Newnham Parish Council

Notices - 'Interesting Bits'

Two new important items

NHS - Eastern and Coastal Kent Primary Care Trust Expert Patients Programme - a free course for people living with long-term health conditions The EPP is a six-week course for anyone living with any long-term health condition. The EPP aims to help you take more control of your health by learning new skills to manage your condition better on a daily basis. The course looks at the following topics and others: · dealing with pain and extreme tiredness · coping with feelings of depression · relaxation techniques and exercise · healthy eating · communicating with family, friends and health professionals · planning for the future. The EPP is a free course, run over six weekly sessions by trained tutors who are also living with a long-term condition Who can take part? Anyone living with one or more long-term health conditions How can it help you? By taking part in an EPP course, you will: · learn new skills to manage your health condition · develop confidence in the daily management of your specific condition · meet others and share similar experiences · learn about developing more effective relationships with healthcare professionals. People who have taken part in an EPP course have reported that it has helped them to: · feel confident and more in control of their life · manage their condition and treatment together with healthcare professionals · be realistic about the impact of their condition on themselves and their family · use their new skills and knowledge to improve their quality of life. For details about EPP courses in your area contact: Health Promotion Whitfield Court Honeywood Close White Cliffs Business Park Tel: 01304 828700 Whitfield Dover CT16 3NY Or visit - www.expertpatients.nhs.uk "It has been a great help just to be able to see and speak to people with the same problems." "I have started swimming again which I never thought I would do, it's given me a new lease of life." "The EPP course has made me realise that I can have some say over my pain and not let it dictate my life." ooooooOOOOOOOoooooo

Swale Youth Diversion Network - Summer Scheme in Swale Newnham Parish Council have been asked to advertise the following, for which funding is also being requested - 'Red Hot Summer Sunshine 2007' is a two week pilot scheme for 14 - 10 year olds (up to 25 years of age if disabled), in which they will have the opportunity to participate in various activities. A need has been identified by the Network and through consultation with young people themselves. Commencing 13th August, young people will be able to access 1 week of sports based activities - Outdoor Pursuits Ltd. In Sittingbourne are offering paintball, quad biking, mountain biking and wall climbing, most of which young people will not have participated in before. Transport will be provided to and from the venue, from across Swale including Eastern Sheppey, Teynham and the surrounding rural villages. Activitites will run for four hours, from 3pm - 7pm; later times for activities were requested by the young people of Swale. Swale Borough Council Sports Development team, in partnership with Charlton Athletic Football Club, will rund three days of multisports activities, one day in Faversham, one in Sittingbourne and one in Sheppey. Transport will be provided and activities will run from 4pm to 7.30pm. Commencing 20th August, there will be one week of 'performance' themed workshops, including comedy, circus skill, Djing, music production, technical theatre, dance etc., offered by various partners across a wide rang eof locations in Swale, including Warden Bay and Bysingwood. On 24th August, a concert will be held at Sittingbourne Community College, open to the public but targeted at young people. The young people that have participated in the workshops and wish to perform on stage will have the day to rehearse and then perform live during the evening. Local bands will also be playing and those that participate in the workshops but don't wish to perform will be able to enjoy the show. All activities will cost a minimum affordable fee so that the activities are appreciated. Discounts are available when signing up for a week's worth of activities, as well as family rates. All activities will be run with the required level of supervision and all staff will be CRB checked and trained accordingly. For more details and enquiries please contact Hannah Croucher:: Kent Safe Schools C/o Swale Borough Coucnil Swale House East Street Sittinbourne Kent ME10 3HT Tel: 01795 417318

Newnham Parish Council & Action with Communities in Rural Kent Results of the Housing Needs Survey The housing needs survey was delivered to every household in Newnham Parish during May 2006. The purpose of the survey is to find out if there is a need for a local needs housing scheme in the parish. A summary of the main findings of the survey is given below: Section 1 · Response rate of 41% (a very good response for this type of survey) · Respondents to the survey were predominately owner occupiers (81%) · The 2001 census shows the level of rented accommodation at 20% of dwellings (7% private rented and 13% social rented) · From the survey 82% of respondents homes have 3 or more bedrooms · 55% of respondents have lived in Newnham for more than 11 years · 25 people had left the parish in recent years, of these 36% of respondents indicated that family members would return if affordable housing is available · Respondents perceived that housing for young people (24%) and rented housing (16%) are most needed in the parish · 23% of respondents would prefer to see no further houses built · 60% of respondents said they would be in favour of a small development to meet local housing needs · Written comments were received; concerns expressed about o Increased traffic movements o Lack of facilities to support additional housing o Pressure on the conservation areas and surrounding countryside. Section 2 · 10 households (16% of all returned surveys) indicated a housing need · The 10 households that completed section 2 of the survey, indicating they had a housing need, were assessed to see if they would be eligible for local needs housing - that is they have a connection to the parish, they wish to remain living in the parish and are unable to afford suitable accommodation, in the parish, to either rent or buy on the open market. · 8 households are unable to rent privately or purchase a home on the open market suitable for their needs o 5 x single people o 1 x 2 person household o 2 x families 2 x 1 adult with 1 child · 7 out of the 8 households currently live in the village · 7 households are seeking their first independent home. A formula of need being 2 to 3 times greater than number of properties that maybe be built is used to calculate how many homes would meet existing and future housing need in the parish. For Newnham Parish this equals up to 4 affordable homes for local people. ___________________________________________________________________________ Local needs housing schemes are built to provide affordable (rented or shared ownership) homes for local people. The homes are managed by a housing association and an agreement sets out the criteria that any applicant would have to fulfil in order to be allocated a home. Importantly they must be able to demonstrate a connection to the parish, either through residency, close family or employment. As land within the village envelope is scarce and carries a high value, planning policy allows, where a proven need is established, for local needs housing schemes to be built outside of the normal limits to built development, this is known as an exception site. There are very strict criteria that must be met to ensure that the homes are sensitively designed, well located in relationship to the village, local services, the surrounding countryside and highways. In addition the homes must remain as affordable housing for local people in perpetuity. This means that the homes cannot be sold on the open market and local people will be given priority for the first and any subsequent vacancies. Jennifer Shaw Rural Housing Enabler Action with Communities in Rural Kent - Formerly, Kent Rural Community Council (Kent RCC)

Card to Newnham Residents from ex Postman Dave Perrin Dave was postman to Newnham for 8 years, during which time he became a good friend to many residents. By way of saying farewell, he was invited to open our annual Fete held at The George Inn on 17th June 2006. He gave a very interesting speech after which he was presented with a miniature postbox containing a collection from the residents, together with a card signed by most of the people in the village.