Compaid News

Major new art exhibition staged

2009-11-03T14:06:00.000Z

A major new exhibition of original art by disabled clients of Compaid is being held at the Trinity Theatre gallery in Tunbridge Wells this month.

Images of Christmas runs from 9-22 November, and features more than 30 original designs on a festive theme. Disabled people at Compaid’s Activities Centre in Tunbridge Wells have designed all of the paintings, using specialist computer software to assist them. Alongside interpretations of Santa and snowmen are winter landscapes and classic Christmas scenes.

The exhibition is being sponsored by Warner’s Solicitors, and is run with the support of Town and Country Foundation, who curate the gallery at Trinity Theatre.

The exhibition is open from 10.00am until 3.00pm each day, as well as during performance times at the theatre. The exhibition will be launched with a private view on Monday 9th November from 3.00-5.00pm.

In addition, Compaid clients are delivering two special workshops to representatives from other local disability groups on Thursday 12th November.

Comments Stephen Elsden, Chief Executive of Compaid: “This exhibition will showcase the artistic flair of many of Compaid’s clients, and I hope will encourage other disabled people to explore what is possible in the visual arts with the right support.”

Fergus Ross, Business Development Director at Warners Solicitors adds: “Warners Solicitors are delighted to help bring the achievements of Compaid and clients to the fore at the Trinity Theatre gallery on the 9th-22nd November. As a longstanding local firm we are committed to helping in our community wherever possible. Helping those whose sole purpose is to help others is a cornerstone of our Education and Charity team.”

Compaid Awareness Week is coming

2009-10-22T12:09:00.003+01:00

Our very first Awareness Week is almost here. Next week, from Monday 26 to Friday 30 October, we'll be organising various activities throughout Tunbridge Wells, where the public can learn more about our work.

You can meet Compaid clients, volunteers and staff at the following locations:

26 October - Tunbridge Wells railway station - 7.00 - 9.00am

27 October - Fiveways junction - 10.00am - 3.00pm

28 October - Sainsburys Local, St John's Road - 9.00am - 1.00pm

29 October - The Pantilles - 10.00am - 3.00pm

30 October - Tunbridge Wells railway station - 5.00 - 7.00pm

In addition, we are holding an Open Day at our Activities Centre in Culverden Down, where you can see demonstrations of our work with disabled people, and hear about our plans for the future.

Throughout the week, we'll also be publicising our free prize draw. You can enter the draw right now from this website.

We hope to see you at one of our events next week. Do come along and find out how we could help each other.

Prizes galore in our free draw

2009-10-12T10:12:00.002+01:00

Compaid Awareness Week is coming at the end of October, and to mark this occasion, we are running a free prize draw with fantastic prizes on offer.

From family tickets to local attractions, to a case of wine and health treatments, there is somnething for everyone, and the draw is free to enter.

Head on over to our Prize Draw page to find out more. Winners will be drawn and notified on Friday 6 November. Good luck.

New Trustees required

2009-10-12T10:08:00.003+01:00

We are currently recruiting for a new Chairman and additional Trustees to join our Board.

Candidates for Chairman will be expected to have leadership experience, ideally within the voluntary sector or a related organisation. We are particularly interested in Trustee candidates with experience in some or all of the following areas: business development, strategic alliances, information technology, property development and transport.

For more information, click here.

Major donation helps disabled people go wi-fi

2009-08-26T16:57:00.000+01:00

Disabled clients at Compaid’s Activities Centre in Tunbridge Wells are enjoying the world of wireless computing thanks to a major donation from KHOCA.

KHOCA, a Kent based grant making charity, awarded £5,000 to Compaid to purchase new wireless computers and other equipment, which is used by Compaid’s clients each day to create original computer artwork, write diaries and memoirs, and enjoy games and other activities on the internet.

The money has been used to buy 13 new wireless machines, which can now all communicate directly with each other, and with a wireless printer bought earlier in the year thanks to proceeds from the Courier’s Heart of the Community Awards. Compaid’s clients are now hard at work creating new paintings for Christmas cards and a major exhibition at the Trinity Theatre gallery in November.

Pam Nelson, Activities Centre Manager at Compaid, comments: “The new equipment has made a huge difference to the disabled people who come to the Centre. They can now create more elaborate artwork, play more challenging games, and produce greetings cards in a fraction of the time it used to take. We are very grateful to KHOCA for their support, and we hope to upgrade more equipment at the Centre over the next few months.”

Colonel Dennis Kentish 1934-2009

2009-06-25T08:40:00.001+01:00

We are sad to announce the death of our Chairman, Col Dennis Kentish, who passed away on Saturday 6th June.

Dennis joined Compaid as Chairman of Trustees in July 1999 whilst he continued to work in a part-time capacity for WaterAid. He was a pragmatist to his very core, yet was always ready to listen to those facing problems, offered wise advice, support and endeavoured to find solutions. He leaves a legacy of leadership that will be hard to replace and we will miss him greatly. Our sympathy and support go to his wife Jill and his family who have lost a husband and father.

Volunteers Week events

2009-05-27T11:29:00.006+01:00

COMPAID is taking part in a Volunteers Fair in Tunbridge Wells on Monday 1 June as part of Volunteers Week.

Volunteers are vital to our work, and support disabled people in our Activities Centre and through our Transport Service, as well as helping to raise funds through local events.

The Fair will take place on level 1 of the Royal Victoria Centre, by M&S, from 9am-1 pm. Staff from COMPAID will be on hand to explain about our various volunteering opportunities, so do come along to find out more.

There will also be information on volunteering for COMPAID at a special exhibition at the Trinity Theatre in Tunbridge Wells from 1-5 June, and we will be holding a thank you coffee morning at our Activities Centre at Culverden Stadium at 11.00am on Wednesday 3 June.

Heart of the Community success

2009-05-27T10:38:00.005+01:00

COMPAID Trust has won a 2009 Heart of the Community award, thanks to all our friends and supporters who voted for us through the Courier Newspaper.

The awards were given out at a special event on Thursday 11 June, and we received a cheque for £500. We have also received very generous donations from the public towards our appeal, which will help to pay for new greetings card production equipment at our Activities Centre in Tunbridge Wells.

Thanks again to everyone who supported us, and look out for our new cards later this year.

Help COMPAID work with Sainsbury's

2009-05-08T16:51:00.002+01:00

COMPAID is hoping to join forces with the Sainsbury's Local store in St John's Road, Tunbridge Wells.

Sainsbury's Local convenience stores across the UK are looking for local charity partners to join with for fundraising and volunteering during the company's 140th year.

Customers have until 26th May to nominate their charity of choice. The top three nominated charities for each store will then be invited to present to a group of staff who will then decide on the winning charity.

So please do drop in to the Sainsbury's Local on St John's Road and nominate COMPAID to go forward for this fantastic opportunity.

Find the missing treasure for COMPAID

2009-05-01T14:36:00.004+01:00

If you love treasure hunts and have a car, or know a friend who does, then the Car Treasure Hunt this June could be for you.

Held in aid of COMPAID Trust and Tunbridge Wells Football Club, the Treasure Hunt will see teams travel in and around Tunbridge Wells by car in search of clues, hidden items and disguised images.

The event, on Saturday 6th June, begins at the Football Club in Culverden Down at 11.00am with a full briefing, before the hunt proper kicks off at midday. The route will end again at the Football Club, where a curry supper and charity auction will be on offer.

Entry is £20 per person, including full instructions, goody bag, and curry supper. For more information, see the attached entry form or call 01892 520517.

Car%20Treasure%20Hunt%20Entry%20Form.pdf

Compaid couple wed

2009-04-24T16:59:00.000+01:00

A couple who met at COMPAID Trust’s Activities Centre were married at St Paul’s Church, Rusthall on Tuesday 21 April.

Ian King and Gillian Shaw first met in January last year when Ian began volunteering at the Activities Centre, assisting disabled clients with computer skills training and development. Gillian had been coming to the Centre since 2002, following a brain injury which had left her with short term memory.

After Ian was assigned to support Gillian in learning computer skills to assist her memory, the pair discovered that they’d lived close together, been to schools in the same town, and studied the same subject at the same college, during their teenage years.

Their friendship quickly developed, and on Boxing Day 2008 the couple got engaged.

Among the guests at the wedding were several COMPAID friends, including Pam Nelson, manager of the Activities Centre, and Sarah Bullett, another volunteer at the Centre and Trustee of the charity.

New Chief Executive appointed

2009-03-31T10:55:00.000+01:00

COMPAID Trust has appointed Stephen Elsden as Chief Executive, following the retirement of Betty Howell after 14 years in the post.

Stephen joins from Leonard Cheshire Disability, and has 20 years experience in the charity sector, with particular emphasis on marketing, fundraising and service development.

"I am delighted to be joining the charity," says Stephen. "COMPAID Trust has achieved a huge amount for disabled people, under the leadership of Betty and her team. I am confident we can now build on that success to develop our services and support even more people in the future."

Among Stephen's first tasks will be the development of a new strategy for the charity, which he hopes to launch in the autumn of this year.