In response to the overwhelming messages we received after our “One Day More” parody going viral (03/2020), we stuck up some of the family antics and music videos we made on our You Tube Channel, charting our musical journey through the pandemic, here in Kent, in the UK.
We know we are way behind this trend, and there are two reasons.
Firstly, it took Ben a long time to persuade Danielle that we could do a parody song about not singing a sea shanty, in the form of a sea shanty.
Secondly, by writing our own song, we knew we’d be able to monetise the video ourselves.
We’ll be donating all the YouTube proceeds from this non-shanty to Comic Relief 2021, the big UK biannual fundraiser which “uses the power of funny to turn laughs into lasting change.”
Thanks for your lovely comments in recent weeks and months, and we’re really glad that we seem to be bringing a smile to quite a few people who need it. Wishing you all a safe path through the pandemic, and speedy recoveries on the other side.
Please take the time to visit our JustGiving page.
This Red Nose Day, we’re fundraising for Comic Relief, a charity that we’ve always loved and supported.
When you donate to Comic Relief, you’re supporting people living incredibly tough lives, in the UK and around the world. Their vision is to create a just world free from poverty and they’re doing this by funding amazing organisations doing amazing things.
Monday is International Women’s Day and over the last year you can not have failed to see celebrities and press commentators all debating what defines a woman.
From the ability to menstruate and bear children to the singular definition of body parts, it’s interesting that the media never seems to want to define in the same way what makes a man. Manly attributes are often seen as laudable while female attributes are often used as insults, remember being called a sissy or being told to man up?
Often the same press are the ones telling you what to think and how to behave. The reality for women is that freedom from having to think other people’s thoughts or having to vote certain ways, or even voting itself, is relatively recent. And does the definition of a woman really seem so important alongside the freedom to just be?
Particularly in the next couple of years, many questions will come to the forefront of society around the definition of a woman and transwomen’s place within that definition. What is clear is that neither side is entirely right or wrong in this debate and that there is not a one size fits all answer across the debate. We must all learn respect for each other; however we choose to define each other.
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is “Choose to challenge”, where undoubtedly, we should be challenging gender stereotypes and bias and gendered actions and assumptions.
We should be challenging increased visibility and empowerment and the lack of inclusive workspaces. We should challenge the limiting of women’s choice to make their own health decisions in some countries and challenge the inequality for women in sport.
But also, we should make time to challenge the way we treat each other around the debate about transwomen, for the reality is being a transwoman is not up for debate.
In 2019, METRO Zest’s young people participated in English Heritage’s Shout Out Loud project, in collaboration with National Youth Theatre. The project culminated in a site-specific performance at Eltham Palace. Inspired by the fascinating hidden stories and queer heritage at Eltham Palace, this new piece of theatre was devised by the young company themselves. This project was enabled by the National Lottery players via a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
OUR HOUSE
‘Our House’ is a play created and performed by 30 young people from the National Youth Theatre and METRO Charity in September 2019. More than 500 people attended the performances and it won the 2019 UK Heritage Award for Best Event, Festival or Exhibition.
In summer 2019, young people from both the National Youth Theatre (NYT) and METRO Charity had the unique opportunity to develop a new play at Eltham Palace ‘Our House’.
‘Our House’ explores LGBTQ+ stories and the history of the Eltham Palace. Taking inspiration from the lives of Eltham’s famous occupants – King Edward II, King Henry VIII, and Courtauld family, as well as the stories of the countless people including servants, musicians, soldiers, and administrators, whose lives are linked with Eltham and its more famous residents, but whose stories have gone untold or have even been lost entirely.
Over two months, we worked with historians, musicians, directors, writers and theatre professionals to create a new immersive promenade performance*. Following an introduction to Eltham Palace’s history, they researched LGBTQ+ narratives relating to the palace and its inhabitants and, during creative workshops, forged their ideas into a script.
The play is divided into eight short scenes exploring the supposed romance between King Edward II and his favourite, Piers Gaveston, Henry VIII’s upbringing at the Palace with his sisters, and working-class queer stories from the 1930s when Eltham Palace was known for high-society parties.
On the 21st and 22nd September, performances took place at Eltham Palace to both invited guests and members of the public. More than 500 people attended the performances, moving through various Palace rooms and into the gardens to encounter each new scene.
Not only did everyone involved gain writing, performing, and dancing skills, they also gained confidence, made friends, and had a lot of fun. Everyone started to feel a sense of ownership over the site, that it was a welcoming and safe space.
Youth group for LGBTQ people aged under 16 in Greenwich, Lewisham, Bexley or Bromley
About this service
METRO Zest is a group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, queer and questioning young people in Greenwich, Lewisham, Bexley and Bromley. We meet in Bexley every Friday from 4:30pm to 6.30pm.
It’s a safe space to meet other LGBTQ young people, get support and have fun. We usually have snacks and hang out together. Sometimes we talk about identity, relationships and wellbeing. Every Christmas we have a party with dancing, pizza and cake. We also go to the cinema, Pride in London and UK Black Pride.
COVID-19 UPDATE: This group is now meeting virtually via Zoom.
We look forward to resuming services fully once it is appropriate to do so.
Who can use this service
You need to be aged under 16 and live in Greenwich, Lewisham, Bexley or Bromley. You also need to identify as LGBTQ or be questioning your sexuality or gender identity. All our youth groups are free and confidential.
Join this group
Email yo***@me**********.uk or call 020 8305 5004. You can refer yourself or be referred by someone who works with you (like a teacher or youth worker).
We’ll get back to you in 2-3 days. We’ll arrange a quick chat to find out more about you and how we can help. After you’re signed up, you can drop into any session. You don’t have to come every week if you don’t want to.
Until the 1940s, Gillingham was known for its port, which was where the ships of Kings’ and Queens’ docked for over 1000 years. With Royal roots, it is no surprise that Gillingham boasts a thriving and close-knit community. Named after lord Gyllingas, Gillingham actually means ‘to shout’ and since we have started working with this incredible community, we have certainly had plenty of positive things to ‘shout’ about! Check out the page below for more information about Gillingham community hub and the fantastic work going on in the area.
A Community that Continues to Grow
Our community is something that we are immensely proud of. We value every member of our team, a group of extraordinary people who dedicate their lives to making young people as happy as they can be. Use the buttons below to take a deeper look at the schools and the community hubs who we work with everyday to help young people grow.
Food Banks
Making life a little tastier!
Our foodbanks offer families the chance to keep good food in the house during these difficult times. Find out how your household could benefit from one of our fantastic food banks by contacting your local community hub where one of our staff members will be delighted to help.
The Cultural Consortium for The Old High Street Intra, is excited to announce the winners of six micro commissions which will help people learn about and celebrate this fascinating area through creativity and delving into history.
The Cultural Consortium is a newly formed group made up of arts organisations and community groups and has been established as part of the High Streets Heritage Action Zone Project (HSHAZ) to develop events and activities designed to encourage local people to explore the heritage and help regenerate The Old High Street Intra.
The Old High Street Intra is the area between Sun Pier in Chatham and Star Hill in Rochester and benefits from a rich past; a creative, enterprising present; and an exciting future.
For full details of the wider HSHAZ Project see Useful Information section below.
Over the next 6 weeks people will be able to enjoy these six projects by getting involved, sharing stories, writing poetry, delving into history, reflecting on past events, creating artwork inspired by the area and celebrating the people who live, work and visit there.
Here is who the six micro commissions have been awarded to and details of what they’ll be doing –
Closer Than You Think – A project remembering the Holocaust as experienced by the LGBTQIA and Jewish communities. The Ship Inn and Chatham Memorial Synagogue are decorated with fabric replicas of the pink triangles and yellow stars worn by prisoners in the concentrations camps, and an exhibition in the window of Intra Arts can be viewed until the end of February.
Ally Sinyard – The Medway Intra Poetry Walk. An interactive poetry and spoken word trail made up of works from Medway residents and local writers, based on their experiences, memories and relationships to the Intra area. The works will be uploaded in text and audio format, encrypted into QR codes and placed along the Old High Street Intra for everyone to discover, stumble upon, scan on their smartphones and enjoy. https://allysinyard.co.uk/medway-intra-poetry-walk
Natasha Steer and George Atzev –St Bartholomew’s Hospital, ‘The historic heart of health in Medway for over 900 years’. Sharing historical information relating to the hospital from the archives, collecting memories from people who received care and worked there, including those who lived in the residential quarters. Then responding creatively to the findings. https://futurechatham.weebly.com/st-bartholomews-hospital.html
The Living River Foundation – Slice of Medway #Litterarma. Litter including plastic from the River Medway has been encased into cubes, sliced and framed with driftwood, and will be installed along Intra high street. There are also opportunities to get involved in storytelling, creative writing and building a photo collage. http://living-river.org/art-and-literature-from-litter-from-medway
Hannah Whittaker – Cathedral of Community. A colourful spectacle dedicated to the people of Intra. Windows of buildings will be filled with tissue-paper stained glass portraits of the people behind the businesses and organisations of the area. Visible by day but also, more excitingly, lit up at night to create a dazzling display. www.hannahwhittaker.com/intra
Medway Pride Radio – this new radio station began its life within the Intra community. The MPR team will be reaching out across Medway and indeed much, much further to bring us great music, some fantastic entertainment, a mix of DJ’s and presenters. They will be showcasing the great and the good of Medway and beyond, including the exciting projects happening in Intra.
To hear more about the projects, tune in to Medway Pride Radio www.medwayprideradio.co.uk to hear more from the creative individuals and teams behind these exciting projects.
For more information, updates and details of how to get involved in the exciting forthcoming projects, visit www.medway.gov.uk/heritageactionzone
For more information or press enquiries please contact ar**@me****.uk and your message will be forwarded to the Cultural Consortium.
Useful information
About High Street Heritage Action Zones
The High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) Cultural Programme pilot is led by Medway Council, funded by Historic England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and supported by Arts Council England.
The Old High Street Intra, (the conservation area from Sun Pier in Chatham to Star Hill in Rochester) has been awarded £1.6m High Street Heritage Action Zone funding from Historic England for regeneration in the area. The focus is on bringing the history and heritage of the area back to life, and boosting the local economy by 2024. From regenerating historic buildings to helping to engage local communities through art and cultural projects, the project works with local people and partners to help unlock the potential of the local area and make it more attractive to residents, businesses, tourists and investors.
The High Streets Heritage Action Zones Cultural Programme is part of the £95 million High Streets Heritage Action Zone initiative, which is currently working across 68 English high streets. It’s funded with £40 million from the Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport’s Heritage High Street Fund, £52 million from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s Future High Streets Fund, and a further £3 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
@Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
@National Lottery Heritage Fund
@Arts Council England
The High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) Cultural Programme Pilot is co-funded by Historic England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and supported by Arts Council England and Medway Council.
Intra Arts – Chatham Memorial Synagogue – The Ship Inn 337 – 347 – 366 High Street, Rochester Rochester ME1 1DA United Kingdom
The ‘Closer Than You Think’ project provides a unique opportunity by telling a seldom known story connecting two important events: –
Holocaust Memorial Day and LGBT History Month
Locally, two very different establishments, one a social and recreational venue, the other a place of worship, have come together united in a shared experience of one of history’s darkest moments.
In the area known as Chatham Intra, are two historic local buildings some twenty yards apart, where two communities have faced each other for decades.
The Ship Inn thought to be one of the oldest LGBT venues in the country and the Chatham Memorial Synagogue over the years have probably had little or nothing to do with each other, perhaps even viewing the other with a degree of suspicion and disapproval.
However, recent history has revealed they do share something of great significance. Both communities over the years have suffered prejudice and discrimination and during the Nazi regime many paid the ultimate price.
It is well known that over 6 million Jews were murdered during the second world war in Nazi concentration camps.
Perhaps lesser known is that tens of thousands of homosexuals were arrested, around 50,000 given severe prison sentences and forced to carry out hard labour. 10-15,000 were incarcerated within the camps, 60% of whom died. For those that did survive, legislation known as ‘Paragraph 175’ introduced by the Nazi’s made homosexuality illegal and regarded them as criminals, as a result they were then transported to German prisons.
Homosexual men were identified by a large ‘pink triangle’ worn on their uniform and the Jewish prisoners by a ‘yellow star’.
These images will be used to symbolise the bringing together of our two local communities in a shared remembrance of the atrocities they both endured during the holocaust.
This will form part of a visual window display at Intra Arts and the two buildings representing our communities, the Chatham Memorial Synagogue and the Ship Inn will be decorated with fabric replicas of these two iconic symbols.
The installation will be in place on Holocaust Memorial Day on 27th January 2021 at 337 – 347 – 366 High Street, Rochester and will run throughout LGBT History Month in February
Information will also be made available to schools via links with Chatham Library Project organisers are local historian and Intra Arts director Peter Moorcraft, musician and gay rights equality and human rights campaigner Martin Adams, and archivist and author Irina Fridman, in association with The Ship Inn & Chatham Memorial Synagogue, where Irina is Education and Outreach Manager.
I don’t mind it, but hey I tell my partner I love her all the time, in fact about as often as I say I’m sorry! It’s the fake schmaltz that comes with the whole thing, heart shaped choccies, the staggeringly overpriced but desperately underperforming wine, and the songs. Yeah, THOSE songs….
In Nick Hornby’s novel ‘High Fidelity’, the enervated antihero Rob Gordon asks if he is unhappy because of sickly love pop songs, or does he listen to sickly pop songs because he is unhappy. The age-old question?
As the novel unfolds, we journey with Rob as he discovers not just his lost passion for his partner and his everyday life but his lost passion for music. We are reminded that hearing a great song is like remembering your first love, you feel a teen again, you remember it with warmth and overlook the little imperfections…
DJs (and listeners) are bombarded by song after song on stations, with playlists worked out at head office, reducing the DJ to a transient figure who just waves songs through with the enthusiasm of a British Rail guard checking tickets.
When they join our DJs are asked what music they love, and they choose to play what genre/style/ tracks they enjoy. They are all passionate about music, and when I talk music with them, I see their eyes light up and they are remembering that first music love. The desire to share that with others shines through in all their shows and is undoubtedly what keeps them doing this.
They are forever playing me new tracks and costing me a fortune in songs I suddenly need to buy but I would not have it any other way.
If you have that sort of passion come share it with others by joining the team. Email In**@me**************.uk
Welcome to Kellie Maloney who starts her Talking Sport show, and Sharon brings the Much Laughter team to Friday evenings also, we will also start to load selected shows onto Mixcloud so you can catch up with shows you may have missed.
Out this week
Foo Fighters – Medicine At Midnight (available on orange vinyl)
Amy Winehouse – I Told You I Was In Trouble: Live In London
Medway Stand Up to Racism are hosting an online fundraiser (DONATE HERE) in aid of the SutR/Care4Calais Winter Appeal. Our aim is to raise at least £250 from donations.
All the acts are donating their time and artistry for free to support this amazing cause. We have a truly international line up, with Singer, Songwriter, Catherine Heisiger Live from Santa Fe in the USA. Local Rap Artist JTL (AKA Jack the Lad), a Syrian duo Jamal and Alaa, former Refugees now settled in Brighton, Singer Songwriter, Clea Lleweln, more artists to be announced. We also have two speakers, Aram Rawf who came to the UK as a child Refugee. is now settled and recently elected to Thanet Council. plus Andy Brown from Care4Calais.
The whole event will be compared on the night, by Medway Labour Group Leader Vince Maple, who will be encouraging everyone to dig deep. But even if you can’t make it, you can still donate to a great cause via using the QR code on the flyer.
LGBT History Month Service. MHA Communities Kent, Christ Church Gravesend are organising A service this year for LGBTQIA+ community. The service will be a joint production by MHA Communities Kent, Christ Church Gravesend with support from Medway and Gravesham Prides. Volunteers needed!They are looking for people to read one of two bible passages or one of six prayers of intercession. They will need to video themselves reading (this can be on a phone) and send the video to our contact before close of play on Friday 12th February. The videos will then be edited together along with videos of the church choir, organ and worship band, be Rev Chris Smith and myself Steve Thompson MHA Communities Area Manager giving an introduction to the service. Rev Chris Smith who is Director of Chaplaincy for MHA and his video will be recorded in Derby Cathedral. (Our Head Office is in Derby).If you, or anyone in your networks would like to be involved please let us know and we will provide you with more details. Please contact me at Steve Thompson St************@mh*.uk or mail in**@me**************.uk for further information.
As the largest charity care provider for older people in the UK, we offer some of the highest quality care, accommodation and support services throughout Britain. Our mission is to inspire the best care and wellbeing at every stage of later life.
Founded by members of the Methodist Church in 1943, today we support:
4,400 older people living in our care homes, many receiving specialist dementia or nursing care
3,000 older people living independently in retirement living communities, with access to social and leisure facilities and flexible care when needed
11,100 older people living independently in their own homes with the support of our community services across Britain.
At MHA Communities Kent, we enable older people to maintain their independence and live more fulfilled lives. The scheme administrative office is based inside MHA’s Grace Court retirement living complex and we provide activities throughout the county.
Through befriending, lunch clubs, assisted shopping, activity and friendship sessions, outings, escorts to appointments and much more, MHA Communities schemes across the UK help to tackle loneliness and isolation in people over 55 – helping them to lead fulfilled lives and remain as active members in their local communities.
The scheme’s activities programme is designed and led by its members and volunteers to ensure that we are providing the practical and social support which those we serve need.
Contact us today to see how we could be of service to you or a loved one living at home.
Last Updated: March 14, 2021 by Hilary Cooke Leave a Comment
International Womans Day
Some of the women challenging equality for the communities of Medway
Last Updated: March 14, 2021 by Hilary Cooke Leave a Comment
“We’re Not Singing Sea Shanties” – a Marsh Family Sea Shanty – for Red Nose Day
In response to the overwhelming messages we received after our “One Day More” parody going viral (03/2020), we stuck up some of the family antics and music videos we made on our You Tube Channel, charting our musical journey through the pandemic, here in Kent, in the UK.
“We’re Not Singing Sea Shanties”
We know we are way behind this trend, and there are two reasons.
Firstly, it took Ben a long time to persuade Danielle that we could do a parody song about not singing a sea shanty, in the form of a sea shanty.
Secondly, by writing our own song, we knew we’d be able to monetise the video ourselves.
We’ll be donating all the YouTube proceeds from this non-shanty to Comic Relief 2021, the big UK biannual fundraiser which “uses the power of funny to turn laughs into lasting change.”
Please consider donating too,
Marsh Family Fund Red Nose Dayor have a look to find out about the wonderful work they do in the UK and Africa
We don’t monetize any of our content (any ads added by music rights holders).
From our original song, any revenue or appearance fees we donated to the W.H.O. COVID-19 Solidarity Fund.
In February 2021 given the latest songs going viral, we supported Save the Children, with huge thanks to those who were able to chip in.
In March 2021, we are supporting the wonderful efforts of Comic Relief and Red Nose Day: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/marshsongs
Thanks for your lovely comments in recent weeks and months, and we’re really glad that we seem to be bringing a smile to quite a few people who need it. Wishing you all a safe path through the pandemic, and speedy recoveries on the other side.
Please take the time to visit our JustGiving page.
Marsh Family Fund Red Nose DayThis Red Nose Day, we’re fundraising for Comic Relief, a charity that we’ve always loved and supported.
When you donate to Comic Relief, you’re supporting people living incredibly tough lives, in the UK and around the world. Their vision is to create a just world free from poverty and they’re doing this by funding amazing organisations doing amazing things.
The Marsh Family
Follow the marsh family on their social media pages https://www.marshfamilysongs.com/
Posted: March 4, 2021 by Hilary Cooke Leave a Comment
The Friday Blog (04/03)
Monday is International Women’s Day and over the last year you can not have failed to see celebrities and press commentators all debating what defines a woman.
From the ability to menstruate and bear children to the singular definition of body parts, it’s interesting that the media never seems to want to define in the same way what makes a man. Manly attributes are often seen as laudable while female attributes are often used as insults, remember being called a sissy or being told to man up?
Often the same press are the ones telling you what to think and how to behave. The reality for women is that freedom from having to think other people’s thoughts or having to vote certain ways, or even voting itself, is relatively recent. And does the definition of a woman really seem so important alongside the freedom to just be?
Particularly in the next couple of years, many questions will come to the forefront of society around the definition of a woman and transwomen’s place within that definition. What is clear is that neither side is entirely right or wrong in this debate and that there is not a one size fits all answer across the debate. We must all learn respect for each other; however we choose to define each other.
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is “Choose to challenge”, where undoubtedly, we should be challenging gender stereotypes and bias and gendered actions and assumptions.
We should be challenging increased visibility and empowerment and the lack of inclusive workspaces. We should challenge the limiting of women’s choice to make their own health decisions in some countries and challenge the inequality for women in sport.
But also, we should make time to challenge the way we treat each other around the debate about transwomen, for the reality is being a transwoman is not up for debate.
Posted: February 18, 2021 by Hilary Cooke Leave a Comment
Shout Out Loud project
In 2019, METRO Zest’s young people participated in English Heritage’s Shout Out Loud project, in collaboration with National Youth Theatre. The project culminated in a site-specific performance at Eltham Palace. Inspired by the fascinating hidden stories and queer heritage at Eltham Palace, this new piece of theatre was devised by the young company themselves. This project was enabled by the National Lottery players via a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
OUR HOUSE
‘Our House’ is a play created and performed by 30 young people from the National Youth Theatre and METRO Charity in September 2019. More than 500 people attended the performances and it won the 2019 UK Heritage Award for Best Event, Festival or Exhibition.
In summer 2019, young people from both the National Youth Theatre (NYT) and METRO Charity had the unique opportunity to develop a new play at Eltham Palace ‘Our House’.
‘Our House’ explores LGBTQ+ stories and the history of the Eltham Palace. Taking inspiration from the lives of Eltham’s famous occupants – King Edward II, King Henry VIII, and Courtauld family, as well as the stories of the countless people including servants, musicians, soldiers, and administrators, whose lives are linked with Eltham and its more famous residents, but whose stories have gone untold or have even been lost entirely.
Over two months, we worked with historians, musicians, directors, writers and theatre professionals to create a new immersive promenade performance*. Following an introduction to Eltham Palace’s history, they researched LGBTQ+ narratives relating to the palace and its inhabitants and, during creative workshops, forged their ideas into a script.
The play is divided into eight short scenes exploring the supposed romance between King Edward II and his favourite, Piers Gaveston, Henry VIII’s upbringing at the Palace with his sisters, and working-class queer stories from the 1930s when Eltham Palace was known for high-society parties.
On the 21st and 22nd September, performances took place at Eltham Palace to both invited guests and members of the public. More than 500 people attended the performances, moving through various Palace rooms and into the gardens to encounter each new scene.
Not only did everyone involved gain writing, performing, and dancing skills, they also gained confidence, made friends, and had a lot of fun. Everyone started to feel a sense of ownership over the site, that it was a welcoming and safe space.
YOUTH
METRO Zest
Youth group for LGBTQ people aged under 16 in Greenwich, Lewisham, Bexley or Bromley
About this service
METRO Zest is a group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, queer and questioning young people in Greenwich, Lewisham, Bexley and Bromley. We meet in Bexley every Friday from 4:30pm to 6.30pm.
It’s a safe space to meet other LGBTQ young people, get support and have fun. We usually have snacks and hang out together. Sometimes we talk about identity, relationships and wellbeing. Every Christmas we have a party with dancing, pizza and cake. We also go to the cinema, Pride in London and UK Black Pride.
COVID-19 UPDATE: This group is now meeting virtually via Zoom.
We look forward to resuming services fully once it is appropriate to do so.
Who can use this service
You need to be aged under 16 and live in Greenwich, Lewisham, Bexley or Bromley. You also need to identify as LGBTQ or be questioning your sexuality or gender identity. All our youth groups are free and confidential.
Join this group
Email yo***@me**********.uk or call 020 8305 5004. You can refer yourself or be referred by someone who works with you (like a teacher or youth worker).
We’ll get back to you in 2-3 days. We’ll arrange a quick chat to find out more about you and how we can help. After you’re signed up, you can drop into any session. You don’t have to come every week if you don’t want to.
Posted: February 18, 2021 by Hilary Cooke Leave a Comment
Strengthening Minds
Gillingham Community Hub
A bold town with plenty to ‘shout’ about
Until the 1940s, Gillingham was known for its port, which was where the ships of Kings’ and Queens’ docked for over 1000 years. With Royal roots, it is no surprise that Gillingham boasts a thriving and close-knit community. Named after lord Gyllingas, Gillingham actually means ‘to shout’ and since we have started working with this incredible community, we have certainly had plenty of positive things to ‘shout’ about! Check out the page below for more information about Gillingham community hub and the fantastic work going on in the area.
A Community that Continues to Grow
Our community is something that we are immensely proud of. We value every member of our team, a group of extraordinary people who dedicate their lives to making young people as happy as they can be. Use the buttons below to take a deeper look at the schools and the community hubs who we work with everyday to help young people grow.
Food Banks
Making life a little tastier!
Our foodbanks offer families the chance to keep good food in the house during these difficult times. Find out how your household could benefit from one of our fantastic food banks by contacting your local community hub where one of our staff members will be delighted to help.
https://www.strengtheningminds.co.uk/gillingham
Last Updated: March 14, 2021 by Hilary Cooke Leave a Comment
New Cultural Projects announced in The Old High Street Intra
The Cultural Consortium for The Old High Street Intra, is excited to announce the winners of six micro commissions which will help people learn about and celebrate this fascinating area through creativity and delving into history.
The Cultural Consortium is a newly formed group made up of arts organisations and community groups and has been established as part of the High Streets Heritage Action Zone Project (HSHAZ) to develop events and activities designed to encourage local people to explore the heritage and help regenerate The Old High Street Intra.
The Old High Street Intra is the area between Sun Pier in Chatham and Star Hill in Rochester and benefits from a rich past; a creative, enterprising present; and an exciting future.
For full details of the wider HSHAZ Project see Useful Information section below.
Over the next 6 weeks people will be able to enjoy these six projects by getting involved, sharing stories, writing poetry, delving into history, reflecting on past events, creating artwork inspired by the area and celebrating the people who live, work and visit there.
Here is who the six micro commissions have been awarded to and details of what they’ll be doing –
Closer Than You Think – A project remembering the Holocaust as experienced by the LGBTQIA and Jewish communities. The Ship Inn and Chatham Memorial Synagogue are decorated with fabric replicas of the pink triangles and yellow stars worn by prisoners in the concentrations camps, and an exhibition in the window of Intra Arts can be viewed until the end of February.
https://intraarts.org/closer-than-you-think/
Ally Sinyard – The Medway Intra Poetry Walk. An interactive poetry and spoken word trail made up of works from Medway residents and local writers, based on their experiences, memories and relationships to the Intra area. The works will be uploaded in text and audio format, encrypted into QR codes and placed along the Old High Street Intra for everyone to discover, stumble upon, scan on their smartphones and enjoy. https://allysinyard.co.uk/medway-intra-poetry-walk
Natasha Steer and George Atzev – St Bartholomew’s Hospital, ‘The historic heart of health in Medway for over 900 years’. Sharing historical information relating to the hospital from the archives, collecting memories from people who received care and worked there, including those who lived in the residential quarters. Then responding creatively to the findings. https://futurechatham.weebly.com/st-bartholomews-hospital.html
The Living River Foundation – Slice of Medway #Litterarma. Litter including plastic from the River Medway has been encased into cubes, sliced and framed with driftwood, and will be installed along Intra high street. There are also opportunities to get involved in storytelling, creative writing and building a photo collage. http://living-river.org/art-and-literature-from-litter-from-medway
Hannah Whittaker – Cathedral of Community. A colourful spectacle dedicated to the people of Intra. Windows of buildings will be filled with tissue-paper stained glass portraits of the people behind the businesses and organisations of the area. Visible by day but also, more excitingly, lit up at night to create a dazzling display. www.hannahwhittaker.com/intra
Medway Pride Radio – this new radio station began its life within the Intra community. The MPR team will be reaching out across Medway and indeed much, much further to bring us great music, some fantastic entertainment, a mix of DJ’s and presenters. They will be showcasing the great and the good of Medway and beyond, including the exciting projects happening in Intra.
To hear more about the projects, tune in to Medway Pride Radio www.medwayprideradio.co.uk to hear more from the creative individuals and teams behind these exciting projects.
For more information, updates and details of how to get involved in the exciting forthcoming projects, visit www.medway.gov.uk/heritageactionzone
For more information or press enquiries please contact ar**@me****.uk and your message will be forwarded to the Cultural Consortium.
Useful information
About High Street Heritage Action Zones
The High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) Cultural Programme pilot is led by Medway Council, funded by Historic England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and supported by Arts Council England.
The Old High Street Intra, (the conservation area from Sun Pier in Chatham to Star Hill in Rochester) has been awarded £1.6m High Street Heritage Action Zone funding from Historic England for regeneration in the area. The focus is on bringing the history and heritage of the area back to life, and boosting the local economy by 2024. From regenerating historic buildings to helping to engage local communities through art and cultural projects, the project works with local people and partners to help unlock the potential of the local area and make it more attractive to residents, businesses, tourists and investors.
The High Streets Heritage Action Zones Cultural Programme is part of the £95 million High Streets Heritage Action Zone initiative, which is currently working across 68 English high streets. It’s funded with £40 million from the Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport’s Heritage High Street Fund, £52 million from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s Future High Streets Fund, and a further £3 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
www.medway.gov.uk/heritageactionzone
#RediscoverIntra
#HistoricHighStreets
@Historic England
@Department for Culture, Media and Sport
@Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
@National Lottery Heritage Fund
@Arts Council England
The High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) Cultural Programme Pilot is co-funded by Historic England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and supported by Arts Council England and Medway Council.
Last Updated: February 15, 2021 by Hilary Cooke Leave a Comment
CLOSER THAN YOU THINK – INTRA ARTS
Intra Arts – Chatham Memorial Synagogue – The Ship Inn
337 – 347 – 366 High Street, Rochester
Rochester
ME1 1DA
United Kingdom
The ‘Closer Than You Think’ project provides a unique opportunity by telling a seldom known story connecting two important events: –
Holocaust Memorial Day and LGBT History Month
Locally, two very different establishments, one a social and recreational venue, the other a place of worship, have come together united in a shared experience of one of history’s darkest moments.
In the area known as Chatham Intra, are two historic local buildings some twenty yards apart, where two communities have faced each other for decades.
The Ship Inn thought to be one of the oldest LGBT venues in the country and the Chatham Memorial Synagogue over the years have probably had little or nothing to do with each other, perhaps even viewing the other with a degree of suspicion and disapproval.
However, recent history has revealed they do share something of great significance. Both communities over the years have suffered prejudice and discrimination and during the Nazi regime many paid the ultimate price.
It is well known that over 6 million Jews were murdered during the second world war in Nazi concentration camps.
Perhaps lesser known is that tens of thousands of homosexuals were arrested, around 50,000 given severe prison sentences and forced to carry out hard labour. 10-15,000 were incarcerated within the camps, 60% of whom died. For those that did survive, legislation known as ‘Paragraph 175’ introduced by the Nazi’s made homosexuality illegal and regarded them as criminals, as a result they were then transported to German prisons.
WHY NAZI ATROCITIES AGAINST GAY MEN MUST NEVER BE FORGOTTENhttps://www.youtube.com/embed/UloLcL–O7M?feature=oembed
Homosexual men were identified by a large ‘pink triangle’ worn on their uniform and the Jewish prisoners by a ‘yellow star’.
These images will be used to symbolise the bringing together of our two local communities in a shared remembrance of the atrocities they both endured during the holocaust.
This will form part of a visual window display at Intra Arts and the two buildings representing our communities, the Chatham Memorial Synagogue and the Ship Inn will be decorated with fabric replicas of these two iconic symbols.
The installation will be in place on Holocaust Memorial Day on 27th January 2021 at
337 – 347 – 366 High Street, Rochester
and will run throughout LGBT History Month in February
Information will also be made available to schools via links with Chatham Library
Project organisers are local historian and Intra Arts director Peter Moorcraft, musician and gay rights equality and human rights campaigner Martin Adams, and archivist and author Irina Fridman, in association with The Ship Inn & Chatham Memorial Synagogue, where Irina is Education and Outreach Manager.
Organiser Name
Irina Fridman
Peter Moorcraft
Martin Adams
Last Updated: March 14, 2021 by Hilary Cooke Leave a Comment
So, it’s Valentines
I don’t mind it, but hey I tell my partner I love her all the time, in fact about as often as I say I’m sorry! It’s the fake schmaltz that comes with the whole thing, heart shaped choccies, the staggeringly overpriced but desperately underperforming wine, and the songs. Yeah, THOSE songs….
In Nick Hornby’s novel ‘High Fidelity’, the enervated antihero Rob Gordon asks if he is unhappy because of sickly love pop songs, or does he listen to sickly pop songs because he is unhappy. The age-old question?
As the novel unfolds, we journey with Rob as he discovers not just his lost passion for his partner and his everyday life but his lost passion for music. We are reminded that hearing a great song is like remembering your first love, you feel a teen again, you remember it with warmth and overlook the little imperfections…
DJs (and listeners) are bombarded by song after song on stations, with playlists worked out at head office, reducing the DJ to a transient figure who just waves songs through with the enthusiasm of a British Rail guard checking tickets.
When they join our DJs are asked what music they love, and they choose to play what genre/style/ tracks they enjoy. They are all passionate about music, and when I talk music with them, I see their eyes light up and they are remembering that first music love. The desire to share that with others shines through in all their shows and is undoubtedly what keeps them doing this.
They are forever playing me new tracks and costing me a fortune in songs I suddenly need to buy but I would not have it any other way.
If you have that sort of passion come share it with others by joining the team. Email In**@me**************.uk
Welcome to Kellie Maloney who starts her Talking Sport show, and Sharon brings the Much Laughter team to Friday evenings also, we will also start to load selected shows onto Mixcloud so you can catch up with shows you may have missed.
Out this week
Foo Fighters – Medicine At Midnight (available on orange vinyl)
Amy Winehouse – I Told You I Was In Trouble: Live In London
Django Django – Glowing In The Dark
Last Updated: March 14, 2021 by Hilary Cooke Leave a Comment
Medway Stand Up to Racism
Medway Stand Up to Racism are hosting an online fundraiser (DONATE HERE) in aid of the SutR/Care4Calais Winter Appeal. Our aim is to raise at least £250 from donations.
All the acts are donating their time and artistry for free to support this amazing cause. We have a truly international line up, with Singer, Songwriter, Catherine Heisiger Live from Santa Fe in the USA. Local Rap Artist JTL (AKA Jack the Lad), a Syrian duo Jamal and Alaa, former Refugees now settled in Brighton, Singer Songwriter, Clea Lleweln, more artists to be announced. We also have two speakers, Aram Rawf who came to the UK as a child Refugee. is now settled and recently elected to Thanet Council. plus Andy Brown from Care4Calais.
The whole event will be compared on the night, by Medway Labour Group Leader Vince Maple, who will be encouraging everyone to dig deep. But even if you can’t make it, you can still donate to a great cause via using the QR code on the flyer.
Don’t be square, see you there
Last Updated: February 8, 2021 by Hilary Cooke Leave a Comment
LGBT History Month Service. MHA Communities Kent
LGBT History Month Service. MHA Communities Kent, Christ Church Gravesend are organising A service this year for LGBTQIA+ community. The service will be a joint production by MHA Communities Kent, Christ Church Gravesend with support from Medway and Gravesham Prides. Volunteers needed!They are looking for people to read one of two bible passages or one of six prayers of intercession. They will need to video themselves reading (this can be on a phone) and send the video to our contact before close of play on Friday 12th February. The videos will then be edited together along with videos of the church choir, organ and worship band, be Rev Chris Smith and myself Steve Thompson MHA Communities Area Manager giving an introduction to the service. Rev Chris Smith who is Director of Chaplaincy for MHA and his video will be recorded in Derby Cathedral. (Our Head Office is in Derby).If you, or anyone in your networks would like to be involved please let us know and we will provide you with more details. Please contact me at Steve Thompson St************@mh*.uk or mail in**@me**************.uk for further information.
https://www.mha.org.uk/communities/near-me/kent/
MHA Services for older people in Kent
As the largest charity care provider for older people in the UK, we offer some of the highest quality care, accommodation and support services throughout Britain. Our mission is to inspire the best care and wellbeing at every stage of later life.
Founded by members of the Methodist Church in 1943, today we support:
At MHA Communities Kent, we enable older people to maintain their independence and live more fulfilled lives. The scheme administrative office is based inside MHA’s Grace Court retirement living complex and we provide activities throughout the county.
Through befriending, lunch clubs, assisted shopping, activity and friendship sessions, outings, escorts to appointments and much more, MHA Communities schemes across the UK help to tackle loneliness and isolation in people over 55 – helping them to lead fulfilled lives and remain as active members in their local communities.
The scheme’s activities programme is designed and led by its members and volunteers to ensure that we are providing the practical and social support which those we serve need.
Contact us today to see how we could be of service to you or a loved one living at home.
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