Category: Activities

Activities, Community News, Events, Patron

Medway Women’s History Month Event: From Suffragettes to the Political Now

The Net Community Hub

Saturday 22nd March 11am-12noon. Doors open 10.15am for refreshments. Tickets can be booked here.

Jennifer Godfrey talks to former Chatham and Aylesford MP, Dame Tracey Crouch, DBE, and current Gillingham and Rainham MP, Naushabah Khan, about the rise of female representation in parliament and what struggles they still faced in the 21st Century, drawing comparisons between them and the early female pioneers.

Jennifer Godfrey lives in West Kent with her husband, two children and dog. She is the author of two non-fiction books, published by Pen & Sword Ltd, entitled ‘Suffragettes of Kent’ and ‘Secret Missions of the Suffragettes – Glass breakers and Safe Houses’. She is currently researching and writing her third book, also about women’s suffrage. Jennifer has enjoyed writing stories since she was a young child and over the years has been involved in many writing courses, groups and projects. 

Dame Tracey Crouch DBE was MP for Chatham and Aylesford for 14 years, 2010-2024. Within that time, Tracey held various posts, including Minister for Sport, Civil Society and Loneliness in 2017. She took a principled stand over the delay to introduce reduced limits on the stakes of fixed odds betting terminals, and resigned the post in 2018.

With a particular focus on older people, Tracey was responsible for implementing the Loneliness Strategy, and held regular Over 55s fairs, where the public could meet service providers and see what was available to them. She said: “From a Member of Parliament perspective you see so many people in the community when they reach crisis point and sadly, they’re not necessarily aware of some of the activities that are out there for them which may have prevented them getting to that crisis point.” Tracey is also the Patron of The Net Community Hub.

Naushabah Khan has been the MP Gillingham and Rainham since July
2024, after serving for a decade as a Medway Councillor. She proudly identifies as a feminist and previously served as a trustee for the Fawcett Society, a leading charity campaigning for gender equality and women’s rights. Naushabah has been consistently vocal on issues affecting women, particularly those from diverse communities.

Her commitment to amplifying these voices and addressing systemic inequalities has been a driving force throughout her political career. In Parliament, Naushabah continues to champion policies that promote equality, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring that the concerns of underrepresented communities are brought to the forefront of political discourse.

Get their early for this fascinating discussion. The event is free, although there is a donation ticket. Tea and coffee will be available for a suggested £1 donation. If you have difficulty due to mobility or finance issues attending the hub, please contact Jaye at: community@waldersladehub.org as there is a travel bursary available.

For the full programme, visit here.

We look forward to seeing you.

Activities, Community News

Want to Learn How To Make Podcasts?

The Net Community Hub

This is your chance to learn how to produce and launch your own podcasts, as everything you ever wanted to know about podcasts is coming to the Hub across five Wednesday nights.

The sessions start on Wednesday 21st February at 4.30pm to 6.30pm and will run every Wednesday until 13th March, when the final session will finish at 6pm. Cost is £112.50 for the whole course, which can be paid in advance in full, or in 3 x instalments of £30 on the night, with a final payment of £22.50. 

You’re in very safe hands with your tutor, Kieran Poole. He has produced at BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Kent and Absolute Radio. Kieran has presented an award-winning radio show, a number of podcasts and is a stand-up comedian.

The cost of the five 90 minute sessions £112.50 per person, and you can book and pay in advance, or pay £22.50 on the night. If you’re unable to make any of the sessions, there will be a catch up zoom.

The only equipment required is your own laptop and wired earphones/headphones to each session. To book, email community@walderslade.hub.org.

Activities, recycle surgery, Resources

The Recycle Surgery is up and running!

The Net Community Hub

In conjunction with Medway Council’s Recycle Team, the surgery will run on the third Monday in the month between 1-3pm.

Bring along small electrical items for recycling (or taking to the tip as appropriate) and stop for a cup of tea and chat about how to be environmentally friendly. Or just stop for a cup of tea and a chat about anything, we’re easy!

We launched the surgery on Monday, joined by the Mayor of Medway*, Councillor Jan Aldous and her consort Mr. Tony Aldous and were delighted with the response. The Medway Council van disappeared with three irons, two laptops, two tea urns, three printers and a lamp!

Save yourself a trip to the tip and join us on Monday, 20th June.

*Congratulations to Madam Mayor Jan on being elected to office this week for a further year 🙂

Activities, Female Focus, Support Services

Female Focus – our new Women’s Support Group

The Net Community Hub

We’ve set aside the second Thursday in the month for a women’s support group, Female Focus. It will run from 1.30-3.30pm.

Come and join us for tea and cake, more cake and more tea, and a chat about all those issues that affect women (colloquially known as ‘women’s problems’) including – but not limited to – reproductive health (the big one) on and offline safety, and any other subject you as a group decide you’d like to discuss.

Our special guest in June will be a representative from Medway’s public health team to talk about female health problems.

We know how a focus on male bodies has historically led to worse treament for women (the symptoms for hearts attacks, for example, can be very different in women and yet the usual symptoms to look for are those which mainy affect men). So come armed with all your questions to ensure you know what to ask your GP when it comes to your health.

Here’s an interesting article from the BBC, on a new 3D female anatomy model that can be used to better treat women. And they’ve only just put it together in 2022 *rolls eyes*.

Activities, Community News, Funding, walderslade together

Celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

The Net Community Hub

The BIG bank holiday weekend is almost upon us, and thanks to the ever-wonderful Kent Community Foundation, we’ve been awarded £1900 to help Her Majesty celebrate!

While maintaining our usual activities, we’ve extended our opening times with bonus editions of arts and crafts with the fabulous Natasha at Creatabot, an afternoon tea, courtesy of WALT, finishing off with live music and other activities in the Big Tea Party.

The full calendar is below, do come along and join us!

Wednesday 1st June: 10am-3pm

Open Cafe with Chairobics at 11am and Creatabot Arts between 12.30-2.30pm.

Thursday 2nd June 12noon-4pm

Waltie’s Open Cafe and Afternoon Tea.

Friday 3rd June 12noon-4pm

Open Cafe with Creatabot Arts in residence from 1pm.

Saturday 4th June 11am-4pm

The Big Tea Party with WALT. All welcome to drop in for live music and activities throughout the day.

We do hope you will join us to raise a toast to Her Majesty 🙂

Activities

Move over Hollywood, Weedswood is where it’s at!

The Net Community Hub

The hub recently hosted theatre company, Alternate Shadows, who kindly donated their time and expertise to help our manager Jaye, film a short sketch she’s written.

Alternate Shadows: l-r Owen, Alex, Mike, Mick, Sophia and Richard

Called The Donation, it shows volunteers dealing with an unexpected visitor when preparing the hub for a birthday party.

So enthusiastic for the project were Alternate Shadows, there will actually be two versions. The first, the short sketch originally envisioned by Jaye. Second, the longer version, which gathered pace throughout blocking, rehearsal and lighting sessions, as the cast and crew fed off each other’s creativity to expand the idea.

Both versions are in post-production now and we’ll hold a premiere in due course. In the meantime, here’s a few photos, and a teaser video here – no clues, you’ll have to wait and see it!

Huge thanks to Alternate Shadows for giving up their time: Richard, Sophia, Mick, Alex, Mike and Owen, and a special mention for Tracy who worked with us but was unable to attend the shoot.

If all goes well, we’ll look to do more audio/visual projects in the new year. If you want to hire the hub for your own creative endeavours or as a location, please contact Jaye via community@waldersladehub.org.

Activities, Community News, Funding

Brainstormz! to receive Coop support

The Net Community Hub

We’re delighted to advise that The Net’s neurological support group, Brainstormz! has been selected by our local Coop as one of their charities of the year for 2021/22.

Brainstormz! was instigated by our volunteer, Sue, back at the end of 2019 and carried on via Zoom throughout the lockdown. However, it’s now back in person and funding we receive from the Coop secures it for another year. Funding from Comic Relief enabled the project to begin.

To support the project, please select Brainstormz! on your membership card. Every penny makes a huge difference!

Come along and join in the sessions, which take place on Saturday afternoons between 1-4pm. A donation of £2 to the group helps to cover any further outgoings. Read more about it here.

Thank you 🙂