Tag: weedswood

Community News, Funding

Chatham charts its course to £3m prize

The Net Community Hub

Chatham has announced its intention to bid for the first ever UK Town of Culture, a  title that would bring up to £3 million to the Medway town for a year of cultural  celebration in 2028. 

The campaign, led by Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, with support from Medway  Council and a growing coalition of cultural partners was unveiled at The  Historic Dockyard Chatham. Partners gathered in front of HMS GANNET, a proud  symbol of the town’s maritime heritage. In a playful local twist, several attendees  donned traffic cone hats, a nod to the Sir Thomas Waghorn statue and its place as  the unofficial emblem of the town’s personality. 

For more than 400 years, Chatham has been shaped by innovation, craftsmanship  and community. Since 1547, the Dockyard’s world-class shipbuilding and naval  service have anchored the town’s identity, producing generations of skilled workers  and ships that defined Britain’s maritime story. From pioneering advances in industry  and engineering to a thriving contemporary cultural scene, the spirit of ingenuity and  resilience continues to shape the town’s creativity today. It is a story of national  importance and one the consortium is proud to celebrate. 

Over the next six weeks, cultural organisations and community groups – including us – will help  develop the vision through a series of workshops. These sessions will shape the  Expression of Interest, ensuring it reflects local pride, creativity and ambition. 

Chatham’s story spans centuries. Now it has an opportunity not only to show the  nation what it can become next, but to create a renewed sense of pride in place and  raise aspirations across the town, ensuring that its next chapter is shaped by and for  the people who call Chatham home. 

Richard Morsley, CEO, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, said: “Chatham has a  remarkable story and a community with real spirit. Our campaign celebrates the  history of this place and the spirit of the people who shaped it. As a town we have a  proven track record of delivering ambitious cultural events that benefit local people.  Town of Culture status would allow us to scale up that ambition, shine a national light  on everything this town has to offer and strengthen pride across our communities. We are proud to be leading this on behalf of Chatham.” 

The consortium will submit its Expression of Interest by 31 March. The Department  of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is expected to announce a shortlist in the  spring, with the winning town confirmed in early 2027. 

Community News, Health and Wellbeing, Support Services

Stop Smoking Service Drop In at the Hub with A Better Medway

The Net Community Hub

If you’ve been trying forever or only just decided to give up, A Better Medway is hosting a free Stop Smoking drop in service by every Monday morning for the next eight weeks to help you.

Come and see them anytime between 10am-12noon during our Open Cafe.

Smoking remains one of the leading causes of preventable disease and death worldwide. While many people are aware that tobacco use is harmful, the true scale of its impact – on health, finances, and society – is often underestimated. Below are some key facts and figures highlighting the downsides of smoking.

Health Risks

  • Leading cause of premature death: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco kills more than 8 million people annually, including over 1.3 million non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke.
  • Cancer connection: Smoking is responsible for around 85% of lung cancer cases and is linked to at least 15 other cancers, including throat, bladder, and pancreas.
  • Heart and lung disease: Smokers are 2 – 4 times more likely to develop coronary heart disease and 2 – 3 times more likely to have a stroke compared to non-smokers. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is also strongly tied to smoking.
  • Life expectancy: On average, smokers die 10 years earlier than non-smokers.

Financial Costs

  • Personal expense: A pack-a-day habit can cost thousands of pounds annually.
  • Healthcare burden: Smoking-related illnesses cost the global economy billions in healthcare expenses and lost productivity.
  • Lost productivity: Smokers are more likely to take sick days and retire early due to poor health, impacting both personal income and wider economic productivity.

Social and Environmental Impact

  • Secondhand smoke: Exposure increases children’s risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), asthma, and respiratory infections.
  • Cigarette waste: Cigarette butts are the most littered item in the world, with an estimated 4.5 trillion discarded each year. They contain plastic filters and toxic chemicals that pollute water and harm wildlife.
  • Fire hazard: Smoking-related fires cause thousands of deaths annually and cost billions in property damage worldwide.

A Preventable Tragedy

While the figures are sobering, the good news is that quitting smoking dramatically reduces health risks. Within one year of quitting, the risk of heart attack drops sharply. After 10 years, the risk of dying from lung cancer is cut in half compared to a continuing smoker.

👉 In short: Smoking remains one of the most destructive yet preventable public health issues. It shortens lives, drains finances, burdens healthcare systems, and harms the environment – but quitting can reverse much of the damage.

Image by JCamargo