The course is filling up fast – start your sewing journey here at the Hub!
From threading a needle to sewing your first project, learn the essentials in a relaxed and friendly space with Amy – no experience needed!
Tuesdays at the NET Community Hub – see our What’s On page for latest dates.
Perfect for total beginners! Just bring your sewing machine and your enthusiasm! For more information and / or to book, contact Laura on 07708 398295 or via email: Designbylauraamy@outlook.com
A brand new defibrillator was installed outside the hub on Friday 14th June.
The launch at 3:30pm was attended by a choral ensemble from Oakland Primary School, bringing a large crowd together to support this important emergency health resource being established for the immediate community.
The event was also supported by Guy Thompson, who works as a member of NHS ambulance crew but provides emergency support as a volunteer First Responder when not at work. He is offering to run a session at the NET to demonstrate the ease with which this can be used when a cardiac arrest is suspected. The date for this will be shared when it’s been set.
The installation was a culmination of a long campaign by Geoff Walters, a board member of both The Net and WALT, following a successful application to Health and Social Care. Together with funding contributed from Councillors Esther Cook and Eddie Peak, WALT and support from the congregation of St Philips & St James, the defibrillator was publicly launched.
MHS coordinated the installation at The Net, connecting to its electrical supply, and will ensure its ongoing maintenance.
To use the defibrillator, you call 999, who advise a code to open it and give guidance for use.
Becoming a victim of a loan shark can happen to anyone, anywhere, in any situation. But there is help on hand, in the form of the Illegal Money Lending Team – not the police – who can stop loan sharks from terrorising their victims.
Here’s just one story:
A father has told how he is looking forward to a happy Christmas this year, free from the grip of a loan shark for the first time in 15 years.
Anthony, 39, borrowed over £10,000 in small loans from someone he thought was a family friend and a legitimate lender over the years to help him through difficult and expensive times, like Christmas.
But following an investigation by the England Illegal Money Lending Team, he was horrified to discover that the lender was not authorised and was in fact a loan shark who had been profiting from his family.
Anthony, a father of four, said: “I was absolutely fuming. I am so angry that he was effectively profiting from our misfortune. He had taken money off my kids to fund his own life.
“The interest was just horrific. I had to pay back £60 or £70 on top of every £100 I borrowed. Over the years I have borrowed over £10,000, so that’s a lot of profit he has made from me – thousands and thousands of pounds.”
Anthony said Christmas was often the biggest thing he needed to borrow money for and the loan shark knew that, turning up to offer money exactly when it was needed.
“The first loan was £500 and I paid that off, but there is always something that comes up, especially when you have got kids,” he said.
“Christmas was the biggest one, we had two or three loans, maybe even more over the Christmas period. You want your kids to have a good life and you want to be able to have a decent Christmas and make memories with them. If someone is there saying here is some money you can pay back a bit a month, it’s too easy not to do it.”
Anthony believed the lender was legitimate, but when he struggled to repay, he realised something was amiss when he was suddenly faced with threats and intimidation.
That included the lender turning up at his home when he was out and making inappropriate sexual comments to his wife and daughter.
“He really put the pressure on – turning up at my house when my wife was home alone and saying sleazy comments to her like suggesting there were other ways to pay. It got really tough,” he said.
But it was only when officers from the IMLT paid him a visit that he realised the truth.
Another borrower had reported the lender and Anthony was found to be one of a large number of people who had been targeted.
“Hindsight is a wonderful thing, maybe I should have noticed the signs when he just scribbled it down on a piece of paper, but it was just so easy at the time,” he said.
“It angers me because I have been made to feel like a fool. I have funded someone else’s life and to find out afterwards there were so many other people he was making money off – it just makes me so angry.”
The illegal lender has now been jailed following the IMLT’s intervention and Anthony and his family are looking forward to a Christmas without worrying about an unwelcome visit.
“It’s a vile thing to have hanging over your head – it’s like being stuck in a never-ending hellhole of recycling money,” he said.
“We have been without him for months now and I don’t miss it at all – things have come up but now we just do without if we can’t afford it. Money does make the world go round but it doesn’t bring you happiness. We’re a lot happier now we’re not borrowing from him anymore.
“If anyone is thinking about borrowing from a lender like this I would say just don’t do it. Speak to your family, find a legitimate source to borrow from and start saving for next year. If someone turns up on your doorstep offering you money and it seems too good to be true it will be – it will come back to haunt you.”
The Illegal Money Lending Team, also known as Stop Loan Sharks, investigates and prosecutes illegal lenders and offers support and advice to anyone who may be in debt to an illegal lender.
Tony Quigley, head of the IMLT, said: “Christmas is always a testing time when it comes to family finances, but there are safer ways to borrow money if that is needed.
“People should beware of apparently friendly faces appearing to do you a favour by offering loans. It may seem like a simple option, but things can soon turn nasty and you may end up trapped in a cycle of repaying huge amounts of interest and having to borrow again to pay that off.
“If you have been targeted in this way, get in touch with our specialist team in confidence for advice and support.
“We are so grateful to Anthony for sharing his story and we hope it helps anyone who is in the same situation come forward to contact us.”
There are an estimated 1.08 million people in debt to loan sharks in England, according to figures from the Centre for Social Justice.
Signs to look out for include being offered no paperwork, being asked to hand over bank cards or a passport until the debt is repaid, being charged huge amounts of interest and facing threats or intimidation when you can’t pay.
Since its launch in 2004, the IMLT has supported over 31,000 people and written off over £91 million worth of illegal debt, securing over 410 prosecutions for illegal money lending. Its Christmas campaign in 2023 is urging families to #ShopSmartNotShark and not to resort to illegal lenders if money is tight and consider safer options such as credit unions.
Anyone who has been affected by illegal money lending should call the Stop Loan Sharks 24/7 Helpline on 0300 555 2222 or access support online at www.stoploansharks.co.uk. Live Chat is available on the website from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Attending a workshop, The Net (via Manager Jaye) was happy to sign up to the local declaration against loan sharking.
A note about the Illegal Money Lending Teams
The Illegal Money Lending Teams in England, Scotland and Wales work alongside the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to investigate those operating within the consumer credit market without the appropriate authorisation.
The Illegal Money Lending Teams in England and Wales work in partnership with local Trading Standards Authorities in their related countries. They consist of specialist officers who investigate and prosecute illegal money lending and related activity and LIAISE officers who support victims and raise awareness of the dangers of borrowing from illegal money lenders.
We will be joined at the hub by GamCare on Monday 19th February between 1-3pm for an information drop in session. No need to book, and if you can’t make it, there are some useful resources below.
The National Gambling Helpline
If you’re negatively affected by either your own gambling, or the gambling of a loved one you can call our confidential helpline on freephone 0808 8020 133 lines open 24/7. Or you can access our Live Web Chat
Forums and Chatrooms
GamCare’s Forum is an online message board available 24/7, providing a safe and secure place to explore your relationship with gambling.
We run regular chatrooms, where users can use live text chat to talk about issues related to gambling harms with other people in similar situations, supported by one of our Advisers. Visit our Chatrooms
Way Forward Group for Affected Others
Our Way Forward Group is an online supportive space for women who are affected by a loved one’s gambling. If you would like to join or refer someone to the group, please contact kerri.rustell@gamcare.org.uk
Self-Exclusion Software
TalkBanStop brings together practical free tools and support which can help support people to control their gambling and maintain a successful recovery for anyone harmed by gambling.
The partnership offers a mixture of personal support via GamCare’s trained Advisers, free access to Gamban blocking software which can be installed on multiple devices, and encouragement to register for the free self-exclusion scheme, GAMSTOP.
When used together, this combination of blocking software, self-exclusion and support puts in place additional layers of protection for anyone struggling to control their gambling.
Support
Local adult support is delivered by our partner Breakeven. Find out more information on their 121 support options by visiting the Breakeven website
Young Person Support Service
GamCare provide support to young people affected by gambling harms, either as a result of their own gambling or the gambling of a family member.
Young people and professionals can refer directly in by contacting: YoungPeopleService@gamcare.org.uk or by calling their helpline on 020 3092 6964.
You can find more information on our Young People Support Service on the Big Deal website www.BigDeal.org.uk.
With thanks to GamCare for these resources.
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 🙂
As you are aware, we are a lifeline for the elderly and isolated residents in Walderslade.
During the current situation, we have to find a balanced way forward, whereby we try and protect our members and volunteers from the virus yet also ensure they’re not abandoned into isolation.
Regretfully, this means that our usual activity sessions will all be suspended as of now. However, we will be opening the hub for a drop in session on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 11am-1pm for those who need us. We have hygiene measures in place, with hand wipes available and surfaces cleaned before and after each session, in addition to our normal cleaning routine.
We respectfully ask that anyone who thinks they may have been exposed to the virus NOT to come to the hub but to follow the public health advice of self-isolating at home.
WALT will ensure that the members they are physically unable to bring to the hub as usual are telephoned at least once a week. They are also in the process of setting up online communications between those members, in order for them to still talk to their friends.
Also, due to the idiotic panic buying, we have vulnerable people concerned about grocery supplies. People with physical issues who can’t cook fresh food. People who can’t get out to the shops. So any donations of ready meals that we can distribute would be most welcome – thank you.
We will continue to update here and on social media with regard to our own sessions and those by partners such as Pip’n’Jim’s and Medway Youth Service.
Thank you for your support.
Jaye Nolan, Manager.
We’ve done it again!
Two years ago, we were fortunate to be awarded £10,000 Awards For All funding, which kick-started many of the projects we currently have running, i.e. Chairobics, Time To Talk etc.
We’re delighted to announce that we’ve just been awarded another £10,000 by the National Lottery Community Fund (aka Awards For All) which secures Time To Talk and Brunch and a Bit More for another year, and allows us to open up a Reminiscence Cafe once a month too, working even more closely in partnership with WALT than ever before.
This, coupled with the Kent Community Foundation’s core support funding, means we can truly go full steam ahead in our aim to get the space open seven days a week. Part of the previous fund is also paying towards our new windows and doors – and installation is now scheduled in, thanks to various other donations!
It’s been a helluva year all round so far, with the Co-op fund going great guns, and the support of the Medway Messenger too. Most importantly, all our volunteers, and those of you who play the lottery and support the work of thousands of charities like ourselves – thank you!
We’re delighted to be welcoming John Portman of the Alzheimer’s Association to the hub on Thursday, June 14 for a Dementia Friends session.
This is not a training session for carers but an awareness raising chat for those (shopkeepers, other shoppers, for example) who may come into contact with someone living with one of the conditions, and how to spot the signs and allow for them (i.e. not being impatient in a queue, for example).
Perception can be an issue for people with dementia, so this informal chat highlights a few areas where patience and understanding is all that’s required by others to support those living with the condition when out and about.
The session will start at 3.15pm and run for around 45 minutes. All are welcome, but we would be grateful if you could advise your attendance to Jaye at community@waldersladehub.org so we can set up in advance.
The session will take place in the final hour of our Cupcake Day for Alzheimer’s.
Volunteer Christina Lee takes a look at the facts and figures behind Age UK’s recent advert and pinpoints why resources such as ourselves and Walderslade Together are so vital for our local community.
In Age UK‘s recent film ‘Just Another Day’, we see a pensioner living on his own and repeating the same routine throughout the year – get up, walk to the store, buy food, watch TV – until Christmas day, which he had forgotten about until he reached the store and saw that it was closed, covered in snow. This heart-breaking film made me think of Bob Geldof and Midge Ure’s Christmas classic ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas? ’, written for the victims of the Ethiopian famine in 1984, and I wonder how many older people in the UK today don’t know it’s Christmas until the shops close. Even if they do know it’s Christmas, so what? Christmas just passes them by.
Both my surviving grandmothers live overseas, and I feel incredible guilt every year that I can’t spend the occasion with them. I find consolation in knowing that they have great friends and other family members to look after them and that thanks to social media, I can video-chat them provided I work out the time differences correctly. But unfortunately for millions of older people in the UK and around the world, who have lost their spouse, can’t contact their family or have no children, things are a lot grimmer.
A Harsh Reality
In an article from The Independent published three months ago, older people report that they are forced to choose between either food or warmth, with many choosing to cut back on food or ‘go for a couple of days without food’ because of the heating costs. With the UK set to see the ‘snowiest winter’ for 27 years this year amid cuts in social care services and inflation in food prices, older people are facing especially tough challenges this Christmas.
According to Kent Community Foundation, the cold winter is likely to have a devastating impact on older people’s health, particularly with underlying circulatory or respiratory conditions, or over 75 years old.
[From Kent Community Foundation Surviving Winter]
A Cuppa with Company
Loneliness is the new social epidemic of our age and a major contributing factor to mental health problems such as depression. Older people with long-term conditions like dementia are even more likely to experience loneliness and depression because of the social isolation that the illness brings. Even though loneliness might not sound like a serious illness, when older people live on their own without social interaction, they are more likely to have falls, have ill health, and suffer strokes or heart attacks because there is no one to catch the symptoms. Loneliness can kill.
Of course, loneliness doesn’t simply come from living alone. Even those living in care homes or assisted living facilities may experience loneliness despite being around people and some studies have found that care home residents actually feel twice as lonely as older people living the community. This goes to show that being alone isn’t the same feeling alone. Indeed, many retired folks love the idea of finally having time for themselves after the children start their own families. We should be celebrating independence and freedom in later life by providing the support and resources that older people need in order to live well without patronising them or compromising their freedom.
To ask for ‘help’ or ‘charity’ can feel humiliating and the stigma around old age can sometimes mean that older people ‘put up’ with the cold and the hunger because they ‘don’t want to bother their family’. There are ways to offer support without making older people feel ‘weak’ or ‘useless’.
According to a study of what older people consider a ‘good life’, one of central things that make ‘ageing well’ is relationships that meet needs for intimacy, comfort, support, companionship, and fun. Simply being a friend to an older neighbour and making them feel included as part of the community can make a big difference, whether that is sharing Christmas dinners, going to the markets, or just having a cup of tea and a chat together. Being a friend also means paying attention to their needs, heating, food, access (e.g. icy footpaths) and health, seeking advice should you notice any causes for concern.
The Royal Voluntary Service Kent and Medway relies on volunteers to offer support older people to maintain their independence and Age UK Medway has also been running a Befriending service for older residents to help them stay connected with the community. You can support organisations like Involve, who arrange Christmas dinners for older local residents, or Community Christmas, who run Christmas events for the community and provide guidance for those who with new ideas. They also have an events listing for older people and volunteers searching for something to do this Christmas. Contact the Elderly also runs tea parts for older people regularly, not just at Christmas. Or you can check out Medway’s Volunteer Centre to what kind of volunteering works for you. And of course, Walderslade Together are our resident befrienders, running the open cafe all through Christmas week with the invaluable help of volunteers.
If you are feeling festive and generous, feel free to donate however much you can to Age UK Medway or Kent Community Foundation’s Surviving Winter Campaign to keep vital care and support services running. Alternatively, you can send those fifth pair of oversized socks you got from Secret Santa at work to Age UK’s charity shops to make space for next year’s wardrobe for a good cause. WALT also have a Just Giving page set up to enable more sessions to take place.
Other resources
Ways to Keep Active (AgeUK)
Keep Warm, Keep Well (NHS Choices)
Feeling well and overcoming loneliness (Royal Voluntary Service)
Advice for Older People and their families and neighbours (Be Winter Ready)
The Net Community Hub 