortium throughout the 2-year project and will be hosting a high profile launch in March.

Cllr Mark Worrall, Chairman of the West Kent Partnership and Leader of Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council said:

This project will build on the strengths that West Kent already has in volunteering. Many of our West Kent residents live in rural communities and volunteering is a very real way in which to contribute to promoting vibrant rural communities. This initiative will provide access and support to volunteering opportunities to the benefit of individiual volunteers and those receiving their services.

Mandy Wynne, Manager of Sevenoaks Volunteer Centre said:

This is an exciting opportunity for us all. West Kent has been

chosen as one of two national pilot projects to access volunteering in rural areas. This success has been achieved largely because the five Centres had begun working collaboratively towards delivering a seamless service for volunteering infrastructure across West Kent.

Contacts

Daniel Whitmarsh, Communication and Consultation Manager, Sevenoaks District Council, Tel: 01732 227414 or email daniel.whitmarsh@sevenoaks.gov.uk

Nadine Squire, Press and Public Relations Officer, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Tel: 01862 554032 or email: pressoffice@tunbridgewells.gov.uk

Linda Moreau, Media & Communications Officer, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, Tel:01732 876009 or email linda.moreau@tmbc.gov.uk