National Day of Reflection

  We're marking the anniversary of the first covid lockdown with a recorded service available next Tuesday morning (23rd) in time for the minute's silence at midday. It will include reflections from local people on what this year has meant to them, a Bible reading, a time of silence and prayer. Join us to pause and think of all that has happened in this last year, acknowledging the grief and loss that this year has brought and giving thanks for those who have worked so tirelessly to support others.

You can also from this afternoon, tie a ribbon to our remembrance tree - the yew tree just inside the church lychgate. There will be ribbons in the church porch, or you can bring your own.

Finally, at 8pm on Tues 23rd, you are invited to place a light in your window.

Join in however you are able!

Know Your Neighbours weekly update

 Welcome to this week's KYN update newsletter. It's a day early, so hopefully, this won't confuse you as much as it is me!

Today, we had our 100 Club draw via Zoom, at the Friday Group session. This month's winners are:-

No 14 - Catherine Ella £100

No 35 - Brian Sutton £55.

We are currently drawing from 62 numbers, which is why the second prize is slightly higher this month. We will discuss the prize fund at the KYN/SVA AGM next week.

Which brings us nicely to the second item. We will be holding the AGM of Know Your Neighbours and the Seal Village Fund, on Friday of next week (March 12th), at 11.15am If you would like to attend, please send a return email to this address, and I will make sure you receive your Zoom invitation. During this meeting, we will be discussing how we might spend the money we have in our funds at the moment, (approx £2,000) to enhance our community in some meaningful way. So, please do join us if you can, or send in your ideas to this email address. This is our community fund, and as members of our community, your input is really important. We will be sending our accounts out to anybody who wishes to attend, or who may like to see them.

Although it will be different from our normal event, there will be the opportunity to worship in Church again from next Sunday 14th March - so Mothering Sunday in Church. However, there will be restrictions, so please see Anne's newsletter on Sunday for further information.

Tonight sees the third of our fortnightly Zoom quizzes, organised by Frances and Annie Fish. These are free, and lots of fun. If you wish to join us, please contact Frances for your Zoom invitation. We would love to see you there.

frances88@hotmail.co.uk

Now some news from Chris Tavarre of Seal Parish Council:-

Wildflower Verges Project and Talk

Seal Parish Council has embarked on an exciting project to bring back wildflowers into our verges and public areas.

There will be an illustrated talk on Zoom on Wed 28^th April from 7.30 - 8.30pm.

Do join us to learn more about our native wildflowers and what we can do in the Parish to encourage more in our roadside verges and other open spaces.

If you would like to attend the talk please email christavspc@btinternet.com

This sounds like a wonderful project, and I will be putting reminders up on this newsletter regularly, so that we don't forget about the talk on zoom.

Next, we have an appeal from Emily Durling, regarding the retirement of Denise Larkin, our super librarian.

Librarian Denise Retirement Collection

Our lovely village librarian Denise retired during lockdown. Emily (Durling) thought it would be nice to put together a card and collection from the village as Denise was such a friendly, constant presence for so many of us.

To add a message to Denise's card fill in this form here https://forms.gle/Kc1nScDk9BhuqoCe8

If you'd like to donate to the present you can do so via paypal here https://paypal.me/pools/campaign/115573910627197616

REMINDERS- SEAL CHURCH FUND RAISERS

We still have some beautiful hand made Mothers' Day, Easter cards, and in fact, all celebration cards and Easter gifts available, with proceeds going to Seal Church . Frances also has some of her beautiful knitted egg bearing chicks for £1.50 each. Photos of all are available.

For chicks, please email me.

For gifts rsapattullo@gmail.co

For cards c_rampton@hotmail.com

Please remember to complete your census forms by visiting http://www.census.gov.uk

SEAL PARISH COUNCIL ANNUAL ASSEMBLY _ VIA ZOOM MAY 5TH 7.30pm - please email sealparishc@outlook.com for an invitation.

SEND YOUR FAVOURITE LOCKDOWN RECIPES TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS for a book we hope to publish later this year .

GET MOVING WITH LUCI'S DANCE FOR FUN ZOOM CLASSES - ONLY £5 A SESSION - contact Luci at luci.napleton@gmail.com

Please remember to let me know if your organisation has anything planned so that we can help you to get the word out there.

As always, I will be sending Anne's Church newsletter out on Sunday morning, so you have the latest Church news, podcasts, and links to Zoom activities throughout the week.

Have a good weekend everybody.

Best Wishes,

Marion. (On behalf of Know Your Neighbours).

KYN newsletter Sat Feb 13

Hello Everybody, Welcome to this week's Seal Know Your Neighbours update. Hopefully, everybody over 70, and those that have been identified as clinically vulnerable, have now been vaccinated, or at least, have appointments booked. Now, according to local information, all over 65's can book their places, so please see the Community Connectors newsletter, to see how to book your slot.This is very exciting for many people, especially those who have spent the best part of this year shielding. It has been an incredibly tough year for everybody, but, at last, we are beginning to see some light at the end of that particular tunnel. As ever, please do get in touch, if you, or anybody you are concerned about, might need a little support right now. So, it may all still be via Zoom, but we do have a couple of events to mention:-  Tuesday morning 10.30 - Luci Napleton's Dance For Fun class. Contact Luci for joining instructions and more information lucinapleton@gmail.com There is more information about Luci's commitment to dancing for wellbeing, below. Wednesday 17th February - Seal Village Hall AGM 7pm - please let us know by responding to this email, if you would like an invitation, and your email address will be passed on. Friday 19th February - 2nd Fun Quiz 7.30pm. Please contact Frances Fish - frances88@hotmail.co.uk  This was great fun last week, and I'm sure there will be more of you wishing to join in this week. It is a great way to spend a dreary lockdown evening, in the virtual company of others! Thank you to Frances and Annie Fish for organising these events for us. Talking of Annie Fish, we should mention this! Annie is doing a walk to raise money to support Alzheimer's Society. Find out more about the walk, and how to sponsor Annie,at  www.justgiving.com/mw565979 There are still Easter cards and gifts available from members of Seal Church, with proceeds going to the Church. Please contact c_rampton@hotmail.com or rsapattullo@gmail.com.who have photographs of available items. Derek is still doing a great job of resurrecting old laptops, and preparing them for the use of pupils at Seal School, to use at home. If you have a device which you no longer use, and feel you could donate it, please contact me, and I will arrange to collect and deliver to Derek. We are still ever hopeful of producing a Lockdown Recipe book, where we can share our favourite recipes that have been faithful friends, or just unplanned gems, that have got us and our families, through lockdown. Please send me your recipes, with just a sentence or two, about how your recipes have been invented, or helped you through this time. I will forward Anne's Church newsletter tomorrow, as usual, where you will find all the Church news, along with links to podcasts, services and Zoom social events for this week.  And now, I asked last week what you are up to right now. If you have been taking part in any activities which you feel might help motivate others, please let us know. I think this lockdown, many people have been saying how much more difficult it has been to get motivated to do anything, and how home schooling, for instance, has been even more challenging this time around. This is hardly surprising, when we consider how much beautiful weather we enjoyed during the first experience. I know the snow may have been an interesting diversion for the children for a week or so, but there is only so much time we can spend in the bitterly cold winds, even if we are sledging! Please, please, share your thoughts and ideas. And finally, as  Luci is doing such a great job of getting some of us moving through this time, I have asked her to give a little resume of her background, and tell us what exactly she does, and who else she is working with. I am sharing her response with you, and look forward to hearing what others do - both in and out of lockdown. Thank you Luci. Luci Napleton is a professional freelance community dance facilitator and postural stability instructor. Since the pandemic, like the majority, Luci has begun to deliver online zoom dance for fun sessions for over 50s’ to help benefit people to maintain physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing. Those who are not online, motivational phone calls and within government guidance when lockdown’s have eased, 2 metre distanced doorstep visits to help reduce social isolation and loneliness and just to check in all is ok has taken place. Luci has also spent this time trying to secure future freelance work (whether online or live-in-person within government guidance and when safe to do so) and planning some future projects which are all funding dependent. Some of this work and projects include working in partnership with the Forget-Me-Not online café and the Medway Parkinson’s and Neurological Networks. If you wish to find out more information you can contact Luci by phone or email, details are below: Luci Napleton | freelance dance facilitator | postural stability instructor Mobile: 07748008431 Email: lucinapleton@gmail.com Follow on twitter: @lucinapleton Follow on Instagram: lucinapleton Like on Facebook: http://bitly.ws/bFXj ReplyForward

Community Connectors newsletter

 

Community Connectors 11 February 2020 View this email in your browser

Vaccination news... On Monday, the Government announced that anyone aged 70 plus who has not had their jab yet can now book one with the NHS. You can book a vaccination online or call 119 for free. In other vaccination news, as of today, the NHS Kent and Medway CCG has given 370,289 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to residents in Kent and Medway. Finally, a fourth large-scale vaccination centre is set to open in Kent at the end of the month. The latest centre is in Thanet. In addition, local vaccination centres are opening all the time across the county. View the vaccination centres in Kent. Councillor says yes to test! Cllr Lesley Dyball, our Cabinet Member for People and Places, agreed to be filmed taking a COVID-19 test at her local centre in Swanley. The video was released today and shows how quick and easy it is to book, take the test and get the results. The video is on our social media accounts, including YouTube. If you get the chance, please share with your contacts too. Book a test Taking on the COVID conspiracies Sadly there is a great deal of misinformation about COVID and the vaccines, most of it online. Some of the theories falsely claim that COVID does not really exists or is exaggerated. Others suggest the vaccine has not been property tested or it can make you infertile. One even claims the vaccine includes microchips that somehow implant in themselves in the brain so people can be tracked by others. To most of us, the theories sound bizarre and implausible, but they are gaining traction, especially with certain communities. There is some concern these theories could make people hesitant about having the jab. However, we can take action to stop the spread of this misinformation. The Government’s SHAREChecklist website provides guidance and advice on how to spot fake news. We can also share the PHE resources that promote confidence the vaccines including the image above.   Financial support and advice The Coronavirus outbreak has affected different people in different ways. Many people have found themselves in financial difficulties but there is support available. The NHS Test and Trace payment scheme helps people on low incomes who have been asked to self-isolate. Those entitled could receive £500. The Kent Support and Assistance Service may be able to help families who need help with food or utility vouchers. The Money Advice Service can give advice on how to manage money and list support available from service providers. Every Mind Matters has advice to help with the stress and anxiety that money worries can bring. Kent Citizen’s Advice branches are now offering advice on employment or financial matters over the phone and online. Latest local COVID-19 data The latest data we have from the Government and Public Health England is dated 4 February and COVID-19 rates are continuing to fall in all districts of Kent and Medway. The case rate in the Sevenoaks District to 4 February 2021 was 119.3, down significantly from 329.6 per 100,000 on 24 January. The current case rate in Sevenoaks District is now lower than the England rate, which stood at 211.8 per 100,000 on 4 February.   There are currently 256 active cases in the District, also a significant drop from 546 recorded previously. These are associated with clusters in residential dwellings and care settings. Although the decrease in rates of infection is welcome news, it still remains incredibly important that we follow the guidance and make use of symptom free testing at this critical period.     View the latest national COVID-19 data. What do you think of this newsletter? Drop us a line at communications@sevenoaks.gov.uk

Know Your Neighbours update

 

Hello Everybody,

Welcome to this week’s KYN update. 

So - another week of winter lockdown, but it is lovely to see so many people out walking, and getting their daily exercise,  often despite the weather.

The immunisation programme appears to be going to plan, and it is heartening to hear of so many already having had their jabs. Please get in touch via this email address, if you are called and cannot get to the medical centre. We will help you access travel if you have no way to get there.

From my window, I am encouraged, and inspired, by seeing so many people, of all ages, striding out and doing what they can to get fresh air and exercise. If I ever feel discouraged when I see the rain and sleet, I only have to look out at our 80 and 90 year old friends, to make me don my coat and get out there! 

Talking of exercise, please remember to contact Luci, if you would like to join in with her Tuesday morning zoom Dance For Fun sessions. For more information, please email Luci 

luci.napleton@googlemail.com.

We are now ready to begin our fun quiz evenings. These will take place via Zoom, alternate Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm, starting this Friday, February 5th. I have a list of people who have already expressed an interest in taking part, and they will all receive their invitations in advance. If you haven’t put your name forward yet, but would like to join in, please contact Frances direct, as she will be sending out the invitations:-

frances88@hotmail.co.uk

The quizzes will be just for fun, and you will mark your own papers, so no pressure at all. Just a pleasant way to ‘meet ‘with others and have some fun.

Chris Rampton is still making beautiful Valentine cards and Easter cards, at a cost of just £1,  and Frances Fish has joined with Chris to sell some of her Easter cards in aid of Seal Church as well. 

Frances is also making some super little Easter Chicks, each one bearing a little Lindt chocolate egg. These cost £1.50 each, with £1 from each, going to Church funds. Please email me if you would like to see photographs of the cards and chicks.

Our IT guru, Derek, has managed to cleanse and prepare another two laptops for the use of Seal School children, and we believe there are another couple on their way. If you have a laptop or tablet which you no longer use, and are happy to donate, please get in touch and we will see if they can be used. 

Our next 100 Club draw will take place on Friday during the Friday Group Zoom. If you would like to join in with these sessions, where people get together each week for a chat, share their coffee time, and enjoy a laugh together. Also, if you would like to join the 100 Club, please contact me for further details. We are currently running on 59 or 60 numbers, which mean 2 monthly prizes of approximately £100 and £50 for the cost of £5 per month per number. The rest of the money goes to Seal Village Fund for community projects.

There are also opportunities to Zoom socially with Seal Church on Sunday mornings at 11.15am. The invitations for these sessions get sent out each Sunday morning, when I forward Anne’s newsletters. These also give links to her podcasts for services and the opportunity to request invitations to the Wednesday morning informal services.

Finally - please remember to send in your favourite recipes - simple or not- with just a sentence, explaining how they have helped you through the past year, in my case, they tend to be recipes where certain normal ingredients have been missing, and somewhat strange substitutes have been used. They don’t call me Letitia Crowley for no reason though! So, don’t be shy - this is no competition as you can see!

Meanwhile, please do get in touch if you, or somebody you are aware of, might need help or support right now. We will do our best to help, or steer you in the right direction.

Have a good week everybody.

Best Wishes,

Marion. (On behalf of Know Your Neighbours).

Community Connectors newsletter

 

Community Connectors 4 February 2020 View this email in your browser

Vaccinations gather pace in Kent   A staggering 279,363 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been given to residents in Kent and Medway according to the latest NHS data published today (4 February). The data cover the period up to 31 January 2021 and includes first and second doses. In more good news, it was announced on Monday (1 February) that a third large-scale vaccination centre will open in Kent in the next two weeks. The latest vaccination hub will open at the Angel Leisure Centre in Tonbridge, serving residents in the south of the District, and joins large-scale centres in Gravesend and Folkestone. In addition, there are dozens of other smaller vaccination centres across the county, including pharmacies and GP surgeries with more becoming available all the time. Full list of the operational sites Don’t forget, the NHS will let you know when your jab is ready for you.     Testing times for Council leader     Our Council Leader, Cllr Peter Fleming, recently filmed himself taking a COVID-19 test at his local test centre in Sevenoaks. The purpose of the video is to show how easy, quick and efficient the test really is and to encourage more people to get tested. We’re sharing the video with our social media followers and on YouTube. If you get the chance, please share with your contacts too. Book a test     Look into my eyes     Public Health England (PHE) has updated its hard-hitting marketing campaign that encourages more of us to stick to the rules. Featuring real patients, the campaign asks us to consider the consequences for others of bending the rules. You can download the marketing materials to share with your contacts.     Election Campaigning   In four months' time, Kent County Council and Kent Police and Crime Commissioner elections are scheduled to take place on Thursday 6 May. The current Government guidance is that these elections should go ahead as planned. And as you’d expect, we’re making some changes to our polling stations to keep everyone safe. We’re also letting residents know they can apply for a postal vote instead of voting in person. Government has now issued political campaigning guidance in the run up to the election. In a nutshell, the Government has said the current restrictions do not support door-to-door campaigning or leafleting by party activists. Instead, they are urging political parties to campaign remotely. The situation is under constant review and the Government will issue updated guidance when things improve. View the current electoral campaigning guidance in full.     Vaccination explainer videos   In the last week, PHE released a series of short videos covering many aspect of the vaccine programme, from how did we develop the vaccine so quickly and how does it works to possible side effects and who needs it. The videos also tackle some of the common vaccine myths, including its effect on fertility. You can view the videos on YouTube Please feel free to share one or more videos with your contacts.     Latest local COVID-19 data   The latest data we have from the Government and Public Health England is dated 29 January. COVID-19 rates are falling in all districts of Kent and Medway. The R value for Kent and Medway overall is below 1 and rates are expected to continue to fall.   Most new cases are in adults of working age, and the number of new cases is falling in all age groups, including those over 65 years   The case rate in the Sevenoaks District to 29 January was 207.9 per 100,000, down from 329.6 on January 24. The current case rate in Sevenoaks District now lower than the England rate, which is currently 267.7 per 100,000.   There are currently 251 active cases in the District, falling from 546 recorded five days previously. These are associated with clusters in residential dwellings and care settings.   Although the decrease in rates of infection is welcome news, it still remains incredibly important that we follow the guidance and make use of symptom free testing at this critical period.     View the latest national COVID-19 data.     What do you think of this newsletter?   Drop us a line at communications@sevenoaks.gov.uk

Please feel free to share this newsletter with your friends, family, work colleagues and contacts.