Voluntary/Charity Groups
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Volultary Services details
2520 (Tonbridge) Squadron Air Training Corps
-
serves the local community inmany ways and has an active band which undertakes numerous
engagements. Cadets participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and outdoor pursuits
such as flying, gliding, adventure training and numerous sports. For further information ,
Telephone FIt Lt A Atkins 01622 750954
Age Concern
- 5 Bradford Street, Tonbridge (
01732 366100. Provides information, advice and support for older people and
those caring for them. The office is open weekday mornings between 10 and 12. We
have Toenail Cutting, Chiropody and HI Kent clinic and run a day centre. Details
from the office.
Alzheimer's Disease
Society . Hepline
0845-300 0336
Arthritis Research Campaign
- is the only charity dedicated to funding medical research
in hospitals and medical schools to discover the cause and cure of arthritis and rheumatic
diseases. It also provides free information booklets for sufferers covering over 60
different topics. The charity relies entirely on the generosity of the public to fund its
work.
Bridge Trust
- provides action and accommodation for single homeless
people in West Kent and is actively engaged in shared supported housing schemes.
Works closely with local Housing Departments, Kent County Council and many
voluntary groups. Contact Niall Willis ( 01732 368363 at 17A Quarry Hill Road,
Tonbridge.
British
Heart Foundation - provides the largest source of
funds for independent heart research in this country. It also funds education,
vital cardiac equipment and support for patient care and rehabilitation. It
receives no government grants and relies entirely on the public's generosity.
Local secretary, Mrs. Beryl Boughton ( 01892 513219
Care Corcern
- 01424 215102
Carers
First - provides
support, advice and information to carers of ill, disabled and/or elderly
people. Carers First may be able to provide a sitting service or some respite
care. ( 01732 357555
Carers National Association -
the West Kent Branch has a network of Groups which support Carers and provide an
opportunity to share experience and information.( Audrey Nicholls 01892 822689.
Freecall for advice and information 0808 888 7777. Weald of Kent Crossroads is a
charity providing respite care at home for Carers. 01892 532701
Christians Caring
- is a registered charity made up of people
from churches in the Tonbridge area who have come together, with the backing of
their churches, to co-operate with one another in social action. The Tonbridge
Disabled Club with three day centres is one project. ( 01732 770962
COMPAID Trust-
provides a Computer Assessment, Advice and Teaching Centre
for people with disabilities; operates an office Bureau for the more competent
clients and runs a Transport for Special Needs scheme serving the Centre as well
as meeting community needs. ( 01892 824060 for further information or 01892
823488 for transport.
FRED Club
- West Kent Community Active Club, better known as
"FRED"
by its friends standing for Fun, Recreation, Endeavour,
Determination. A drop-in club for young disabled people from 16 years onward. Activities
are varied, both indoor and out, including swimming and outings to places of interest. Tea
& coffee is free but there is a charge of £1 for a cooked lunch. Meets at West Kent
YMCA, TWells, every Wednesday 9.30~4.00, 75p per session, Telephone
Cllr.Mrs.D.Fletcher 01892 540618
Good Companions Club
- gives housebound, disabled and
lonely infirm elderly people an “evening out”, once a month at the Royal
British Legion Club, Tonbridge. Social evenings are held on the first Monday of
the month and the committee who are all “Legion” members, organise
transport, provide refreshments and a wide variety of entertainment.
Approximately 85 members have an enjoyable night out. ( Bob Harris 01732 832795
Heusenstamm Friendship Circle
- co-operating with the Freundschaftskreis in Heusenstamm (a town near
Frankfurt am Main in Germany), exists to promote friendship and mutual
understanding between the two twinned communities. Regular exchanges in the
fields of education, the arts (especially music) and sport are made. The Hon.
Sec. is Eileen Best ( 01732 353937
Hospice
in the Weald - www.hospiceinthewelad.org.uk
Fundraising Director Richard Snow can be reached via 01892-820501
Kent Air Ambulance
-
operates seven days a week to provide the only Helicopter
Emergency Medical Service in the UK, which is financed solely by voluntary
donations. It needs at least £1 million each year in order to fully fund the
full operational costs of the service. For details of how you can help ( 01622
833833
Kent
Guidance Consortium
- is an
association of providers of Careers/Educational Information across Kent and
Medway. Always working with local groups in response to local residents, they
provide resources to enable community based information and advice ‘shops’.
For further information contact Pauline Rowe, Community Learning Adviser ( 07879
605910 or 01732 358101
The Kingfisher Project
- provides day trips on the Medway for people with special
needs on a purpose built boat, the Dawn Treader, between May and September. Based at
Wateringbury, the boat is manned entirely by volunteers and can take up to 12 passengers.
Facilities include a galley, toilet and wheelchair lift. Contact John Lockhart ,
Telephone No. 01622 739137.
League of Friends Tonbridge Cottage
Hospital - funds raised, donations etc. are
ploughed back into the hospital to improve facilities for patients and staff.
Worthwhile work, active members required to help with shopping trolley and
assist with annual fete. Please contact David Green ( 01732 353570
Motor
Neurone Disease Association - we are the
West Kent Branch of this national association. Motor Neurone Disease is
a muscle wasting disease for which no cure has yet been found. Fundraising
helps local care and national research. For further information contact
Derrick Woolgar ( 01892 529438
Multiple
Sclerosis Society
The Tunbridge Wells & District Branch of the MS Society covers Tonbridge
- as well as Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and surrounding areas. Our aim
is to give support and advice to all those affected by MS, whether or
not they are members.
Branch Helpline : 0845 6037882. National Website www.mssociety.org.uk
National Childbirth Trust
- Sevenoaks and Tonbridge NOT works to put parents in touch
with other parents locally, fundraises to train antenatal teachers and breastfeeding
counsellors, involves mothers and babies in parenthood education at local schools and runs
support groups for Caesareans, postnatal depression and miscarriage. ,
Telephone Pippa Berger 01732 884538
Parkinson’s Disease Society
- the Tunbridge Wells branch is
very active with more than 100 members, over half with Parkinson’s Disease.
Our aim is to provide help and support to all our members and their carers. We
hold regular meetings. Further information from Derek Saunders ( 01892 750539
Royal British Legion
- Tonbridge - working for
the ex-service community in their hour of need, Pensions, Convalescence & Respite
Care, Retirement Homes, Employment, Financial Aid, Disabled Men’s Industries, The
Poppy Appeal. Tonbridge Branch, Club & Women’s Section at 26 Priory Road,
Telephone No. 01732 358729
The
Royal British Legion, Women’s Section - works
for ex-service community in their hour of need, Convalescence and Respite Care,
Retirement Homes, Financial Aid and Poppy Appeal. Friendly monthly meetings,
join us at RBL HQ 25 Priory Road. ( 01732 358276
The
RNLI - celebrated its 175th birthday last year. There
are 222 lifeboat stations covering the entire coastline of the UK and the
Republic of Ireland manned by highly trained volunteers who respond to calls for
help 24 hours a day whenever needed. On average they are called out 7000 times a
year. Lifeboats are paid for by voluntary contributions and an army of volunteer
fundraisers help to raise the £72 million needed to run the service each year.
Save
the Children - is the UK’s largest voluntary
agency concerned with child health and welfare at home and abroad. Eglantine
Jebb founded the organisation in 1919 and drafted the Declaration of Rights of
the Child which forms the basis of SCF work. The Tonbridge Group works to raise
funds for this charity and further details of their activities can be obtained
from Gerald Philpott ( 01732 358237
Scotts Project
- - we have opened our Barn Centre which, with the Delarue Hall, offers day
activities for adults with learning disabilities. Courses include Craft,
Cookery, Drama, Music and Dance, Computer Studies. The delightful Barn and Hall
are also available for private hire. Fundraising continues for outbuildings and
greenhouses. Contact Jill Scott ( 01732 833498
Shaw Trust
-- “Tonbridge Restorations” is a
work-oriented project for people with enduring mental health problems. The
project helps members develop their full potential towards meaningful
employment. We offer a structured program to develop self-confidence and
self-esteem, interviewing skills and job searching. We offer accredited training
via OCR delivery, creative art and writing sessions, computer skills and retail
work experience within our own outlet. For further information contact Rose,
Dave, Carol or Cathy ( 01732 357751
St. John Ambulance
Badgers - formed in 1987 to celebrate 100 years of St. John
Ambulance Brigade. Boys and girls between 6-10 years are taught 9 subjects
including first aid and the history of St. Johns, and how to grow up to be useful and
helpful citizens. Contact Marjorie Brown, Telephone No. 01732 362029
The Stroke Association’s DYSPHASIA
SUPPORT - helps those whose communication
skills have been affected by a stroke. With guidance from Speech Therapists, Volunteers
bring friendship and enjoyment of old interests and hobbies to assist in rehabilitation;
Carers are also given support. Contact Lis DalI (Area Organiser) Telephone No. 01892
619799
Tonbridge Adult Education Centre
- runs a varied community programme which includes classes for the
partially sighted and for people with learning disabilities. For more information contact
Gay Wilson Telephone No. 01732 354313
Tonbridge
Link with Hospice in the Weald - we are a small
group of people whose purpose is to maintain a ‘link’ between the Hospice
and the local community. We organise varied moneymaking activities such as
coffee mornings, bazaars, jumble sales, concerts etc. We also sell Hospice goods
and offer Hospice literature at various events. For details contact Joan Pover (
01732 850645 )
Tonbridge Lions Club-
through their many activities has raised thousands of pounds,
which have been given locally to the disabled, the elderly and also to benefit
local youth. Working closely with Kent Association for the Blind, they produce
the weekly Talking Newspaper. Internationally they have been involved in an
initiative to eliminate preventable blindness. For more information ( John Cox
01732 355880
Tonbridge Philharmonic Society-
consists of a choir, an orchestra and supporters called
Friends. The Society performs four concerts a year in Tonbridge. The music
covers a wide variety of choral and orchestral works. ( Hon. Membership
Secretary Mrs Joan Sinclair 01892 740005
Tonbridge
Visually Impaired Crafts - the
VIP Craft Club was instigated by a rehabilitation worker at Kent Association for
the Blind. It gives partially sighted and blind people a chance to meet socially
and to learn cane work, leatherwork etc. Monthly meetings are held in Tonbridge.
For further information contact Peter Hancock ( 01732 352022
Tonbridge
Volunteer Bureau - offers an information service to prospective volunteers,
giving advice and guidance and supports voluntary action by linking volunteers
with organisations. Other services include: Driving,
Befriending, Angel’s Lunch Club for the over 50’s at TOPS in Bradford
Street. Telephone Brenda Evans 01732 357978 or call at 3 St. Mary’s Road
between 10 and 1.00. E-mail us on tonbridgevb@care4free.net
or view our website at www.tonbridgevb.care4free.net
The
Torch Trust for the Blind - aims to provide
Christian literature and fellowship for visually handicapped people. The local
fellowship Group meets monthly in Tonbridge or Tunbridge Wells. Other projects
include the establishment of an orphanage in Romania for blind children. Contact
John Whyman for further details ( 01732 355566
VSU Youth in Action
- a registered charity which aims to contribute to the education
of young people by involving them in positive, practical and self-determined
response to real community needs Working with young volunteers in schools and in
the community. Contact Jim Fletcher ( 01732 362699
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