Units 2&3 Cobb Way, Maidstone, Kent ME15 9XF
Please RSVP by 11th October to suemaidens@fusionhlc.org.uk
For more information please contact Sue on 01622 691177 or via email.
Thanks to Maidstone Borough Council’s funding our Summer Lunch Programme was able to provide 550 free lunches through the summer holidays!
Each weekday Fusion provided children who usually receive free school meals a lunch to take away, and on Friday’s we provided the whole family with a takeaway meal. The project was an amazing success!
We got some amazing feedback, but if you wanted to leave a comment about the project please do!
On Friday 7th June 2024, as volunteer week came to an end, Fusion hosted our annual Volunteer Awards Ceremony. This was a truly magical evening. Fusion appreciate and value each and every one of our volunteers and the awards ceremony is just a small token of our appreciation. The awards were presented nu Tad Taberer the chair of Fusion’s trustee board and Sue Maidens Fusion’s CEO.
The category nominees and winners were as follows:
Behind the Scenes Whizz (Kitchen)
Nominees:
Freya, Jason, Harry, Alecia, Mia, Rick, Stephen, Isaac and Jack
Winner:
Freya – Freya is an absolute star at Fusion. She has amazing initiative and confidence in the workings of a kitchen and coffee shop setting and can be given any task and do it well. Freya has a great attitude to working and learning. Freya joined the Fusion team in 2023.
Best Newcomer
Nominees:
Paula, Richard, Toby, Sarah and Dudley
Winner:
Richard – Richard is Fusion’s newest trustee, but he has been volunteering with us for some time via his association with the Maidstone Riverside Rotary and their outstanding work at the Park Wood Allotments project. Richard joined the board of trustees as he fully appreciates the work Fusion does in the community and the efforts the team makes to improving the lives of people in and around Park Wood. Richard always offers a helping hand and volunteers at many fundraising events.
Community Star
Nominees:
Gloria, Bess, Kathleen, Val, Ruth and Trish
Winner:
Trish – Trish’s hard work with hypertension heroes has meant that she is constantly working with the community, offering information, support and guidance. Trish’s presence on reception on a Friday at Fusion is always welcoming, kind and supportive.
Fundraising Champions
Nominees:
Mick, Liam C, Jeremy, Ina, Andy, Wendy Y and Lisa
Winners:
Jeremy & Ina – Since Fusion brought back fundraising events, Jeremy has been at every one, always offering a helping hand with a smile! Jeremy is also a Fusion driver who can always be relied on to deliver an off-site buffet. On more than one occasion Jeremy has stepped up at very short notice to run the coffee shop or cook the meal for Free Food Friday.
Ina – Ina is another volunteer that has been at every one of the fundraising events, always offering her support with enthusiasm. Ina also covers our reception on a Tuesday and Thursday morning as well as being a hypertension hero and a true ambassador for Fusion.
Long Service Award
Nominees:
Patricia, Scott, Venetia, Jenny, Gary and Angela H
Winner:
Venetia – Venetia is a hugely supportive volunteer who has been with us for a very long time, her loyalty and enthusiasm for Fusion is contagious. Venetia is a lead volunteer at our Chat & Natter table, our Knit & Knatter group, at Golden Friends and at both of our Chair Exercise groups.
Outstanding Service Award
Nominees:
Angela H, Ekene, Mike and Geoff
Winner:
Geoff – Well Geoff is an absolute hero in Fusion’s eyes, fixing toilets at the drop of a hat in his role as volunteer handyman! His incredible work with hypertension heroes has been an unmistakable asset to Fusion.
Professional Progress Award
Nominees:
Shabnam, Tabitha, Evie and Lasya
Winner:
Evie – Evie has been with Fusion for over a year now and her professional skills have blossomed, she is an essential part of the admin team.
Real Life Super Hero
Nominees:
Maidstone Riverside Rotary, Graham, Liam M, Angela B and Catherine
Winner:
Liam – Well what can we say about Liam, his tireless hard work (mostly lifting things that Chloe cannot) always means that every event goes off without a hitch!
Special Achievement Award
Nominees:
Mel, Susanna, Sam, Joe and Tad
Winner:
Mel – Mel is such an incredibly supportive human with such a kind nature, her untiring efforts have been an asset to Fusion.
Supporter of Others
Nominees:
Wendy W, Mervyn, Katy, Gay, Louise and Dan
Winner:
Gay – Gay is always offering a helping hand, either to Fusion or others. Without fail she will offer her support to anyone in need! Gay is a lead volunteer for our Young Person Cooking Programme, a support volunteer for Slow Cookery and Golden Friends as well as being a hypertension hero.
A volunteer celebration even would not be complete without a thank you to our board of trustees who volunteer their time to support the charity. We would therefore like to make a special mention and thank Tad, Gary, Angela, Dan, Richard, Wendy, Lisa and Louise for their hard work and dedication to Fusion.
We would also like to make a special mention to the students of Cornwallis Academy and New Line Learning Academy who, under the supervision of head chef Lee, prepared, cooked and server an outstanding three course meal for all our volunteers. These students have all taken part in Fusion’s Young Person Cooking Programme and were very keen to be involved with the Volunteer Awards Ceremony. A huge thank you to each and every one of you for volunteering your time on Friday what an achievement!
If you would like to know more about the volunteering opportunities available at Fusion please call 01622 691177 and speak to one of our friendly team, call into the centre or email enquiries@fusionhlc.org.uk.
Fusion were Healthwatch Recognition Award winner in the Empowered Communities category for our work on the Hypertension Heroes project. On the evening of Wednesday 20th March 2024 Fusion’s hypertension heroes and our CEO attended the glittering awards ceremony at The Ashford International Hotel hosted by Healthwatch and EK360. This was a truly magical evening and a real treat for everyone. For more information on the awards please visit https://www.heathwatchkent.co.uk.
Hypertension Heroes is an NHS initiative which allows members of the community to have their blood pressure taken by trained volunteers. They will also be taught how to take and manage this themselves in their own home. This alleviates the need to visit their GP surgery and also gives early warning signs of any conditions that may require medical intervention. In essence, this project is a prevention step which could prove lifesaving. If we look further afield, there is a cost saving to this NHS if health conditions are identified and treated early.
Hypertension Heroes is also empowering to the community as it educates them to take ownership of part of their health care. Delivered by fully trained volunteers and project coordinators, this is a true community initiative.
Fusion’s hypertension heroes deliver the project at our centre in Park Wood as well as outreach locations such as The Park Wood Larder and Morrisons on Sutton Road.
If you would like any further information on hypertension heroes, please contact 01622 691177 and speak to one of our friendly team or email enquires@fusionhlc.org.uk.
National Lottery Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund
In December 2023 Fusion successfully secured funding from the National Lottery Cost of Living Fund and launched our:
project in early January 2024.
This project was developed in response to our 2023 client survey where 61% of the local people surveyed said they were concerned about the cost-of-living crisis, food and fuel poverty.
Based on figures collected from November 2022 to March 2023 demand for our different community services at Fusion is at its highest. As part of the project development, and to address the concerns highlighted in the survey results Fusion implemented a combination of existing services and introduced some exciting new initiatives.
This funding allowed us to:
A total of 23 volunteers assisted in the mobilisation of this project dedicating 612 hours of their time. We also recruited 2 session workers to assist with the preparation, cooking and distribution of the meals. Fusion also formed a partnership with Hungry Hearts for the Homeless providing meals for their clients on a weekly basis.
“My allergies mean that I can’t get cheap ready-made allergen meals, so having this option has been really helpful. I can’t make things like mash due to my disabilities so having a meal made for me was really nice, and not having to worry about my allergies as well made this so good. My daughter has been off ill from school, so if I hadn’t had these meals I would have really struggled to afford to feed us both as she normally receives free school meals.”
“I’ll go back to having a sandwich or microwave meal instead. I think the meals have been brilliant, I would definitely take part again.”
“I am housebound and have poor mobility. The meals have been a great help to me and my husband as he is my main career. They have taken the pressure off us.”
“I don’t know what I would have done without it, I definitely wouldn’t have been having hot food. My wife is ill so I have to cook for myself. It’s been really good.”
“It’s really easy to access, I’ve been skipping meals or eating really unhealthy food before this.”
“I would have had to purchase extra food and spend more money. This has made a big difference for my children and not having to use gas when cooking. It’s been brilliant, really has helped my family and helped with the living cost. Thank you all so much.”
66% of participants are struggling with the cost of living crisis.
45% of participants had gone without a meal before the project.
Because of the project 84% have not gone without a meal.
Sue Maidens CEO of Fusion said “I am immensely proud of the Fusion team for the delivery and coordination of this project. To prepare, cook and serve 2880 meals to the community is just amazing. All the staff became involved at some level and to receive such positive feedback makes all the hard work even more worthwhile. Thank you to the National Lottery for making the delivery of this project to the Park Wood Community possible”.
National Lottery Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund
Byeditor
Fusion have successfully secured three years of funding from the National Lottery Community Fund
The Park Wood Connects Project is a three year engagement and support initiative co-designed with the local community to support people struggling with the combined effects of the cost-of-living crisis, the mental health crisis, and high levels of social isolation/loneliness in one of the South East’s most deprived communities.
To address the growing numbers of vulnerable local residents we propose to do two things through the Park Wood Connects project:
As part of this funding we will have both job and volunteer opportunities available as well as new exciting projects.
We are a healthy living centre offering various health and wellbeing services and social support for Park Wood and across Maidstone. We also run various activities and events for all ages throughout the year, especially around national holidays and celebratory days.
Our centre also includes computers for public use and free WiFi; printing, photocopying and scanning facilities; and room hire for meetings
Everyone is welcome!
Fusion Maidstone HLC
2 & 3 Cobb Way, Off Livingstone Walk, Park Wood, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 9XF
Tel: 01622 691177
Email: enquiries@fusionhlc.org.uk
