We held our first annual community day on 27 May with staff dedicating one day of their time to support the local community. Staff took part in array of activities supporting charities, sanctuaries and the environment. Thanks to all involved, and we look forward to next years!
A big THANK YOU to all who took part and to the organisations who let us roll up our sleeves and help out!
Staff have really welcomed the opportunity to give back to their local community and are looking forward to doing it all again next year!
Read on to find out more about what individual staff and teams got up to...
Our Corporate and Finance Teams helped prepare the ground for pumpkin growing at our charity partner Spadework in West Malling.
Our Opportunities Coaches were litter picking in beautiful Rochester.
Learning Support Assistant Sophie, helped out elderly couple June, 86 and Ron, 90 by clearing their food cupboards, tidying, and sorting out their front and back garden all while having a good chat!
Sue Farrant from our Learning Resouce Centre at Medway was in action at Brogdale Farm where she helped tidy and weed the wildlife garden to encourage animal, bird, insect and reptile visitors.
Alison and Teresa from our Hairdressing Team supported staff at the Wisdom Hospice in Rochester with creating learning packs for nurses at Medway Hospital.
Wade, Agne and the rest of the HR Team were hard at work litter picking at Medway Park, Gillingham.
The Marketing Team helped Medway Council's Environmental Engagement Team deliver brooms to businesses in Chatham and Rochester High Street's as part of it's keep Medway tidy campaign.
We've caught them having a well-deserved cuppa here but our Maidstone Catering Team were hard at work helping out at Buttercups Goat Sanctuary.
Learning Support Assistant Alison Henderson provided all important company and chat as well as gardening duties for an elderly couple.
Our MIS Team were hard at work litter-picking at Foxburrow Woods and the surrounding area in Rainham.
Dan, Sam and Karl from our Carpentry Department helped repair the bottoms of the pillars at the entrance to the head office building of Hi Kent, a charity that supports deaf people. Sophia, one of our English tutors, catalogued fundraising stock and created spreadsheets.
Sukh Gill, a lecturer in our Business Department worked alongside the Reception Team at Sissinghurst Castle Gardens, a National Trust site, greeting members of the local community and ensuring they had a memorable experience.
Our Additional Learning Support Team at Maidstone Campus had a very enjoyable and productive day supporting the team at Mencap Maidstone with strimming, weeding, painting, staining, washing and clearning... phew!
The Apprenticeships Team were busy at RSPCA Leybourne repairing the puppy enclosure.
Matt Mara from our MIS Team helped out at Medway Street Angels making food parcels, unpacking crates of donated food and gardening on the allotment.
Tammy Whiteman, Community Education Officer, helped out at Happy Pants Animal Santuary in Sittingbourne sorting through mouldy carrots, creating a space for Poppy the eplipetic pig and helping to re-design the entrance to the site.
Cherrie Bunch, Student Welfare Officer served cakes and hot refreshments to students, staff and visitors at Rivermead School's Jubilee Fair.
Learning Support Assistant Lesley Bennett continued the work she started during the pandemic with the Medway Voluntary Action befriending team, visiting one of her regulars who has now moved into a care home. She caught up with the rest of the team for a catch up in the afternoon.
Learning Support Assistant Clare Iandolo and other staff from our Construction Multitrades Team carried out repairs and refreshed the woodwork at Peninsula Methodist Church in Strood.
Jo and Rachel from our Careers Team and Clare Brown, Head of Department, enjoyed sprucing up Medway Street Angels' warehouse. Clare was responsible for sorting over 1000 donated eggs and Jo and Rachel got stuck into moving, sorting and re-packing donated books.
Curriculum Director Jane Le Poidevin and Foundation Learning staff helped out at Buttercups Goat Sanctuary.
Curriculum Manager Ross along with staff from our Creative Industries Department enjoyed a very sunny and productive beach clean at Tankerton.
Curriculum Manager Camilla, along with Facilities staff and Kennie, one of our Music lecturers, were very busy sorting and delivering donations to local charities in Medway and Maidstone - including Gillingham Street Angels, Demelza Hospice Care, Snapdragon's Children Centre and Broptom Community Store.
Director of Quality James Egan and the Advanced Practitioner Team were at the Blackthorn Trust in Maidstone where they tidied the gardens, cleared walkways and planted seedlings for new crops.
Staff from the Foundation and Carpentry Teams along with Reception staff tackled the College's own allotment on Mill Road in Gillingham, which was transformed by the end of the day. Well done everyone!
