A 'FIRST' for Kent

The Centre for Independent Living Kent (CILK) is pleased to announce the launch of the FIRST mobile centre for independent living in the UK. Peter Gilroy OBE, Chief Executive of Kent County Council will officially launch on the service on Wednesday 21 March 2007 at the Julie Rose Stadium in Ashford.

This innovative project, funded with a grant of £174,202 from the Big Lottery, has funded a new wheelchair accessible vehicle (mobile office), the salary of a manager and provided volunteering opportunities which will not only help CILK give much better support to existing members but will give disabled people across Kent access to independent living support right on their own doorstep.

The manager and disabled volunteers staffing the mobile will give advice and guidance on all aspects of independent living.

The vehicle is ready to take to the roads covering all areas in Kent including Ashford, Dartford, Maidstone, Thanet, Tonbridge and the Medway Towns. It will provide advocacy, peer support, information covering all aspects of independent living including assisting those who are already receiving direct payments and those wishing to become direct payment users, information on aids and equipment and much, much more.

In addition to supporting individual disabled people, the three year project will enable CILK to raise its profile with greater effect, increase awareness of the services they provide and, perhaps most important of all, provide increased sources of local support and assistance for disabled people in Kent, complementing KCC Active Lives and Towards 2010.

Contact Allen Jones on 01622 355777 for more information.