Paul Coles, chief executive, Age Concern, Cllr Marion Ring, Lynda Rootes ( of Age Concern), with guests Mick and Jean Green and Sue Towns Okorodudu, chief executive of Voluntary Action Maidstone

Nearly 100 attended a forum organised for older people by Voluntary Action Maidstone at the Trinity Foyer in Church Street.
The many mini-stalls providing advice and information included those run by the Citizens Advice Bureau, Hi Kent, Kent Police, Maidstone Carers Projects, Age Concern, Citizens Rights for Older People, Maidstone Housing Trust, Kent Libraries, Brighter Futures for Older People, Maidstone Voluntary Transport Scheme, Maidstone Borough Council Waste Collection Team, and Maidstone Volunteer Centre.
The forum was funded by Maidstone council and hosted by Cllr Marion Ring, cabinet member for communities.
Many of the visitors commented on the ease of having so many valuable sources accessible under one roof in a relaxed atmosphere.
Sue Towns Okorodudu, chief executive of Voluntary Action Maidstone, said: “It was great to see so many older people turning up. Feedback indicated that the concentration of information and the opportunity to talk to someone about a specific issue or problem proved to be very popular.
“We really do want to give older people what they want and need.”
Several people who attended the forum volunteered to help organise it in the future and offer suggestions about what the agenda should be.
There was an endless supply of tea, coffee and biscuits, and a light lunch was available, giving people the opportunity to chat and make new friends.
Another forum is planned for July at a date to be confirmed. If you are interested in attending, call Sue on 01622 677337 or email sue.ridge@vam-online.org.uk

Maidstone Mediation’s volunteers work hard to iron out the everyday confrontations and squabbles that can escalate out of all proportion and make life miserable. Whatever the conflict, mediators know that where there’s a will to sort it out they can help both sides find a way forward.
Last year the service touched the lives of over 1,500 families in Maidstone, dealing with conflicts that ranged from family problems between parents and children or brothers and sisters, to clashes in schools, antagonism between victims of crime and the perpetrators and feuding neighbours.
Such work relies on the generosity and skill of the men and women who give their time and expertise to the service of others.
Mediators are offered free training and supervised practice. The next training course is in June. Anyone interested in learning mediation skills should phone Annette on 01622 692843.

The world custard pie throwing championships take place on Saturday, June 6 at Coxheath Village Hall. The event, inaugurated at Coxheath in 1967, attracted teams from all over the globe for two decades before lapsing in 1988 but has been revived in the last couple of years and is as enjoyable and messy as ever.
Events start at noon with displays and a parade of the teams at 2.30pm gets the action under way. Application forms for those who wish to enter teams are available from lesleewcpc@googlemail.com or visit www.wcpc.me.uk

The Big Sports Day being organised by Macmillan Cancer Support is a huge series of events taking place throughout June and July. The idea is for schools to run their individual sports days as usual, but to include fundraising elements to boost the charity’s renowned work in caring for people with cancer and raising awareness of the vital support services it provides.
Among the ideas being floated are sponsored races between teachers while sporty pupils take a breather or, perhaps, teachers against pupils events; maybe a three-on-three basketball competition; and finally a sponsored picnic for everybody at the end of the sports afternoon.
More ideas can be found at www.macmillan.org.uk and www.macmillan.org.uk/bigsportsday
And there’s still time to arrange an entry for Macmillan’s contest, also running throughout June and July, for golfing foursomes to play four sponsored rounds in a day. For this one, go to www.macmillan.org.uk/golf