Since my last blog we have held AMAT’s annual Board away day, this is a great opportunity to work with our incredible trustees. The day was very productive, creating an opportunity for these vital volunteers to strengthen their working relationships. A key belief at AMAT is collaboration and working in partnership. I honestly can’t express enough how much I appreciate our trustees’ time and dedication to AMAT.
The focus in this year’s meeting was our new 3-year fundraising and communications strategy. This is a developing area for AMAT as we continue to improve how we let everyone know we’re doing a great job. The great news is that the work we’ve done has contributed to our recent nomination in the category of Large Charity of the Year, by the Kent Charity Awards for the second year running. Being recognised for our work, and our enduring efforts to keep providing a best practice service to our beneficiaries is an honour. We feel very proud, especially when we saw the list of the other charities also in our category, it’s heartening to see all of the good work being achieved in Kent. We are looking forward to the Gala evening to celebrate, whether we win or lose, and make connections with other great organisations.
In the last quarter, we’ve welcomed new partnerships into the HIVE: including Vita Health Group – a talking therapies service and the DWP for a once-a-month benefits surgery. It’s so important that our Residents and other vulnerable members of the community are able to access non-judgemental advice and services in the welcoming and nurturing environment of our community project. For us, kindness is always our starting point – treating the people that we accommodate, our community members and our colleagues and partners with kindness. This approach has also led to other nominations in The Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards in the themes of kindness and compassion, wellbeing and mental health.
And of course, as anyone who reads my blogs regularly knows, these themes of kindness and compassion are extended by AMAT towards our furry friends! August 8th is International Cat Day. Our relationship with the Dogs Trust and how we work to support our dog owning Residents is well known. However, we also accommodate and support people that own cats as they offer the same emotional support and comfort to their owners. We’ve developed a relationship with the Cat’s Protection League Medway so that our Residents can access cat food when they need or have their animal neutered and chipped (via the Bredhurst Cat’s Protection League). We are very grateful and excited to be working alongside them.
Finally, AMAT officially turns 27 at the end of August. I’d love for there to be no need for our service, but demand continues to grow. However I do believe that through the passion of our board of trustees, our collaborative work with partner agencies and the dedication and kindness of our staff team, we are supporting those experiencing homelessness in Medway and Maidstone to re-build their lives.
Till next time
Jodie.
