News

Flood Wardens are volunteers trained to help and prepare people in local communities that are at risk of flooding. They play an important role in the preparing a community flood plan and putting it in to practice. In Sandgate we would also ask you to meet the Parish Council annually to update us on the flood plan.

The commitment

• Training takes just 2 hours to complete (training is currently online, with the next FREE course on 24th November from 7-9pm).
• Flood Wardens meet a few times a year to test their flood plan.

The Role

• Help local people prepare for flooding.
• Provide a vital link between your community and the emergency responders.

What you’ll get

• Comprehensive handbook.
• Access to a whole host of resources.
• Support from fellow Flood Wardens.

It’s been a while since we’ve had a substantial flood in Sandgate, but that’s no reason not to be prepared.

You would be making a real difference to your community, helping the ensure the safety of neighbours, for a few hours a year. From https://www.kentprepared.org.uk/flood-wardens the responsibilities of being a Flood Warden include:

Helping the community before, during and after a flood

…before

• Identify problem areas within your community;
• Identify vulnerable people and properties;
• Write a community flood plan;
• Monitor watercourses within the community;
• Encourage sign up to free Flood Warnings.

…during

• Communicate the risk of flooding within the community;
• Help co-ordinate the community flood plan;
• Heed emergency services advice at all times;
• Share information from the Environment Agency and emergency services with residents;
• Encourage residents to take action;
• Collect flood event information.

…after

• Assist in the post-flood clear up if required;
• Continue to act as a communication channel;
• Collect post-flood data and photos;
• Assist in the review of the community flood plan.

If you are interested in becoming a Flood Warden, please contact the Kent Resilience Team to organise a training session at krf@kent.fire-uk.org  or call 01622 212409.

Book to attend the November Flood Warden course at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/kent-flood-warden-training-tickets-126057303789

The application process for two Folkestone & Hythe COVID grants schemes to support businesses during the current national lockdown period have been launched on Friday 13th November: one for businesses in business rated premises forced to close by the current lockdown rules, and a second for those outside those criteria but still being harmed.

Folkestone & Hythe Local Restrictions Support Grants (LSRSGs) – grants are available to businesses located in business rated premises that are legally required to close during the lockdown period. Eligible businesses should receive a letter or email from the Business Rates team in the next few days. Please click on the following link to find more information about this scheme and the application process.

https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/local-restrictions-support

Folkestone & Hythe Additional Restrictions Grant (ARGs) – grants are available to businesses that have been significantly affected by the current national lockdown period and have incurred fixed business costs. Please click on the following link for more information on the eligibility criteria for the scheme and the application process

https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/additional-restrictions-grant

For many years, businesses in Sandgate have made an amazing Festive effort for Christmas. After a pretty drab 2020, let’s bring some sparkle and festive cheer to the whole community and light up our windows and outside our homes and businesses this December.

Follow the “Light Up Sandgate” Facebook Page for more information, news and to see the photos sent in and to make this a huge Sandgate community event!

Get your neighbours involved, and light up your street!

Light up and decorate your home or business to bring some added sparkle to the area this Christmas – AND you can win a prize from Sandgate Parish Council! Small Prizes for BEST OVERALL, BEST WINDOW & BEST BUSINESS, donated by Sandgate Parish Council, will be awarded.

Our secret judging team will go out on the weekend 18th -20th December. Decorations don’t need to be expensive, in fact, additional credit will be given for upcycling, imagination, and creativity!

Sandgate Primary School is also organizing a separate prize competition and Christmas Lights Trail. You can learn more and sign up at https://school.plansocial.app/events/61525

Also, this Christmas let’s help those having a hard time coping. If you can do so, please make a food or cash donation to the Shepway Foodbank or Porchlight: see below.

Porchlight helps the homeless and vulnerable. You can donate to Porchlight at porchlight.org.uk/donate

Shepway Foodbank supports those who are struggling to feed themselves and their families. Donations to the Foodbank will be gratefully received and passed to them by Christmas.

The Providence & The Golden Arrow have also kindly agreed to take in Foodbank donations from December 3rd until 21st December. Learn more at shepway.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/ about ways to help, and also the things that the Foodbank currently most urgently needs.

Join the national effort and sign up for the NHS COVID-19 vaccine research registry. Be part of the fightback against the virus by volunteering to be contacted by researchers to take part in COVID-19 vaccine research. 

There are a number of vaccines being identified, but only large-scale studies can give researchers the information needed about how effective they are. 

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is working with the NHS and aims to recruit as many people as possible onto the registry, which will allow people to be put in touch with the vaccine studies in the coming months. 

Researchers are looking for people from all backgrounds, ages and parts of the UK – including both people with or without existing health conditions – to take part in vaccine studies, to make sure that any vaccines developed will work for everyone. 

The service is available to anyone aged 18 or over, living in the UK. There is no obligation to join in any study, if you are contacted. But by taking part, you could help researchers find vaccines to protect us all more quickly – which in turn could help the NHS and save lives. 

Sign up today! 

Kent County Council has announced vouchers for food are available during half-term for families whose children are eligible for free school meals, so that no Kent child goes hungry.

The county’s families most in need will receive supermarket vouchers for each eligible child to ensure they are able to feed their children outside of term time.

A dedicated helpline has been set up and is now open so that Kent’s low-income families are able to quickly and easily access the help they need when they need it most, including during the school holidays. Families who apply will receive one voucher of £15 per child.

The announcement comes after KCC Leader Roger Gough pledged that no child should ever go hungry during school holidays, or at any time.

Anyone eligible for free school meals who needs extra financial support to help feed their children can now visit www.kent.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals or call the dedicated helpline on 03000 41 24 24. You have until next Monday 2nd November 5pm to apply.

Meanwhile, the KentTogether helpline remains open for any other Kent resident who needs support with food, collection of medication and prescriptions and other urgent needs during the pandemic, 24 hours a day. You can get help by visiting www.kent.gov.uk/kenttogether or calling 03000 41 92 92.