About Sheppey Matters
Sheppey Matters Charity Information
Sheppey Matters started in 1994, a registered charity working to improve the health on the Isle of Sheppey. Our main project was the Sheppey Healthy Living Centre which opened in February 2003 and has quickly been established as a leading social enterprise in the borough of Swale. This followed a capital development project which involved converting an exciting leisure centre into a healthy living centre. The capital costs of over £1 million were funded mainly by NOF (now part of the Big Lottery Fund). The following facilities are available: Cafe, GP Surgery, Clinic facilities for Swale Primary Care Trust.
These facilities enabled us to deliver over 30 new services in partnership with other agencies in 2003. Whilst we value our independence as a charity we know that none of this would have been possible if Swale Borough Council had not trusted a voluntary sector agency to lead on one of the largest regeneration projects in Swale. The experience of leading this project gives us the confidence to develop new projects in the HLC and elsewhere on the Isle of Sheppey.
Sheppey Matters run a vast array of projects some of which I have listed below:
Sheppey Wheels - a community transport project for the Isle of Sheppey. We provide a wide range of minibus services to destinations both on Sheppey and elsewhere. We provide both regular trips and day trips for individual members of Sheppey Wheels. Our minibus is available for hire to all community, voluntary and charitable groups on Sheppey. The vehicle has a tail lift and can accommodate up to three wheelchair users. It is therefore particularly suitable for hire for groups with people who need to travel in their wheelchairs. This includes sports clubs, faith groups, informal community groups and families. Amanda Duddle, Community Transport Coordinator for Sheppey Wheels, was delighted to be handed the keys for the new bus in November 2008 by Tony Potter, Chair of the Isle of Sheppey Round Table. Sheppey Wheels desperately needed a new vehicle because our existing minibus was often booked out. Support from the Round Table meant that we can help more community groups with affordable transport.
Community Chef – This pioneering project aimed at supporting local people to develop cooking skills and make healthy choices. We employ a trained chef who works at the heart of the community and offers various events and courses. Mike Spackman “ our Community Chef “ made a major impact since starting work for us in March 2009. He delivers a wide range of training sessions for professionals, adults and children using catering and training skills to promote healthy eating. The Chef aims to influence eating habits and equip people with practical food preparation skills which can be transferred to the home setting easily. By the end of our first year Mike helped over 1,500 people at 35 public events We are also on target to deliver over 20 different cooking courses for a wide range of groups including: families, lone parents, dads and mental health service users. Sheppey Rural Youth Project has been running services on the Isle of Sheppey since 2005. We offer young people a safe place to have fun, play games and be creative. We offer five main services: The Warden after Schools Club runs every Tuesday and Wednesday from 3.45 to 5.45pm at Warden Bay Village Hall. The Eastchurch after Schools Club runs every Thursday from 3.15 to 5.15at Eastchurch Village Hall. The Sheerness after School Club runs every Friday from 4.15 to 6.15 at the Crawford Centre Sheppey Disability Club for Young People meets every Friday at the HLC; ages 8-12 from 5.15 to 7.15pm and ages 13-25 from 7.30 to 9.15. Sheppey Arts and Media Project offers young people on the Isle of Sheppey a wide range of arts and media experiences. Recent projects have included the Young Persons Guide to Sheppey, Swale Film Festival and half term activities at the HLC. Community Learning Programme “ This project was first funded by NHS Chances for Change. We run many different courses ranging from Belly Dancing to Flower arranging. Is a programme of physical and mental and well being activities courses can vary between one day workshops and ten week courses activities for physical well being including Yoga tai bo and pilates. We produce a brochure every six months with new courses and day trips. Please take a look at the current brochure which is on this website. Sheppey Matters have been funded through Macmillen to set up a cancer support care group. We decided to call this group Magic Moments and launched the group on 5th May this year. We hope to build this group to eventually run and steer itself. Sheppey Green Friends is a local gardening environmental group “ they have two main projects the first being the development and maintenance of the community garden at the rear of the sheerness swimming poll, work commences on this on 01st June at 10 am. Secondly we have initiated the Sheppey Green dog walkers scheme, which is a non confrontational friendly way to change attitudes about dog fouling the Swale Borough are Green dog walkers take a pledge to always clean up after their dog, carry extra dog waste bags and be happy to approach to lend dog walkers a waste bag. This project is officially launching on 29th May where volunteers will be on hand to help with this issue. We are proud of our achievements and feel we have already taken a big step towards our goal of improving the health of local people. Sheppey Matters also offer an array of rooms to choose from for hire. We have rooms that can accommodate from 12 people right through to rooms that can accommodate 80. Please call to enquire. This picture below is our best room, the Abbey suite; it has views out across the sea and is a light bright and airy room.
Added: 27 June 2011 | Updated:20 December 2011