I am really excited to announce on 13 February I will be hosting my first Pensioners Advice & Information Fair.

The aim of the Fair is to introduce support, voluntary and active services or organisations to pensioners in the Malling area o…f the constituency. So far over 45 stalls have been confirmed they will be attending the event at the RBLI’s Capel Morris Centre in Aylesford.

Youngsters going to University have Freshers Fairs and those seeking employment have the support of Jobs Fairs so I wanted to replicate the concept for my older constituents who may not be fully aware of all the wonderful organisations out there locally. The idea is to bring together a mix of statutory, voluntary and activity based organisations and groups who can showcase how they can help people or what they can offer. The stalls will be a combination of intervention based support providers catering for some health or care needs that unfortunately affect older constituents and active or community based groups that keep people involved in everyday life.

It is the first time I’ve run this kind of event so I am naturally a bit nervous but the response has been phenomenally positive. Many people do contact me when they’ve reached crisis point and often because they are unaware of the local groups that could support them. This way I can help spread information about these services and help people get all the support they need.

The Fair takes place between 10am and 2pm on Friday 13th. It is being run at the Malling end of the constituency (Blue Bell Hill, Burham, Eccles, Wouldham, Aylesford, Ditton, Larkfield and Snodland) first thanks to the incredible kindness and enthusiasm of the RBLI, but if successful it will be replicated in Chatham. There is adequate parking and the Capel Morris Centre is walking distance from local bus stops.

Refreshments (including cake) will be free.

The stalls confirmed so far are:

RBLI Community Health and Wellbeing
Kent Community Health Trust
Heart of Kent Hospice
Circle Housing
Alzheimer’s Society Maidstone and Medway
Home Instead Senior Care
Cross Roads Care
Royal Voluntary Service
Tonbridge and Malling Rambling Group
Larkfield Leisure Centre
British Red Cross
Kent Fire & Rescue
Stroke Association
Job Centre Plus Maidstone
Drop By
Snodland Town Active Retirement Association
Age UK Maidstone
Kent Police
Arriva
Trading Standards
The Good Care Group
Annabelle Jane Cake School
TMBC
Larkfield Active Retirement Association
Aylesford & Eccles WI
Direct Care
Aylesford Active Retirement Association
Kent Sheds & Groundworks
Orbit South
Carers First
Kent County Council
TAMS (Tonbridge and Malling Seniors Forum)
Age Concern Malling
Dementia UK & Admiral Nurses
Kent Active Retirement Association
Maidstone Citizens Advice Bureau
Brighter Futures for older people (Voluntary Action Maidstone)
Independent Age
Aylesford Village Community Centre
St Peter’s Church, Aylesford
Malling District Lions
Angels Home Care
Medway Osteoporosis Group
Townsend Hook Bowls Club
Salvation Army
Local Libraries representatives