New look for Healthy Living Centre

Paintbrushes and rollers were out for the official re-launch of Park Wood Plus Healthy Living Centre which took place yesterday (Tuesday 5 January).

First in line to assist workmen painting the inside of the newly named - Fusion Healthy Living Centre - at Park Wood Parade was Chairman of Trustees Mike FitzGerald who did a sterling job.

As well as receiving a new name, the centre is being refurbished at a cost of £20,000. Improvements will include:

• Extended kitchen preparation area in the café and updated electrical appliances.
• Existing furniture will be replaced with some soft seating in the window area to make the café more appealing.
• Interior redecoration of venue.

Once the above listed work is complete Fusion will reopen to the public w/c 11 January when a full week of activities is planned at the centre, Heather House in Park Wood and the Resource Centre in Shepway.

In addition, a new informative website has been developed - www.fusionhlc.org.uk - detailing forthcoming activities at the centre and within the community.

Further services will also operate from Fusion Healthy Living Centre and outreach services will be expanded across the borough. New and exciting ventures include:

• Working with Hi Kent to offer assistance to those with hearing impairment.
• Story telling, use of archive service, reminiscence sessions with the Library Services.
• Support for those rehabilitating from drug or alcohol addictions in association with Kenward Trust.
• Working with New Line Learning Federation to increase access to computer tuition at the centre and support parent needs and those of young people.
• Supporting KCC on a Bulk Buying Project to support the shopping needs of local people.
• Working with the Meadows Children Centre - a purpose built Sure Start unit.
• Activmobs which is a project that encourages and facilitates local people to set up activity groups to meet the needs and desires of local people in the area.
• Engaging in a consultative project called ‘Planning for Real' driven by local people to identify and solve the major issues surrounding the daily lives of people in Park Wood.
• Working with Maidstone Housing Trust who offer a surgery every week for their tenants.
• Offering young peoples services with the 4U clinic.
• Providing stop smoking support and healthy living in collaboration with West Kent Primary Care Trust (WKPCT).
• Giving a service at St Stephens Square in Tovil with the Coombe and Tovil Development Group and Age Concern.
• Working with Green Hand on gardening opportunities.

Centre Manager, Angela Creighton, said: "This is a very exciting time for all involved in the project. We are looking forward to attracting lots more local people to enjoy the benefits that the centre offers."

To celebrate the launch of Fusion Healthy Living Centre a VIP party is to take place on Wednesday 13 January from 1.30pm - 3.30pm where the Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Peter Parvin, will be in attendance.

***To further enhance the work of NLL Federation in the community, Community Director, Richard Jenkins and Communications Manager, Moira Mitchell, have become trustees of Fusion Healthy Living Centre.