It was great to see so many people attending the Folkestone Jobs fair at The Quarterhouse in Tontine Street, last week. People were queuing to enter at 10am and we had a busy stream of visitors throughout the day. We believe that over 600 jobseekers visited the fair, and the employers I spoke to during the day remarked upon the high quality of the candidates they had met who’d been interested in working for them. Major local employers, like Saga, EDF, Southeastern railway, Holiday Extras, Lydd Airport, Port Lympne, HV Wooding, and Jackson’s Fencing were represented and all actively looking for people to join their teams. I look forward to hearing more about people’s individual experiences of the day and if the jobs fair has helped them to find the opportunity they were looking for. One of the real benefits to events like the jobs fair is that it gives jobseekers the chance to network with employers. These contacts can be helpful for the future and may also encourage people to consider working for a firm or in a sector that they had otherwise not thought might be right for them. I’d also like to thank the Folkestone jobs centre, and Avanta who run the work programme for all of their help in making the day a success.
On Tuesday I visited the children’s centre in New Romney with Cllr Jenny Whittle, the cabinet member for children’s services on Kent County Council. We were met by the manager Sandi Mortimer, and had the chance to discuss its work with the parents who use it. I’d asked Jenny Whittle to join me in visiting all three of the centres in our district that are under threat in the county council’s review of children’s centres. This she has done, and it has given her the opportunity to see how well used they are and the big difference they make to families who need their support. I believe that whilst the County Council might have to look at how money can be saved in the running of children’s centres, it is vital that the centres in New Romney and Folkestone which are under threat remain open as a resource for the whole community.
Following our visit in New Romney I went on to the Lydd’lle Stars children’s centre in Lydd. Whilst this is not threatened with closure, clearly the loss of other local centres will have an impact on the ones that remain open. The County Council has to consider whether the centre in Lydd could cope with the demand, if the one in New Romney were to close. Again, my concern is that it would not, just as it would be difficult for the children’s centres in Folkestone to cope if one of them were to close. The consultation on the future of children’s centres in Kent ends on 4th October, and if you could be affected by it, it’s important that you have your say in the official process. You can do this by filling out the consultation forms which can be found on the Kent County Council website, or ask the staff at the children’s centres who will be able to help you.