Latest news with #MedwayCouncil
Scottish Sun
15-07-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Parents can get £2,925 cash boost during summer holidays – check if you qualify
Read below to see if you are missing out HELPING HAND Parents can get £2,925 cash boost during summer holidays – check if you qualify PARENTS could be missing out on a £2,926 cash boost during the summer holidays. There are a number of financial support schemes available to struggling households to help ease the cost of the break. Advertisement 1 Parents could be missing out on support to help ease the cost of the summer holidays That includes cash grants worth up to £500 and free days out. Take a look below to see if you're missing out. Free days out - £24 If you claim Universal Credit you and your little ones can claim cheap days out to popular attractions across the UK. For example, those claiming the benefit can visit York Castle for free. Advertisement The popular attraction allows customers to learn about the history of the city. Children in these households can also enter for no charge. Elsewhere, you can also save over £20 on a trip to Kew Gardens. People claiming Universal Credit can enter the botanic garden for just £1, saving £24 on the standard entry price. Advertisement With both of these attractions, you will need to show proof of eligibility to enter. Household support fund - £500 If you are claiming Universal Credit you can get extra support through the Household Support Fund. Families can get FREE washing machines, fridges and kids' beds or £200 payments this summer – and you can apply now The £742million Household Support Fund has been shared between all councils in England. Every council in England has cash they can hand out to struggling families. Advertisement For example, households in West Berkshire can apply for support worth £300. And, families living in Worcestershire can apply for cost of living cash worth £500. School uniform grants - £150 Struggling parents can help ease the pressure of back-to-school costs by applying for a school uniform grant. The support also comes through the government's Household Support Fund (HSF). Advertisement How much you get depends on what year your child is in. For example, in Tower Hamlets families can get up to £150 per child. Parents with reception year children can get £50 per child. This increases to £150 per child when they reach Year 7. Advertisement Meanwhile, Medway Council, in South East England, is distributing school uniform vouchers to hard-up households worth £100. You receive £100 for every dependent school age child, per household per year, unless in exceptional circumstances. Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is a government fund which provides free food, childcare and activities to children from low income families. Your local council is responsible for administering the scheme. Advertisement This means what exactly is on offer depends on where you live. Most offer help to families with children in receipt of benefits-related free school meals, but local councils are also allowed to offer help to children outside of this group. Child benefit - £2,251.60 You can apply for child benefit all year round and it can add an extra £2,251.60 to your income each year. You get child benefit if you're responsible for bringing up a child who is under 16 or under 20 if they are in approved education or training Advertisement The payment is used to help parents cover the costs of childcare. It is paid at two weekly rates - £26.05 per week for your eldest or only child and £17.25 for any additional children. Payments are usually made every four weeks, on a Monday or Tuesday, but sometimes are made weekly. If you are claiming child benefit for a child under 12, you also receive National Insurance (NI) credits. Advertisement You can apply by visiting,
Scottish Sun
09-07-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Thousands of parents to get help with school uniform costs with grants worth up to £300
Keep scrolling to see how you can apply KITTED OUT Thousands of parents to get help with school uniform costs with grants worth up to £300 THOUSANDS of parents can get help with school uniform costs. The support comes through the government's Household Support Fund (HSF), which helps hard-up families with living costs. Advertisement 1 Parents can get support through the government's household support fund Credit: Getty The grants are available across several councils across England, and you can claim up to £300. You will need to get in touch with your council to apply. Most councils have website pages dedicated to the HSF support they offer, or you can ring your local council to find out more. You can find your local council by visiting visit Advertisement HOW MUCH SUPPORT COULD YOU GET The amount each child is entitled to varies from council to council. For example, in Tower Hamlets families can get up to £150 per child. The amount you get depends on what year your child is in. For example, parents with reception year children can get £50 per child. Advertisement This increases to £150 per child when they reach Year 7. So, if you had two children in Year 7 or above you would receive £300 to support them with school uniform costs. Families can get FREE washing machines, fridges and kids' beds or £200 payments this summer – and you can apply now To qualify, your annual household income must be £50,350 or less. You will need to provide the last two months of payslips for both you and your partner. Advertisement You can apply as soon as you are notified of your child's school placement until September 30 that year. Elsewhere, Sandwell residents can get £20 to put towards a school uniform for reception children or £25 for children in secondary classes. Meanwhile, Medway Council, in South East England, is distributing school uniform vouchers to hard-up households worth £100. You receive £100 for every dependent school age child, per household per year, unless in exceptional circumstances. Advertisement So, if you have two dependent children you can get £200. What about outside England? All local authorities in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales offer school uniform grants, unlike in England. For example, the Welsh Government provides a school essentials grant which gives eligible parents grants worth up to £200. However, applications for this year's grants ended on May 31. Advertisement Meanwhile in Scotland, councils distribute grants of at least £120 per child for primary school pupils and £150 per child for secondary school pupils to eligible parents. You can find out more via In Northern Ireland, parents of primary school pupils could be eligible for £42.90, with £87.60 available for secondary pupils under the age of 15 on August 1, 2024, and £93.60 for pupils over 15 years of age on August 1 2024. You can find out more by visiting Advertisement
BBC News
05-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Rochester Pier: Medway Council 'looking into' pier damage survey
Volunteers who help maintain Rochester Pier say they have been told the structure will not be safe to reopen until at least pier opened to the public in September after a five-year closure but had to be shut again in April when Medway Council discovered structural Friends of Rochester Churchfields and Esplanade (Force), which helps maintain the structure, said the council informed the group the site would likely remain closed throughout 2025.A Medway Council spokesperson said: "Although we appreciate the pier being closed is disappointing, safety always needs to be our priority." The local authority said it was "looking into funding options" for a survey of the structure to assess "if any repairs need to be undertaken".The cost of repairs and a potential reopening date would depend on the inspection's findings, according to the council. A Force spokesperson said work on the structure would "help towards our goal of preserving the pier in the long term", and the group agreed that "public safety is the first priority".The group added it would "continue to work closely with the council to stay informed and to advocate for a safe reopening of the pier as soon as possible". Force had been helping refurbish the pier from its 2024 reopening and said it planned to expand use of the pier in future to generate funds for its maintenance. Rochester Pier was originally built in the 1880s and was used as a river access point for small boats and passenger tours.
Daily Mirror
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I'm a real Gypsy, life isn't about fights, it's about love, toilets and bleach'
A Romani Gypsy family have slammed 'nonsense' TV shows like My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding for perpetuating myths about their culture - as they reveal what their daily life really looks like A family of Romani Gypsies have lifted the lid on their culture and 'proud' traditions - busting myths peddled by TV shows which they say get it all wrong. The big brood - complete with 15 adults, 14 kids and a whole host of animals - have established a permanent residence at a disused Wigmore Coach Park off the M2 in Kent. They say misconceptions caused by shows like My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, often paint them in an unfavourable light. The elder of the family, Oldy Herring, 67, and his wife Tina insist that 'nonsense' traditions like 'grabbing' at Gypsy weddings are fabricated and straight-up offensive. "We don't believe in that; that's just something the young boys started doing," Oldy said. "If you tried to grab a Gypsy girl at a wedding, you would get a punch: that's disrespecting that woman." Unlike the inaccurate stereotypes you'll see on TV, the couple explained that Romani Gypsy culture revolves around family, religion, respect for elders, storytelling, animals, cleanliness, charity and community. "That Big Gypsy Weddings show… It's a load of nonsense. That brought on the misconceptions - it's all put on," Oldy insisted. The family recently won the right to permanently stay at the former park and ride after winning a landmark case against Medway Council - which spent as much as £100,000 in taxpayer money fighting it. But they believe the only reason people don't want to live alongside them is that they know so little about them and their culture. Sadly, due to reports of 'Gypsies' causing trouble across the country, they say they're often 'tarred with the same brush'. "I have kept my family together all of my life," Oldy, who has 18 great-grandchildren and around the same number of grandchildren, said, adding: "There's a birthday every week! "People look down on us like we have just come from Mars. We are rough and ready, but any one of you can have bread and cheese with us - we are human." Despite settling at the Kent site, Oldy - who says he has never been to school in his life - explains that the family will continue their Romani Gypsy traditions that have stayed strong for centuries. He revealed that marriages and funerals are the big calendar occasions, as well as Christmas. The jumping of the broomstick, where newly married couples go hand-in-hand over a brush, is a wedding tradition that lives on. And despite mostly sticking to their own community, there's no rules against marrying outsiders. "We try to marry in the Roma community, but you don't have to," Oldy said. "Once [outsiders] are in, they often don't want to leave. Once you are married, you are married for life. And the girls go and live with their husbands and their families." "Girls have got to be kept pure until they are married," Oldy's wife, Tina, added. "Everyone travels to be together for weddings and funerals. Everyone will come from miles around.' Keeping a sparkling clean home is also essential to their way of life, and Tina says it helps to stop the spread of diseases in their community. "We like a bottle of bleach and always have done," she added "A lot of people only use bleach in their toilets, but we use it everywhere. We've got funny beliefs and strict rules." Another of these strict principles, Tina explained, is that toilets and showers inside their caravans are never used, saying: "Never in a million years do you use the toilet or shower in your caravan. It's too close to your sink." Instead they use publicly available shower blocks and toilets, or facilities in gyms and pubs. Oldy adds that he would pray their next site would be clean when he was a young lad, as it was always his responsibility to clear it. "And people have the cheek to say, 'Dirty, stinking gypsies'," he said. Tina also revealed a lesser-known tradition after the passing of loved ones in the Romani Gypsy community, saying: "When you die, if there's no one to live in your caravan, the caravan gets burned." Food, as in most cultures, also plays a major part in bringing together the family for evening meals. Traditional dishes, like meat puddings and rice puddings, are cooked in centuries-old cast-iron pots that have cooked thousands of meals over the years. Tina explained that the pots - always heated over dead wood, which 'doesn't smoke' - lock the taste and smell of the food cooked in them. "Meat's a big part of our diet," Tina said. "I have never met a vegetarian Gypsy in my life." Despite Gypsy communities having a reputation for violence and bare-knuckle boxing, Oldy claims that the majority of the time, rows are settled with words rather than fists. Their Christian beliefs play a huge part in how they live day to day. This is the first time the family have been given permission to stay permanently at a site, meaning their children can continue studying at local schools. "All we want is somewhere to stop," Oldy said. "We keep it clean and tidy and nobody has complained about us. "We went to the courts and won our case. We are a quiet family and we are willing to pay our way. We pay to stay here, for the bins and the toilets. Our children love the school here. "I have never been to school in my life. It's not because we're stupid, it's because we've not had a place to call home. The kids ask with their homework, 'Is this right?' and I say, 'You tell me!'" Oldy explained the kids are 'over the moon' at being able to have birthday parties, which they were hesitant to have while moving around for fear of being moved on. Tina explained they were once moved on three times one Christmas Eve. The family recalls horrific racism against their people in decades gone by, with Oldy claiming a police officer once said to him: "Hitler had the right idea with you; they should've shot you all." Other awful instances include burning tyres being rolled under caravans in which children slept and having pesticide purposefully sprayed on them and their belongings. Tina also remembers cruel children's nursery rhymes warning against 'playing with Gypsies', saying this added fuel to the fire of people's perception of them. Cllr Satinder Shokar, of Medway Council, who has supported the families at the Wigmore Coach Park site 'from day one', says he's personally seen evidence of racism against the families from the authorities. "What I realised as a councillor was that the racism within organisations is institutionalised racism," he said. "There's not anywhere we didn't encounter it. We felt it important that their voices were heard. "[Being granted permanent residence at the Wigmore site] is another key victory for these families, offering further hope after years of repeated planning refusals. Oldy revealed that he doesn't blame outsiders for their misinformed view of his people. He says those who give Romani Gypsies a bad name, leaving heaps of rubbish behind them after festivals and gatherings, often aren't even Gypsies but just 'like the way of life' and are 'lost'. He added: "Our way of life is coming to an end. But we don't want our tradition and culture to end. We are holding our hands up and saying, 'We want to stay here'. This is paradise for us. Just stopping here... It's like winning the lottery. They are realising we are human beings."
Scottish Sun
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
We're a real gypsy family of 29 people – traditions people don't know including why we jump over brooms & burn caravans
The family spoke of cruel backlash they have received over the years TRAVELLER WAYS We're a real gypsy family of 29 people – traditions people don't know including why we jump over brooms & burn caravans Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FAMILY of Romani Gypsies have lifted the lid on their 'proud' traditions, busting myths peddled by TV shows and revealing how life revolves around food, family - and bleach. The family of 15 adults and 14 children, who have established a permanent camp at the disused Wigmore Coach Park off the M2 in Kent, said misconceptions thanks to shows like My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding often paint them in an unfavourable light. 17 Oldy and Tina Herring have made a permanent camp at the disused Wigmore Coach Park in Kent Credit: SWNS 17 The family of 15 adults and 14 children have created a community together that follows Romany gypsy traditions Credit: SWNS 17 Oldy Herring, left, is the elder of the Gypsy family unit Credit: SWNS Oldy Herring - who is now the elder of the family unit at 67 but was once the youngest - and his wife Tina say 'nonsense' fake traditions such as 'grabbing' at Gypsy weddings are made up and offensive. Oldy insists that, in reality, if a young Gypsy tried to grab a young woman at a wedding he'd get little more than a black eye from her family for his lack of respect. Instead, the couple explained that Romani Gypsy culture revolves around family, respect for elders, religion, storytelling, animals, cleanliness, charity and community. The family - who live with a whole host of animals - recently won the right to permanently stay at the former park and ride after winning a landmark case against Medway Council - which spent as much as £100,000 in taxpayer money fighting the case. But they say the only reason people don't want to live alongside them is that they know so little about them and their rich culture. However, due to reports of 'Gypsies' causing trouble across the country, the families say they're often 'tarred with the same brush'. "I have kept my family together all of my life," Oldy, who has 18 great-grandchildren and around the same number of grandchildren, adding: "There's a birthday every week! "We've got feelings and we've got respect for ourselves and decency for other people. We have been like that all our lives. "But people look down on us like we have just come from Mars. "We are rough and ready, but any one of you can have bread and cheese with us - we are human. Gypsy Rose Blanchard reveals reason behind 25lb weight loss as she flaunts slim waist after giving birth "People who put their noses up at us, all I say is: come and find out who we are. We just try and keep ourselves to ourselves. "They give us a bad name until they get to know us, then they realise we are not like they think we are. "People are frightened by the myth. We've just got a bad name." Despite settling down at the Kent site, Oldy - who admits never having been to school in his life - says the family will continue their Romani Gypsy traditions that have been around for centuries. 17 The family has made a permanent home in the area Credit: SWNS 17 This is the first time the family have been granted permission to stay permanently at a site Credit: SWNS MARRIAGE TRADITIONS He explained that marriages and funerals are the big calendar occasions, as well as Christmas. The jumping of the broomstick, where newly married couples go hand-in-hand over a brush, is a wedding tradition that lives on. And despite mostly keeping it in the Romani Gypsy community, there's no rules against marrying outsiders. "We try to marry in the Roma community, but you don't have to," Oldy said. If you tried to grab a Gypsy girl at a wedding, you would get a punch: that's disrespecting that woman Oldy Herring "Once [outsiders] are in, they often don't want to leave. "Once you are married, you are married for life. And the girls go and live with their husbands and their families." "Girls have got to be kept pure until they are married," Oldy's wife, Tina, added. "Everyone travels to be together for weddings and funerals. Everyone will come from miles around." 17 The family explained that Romani Gypsy culture revolves around family, respect for elders, religion, storytelling, animals, cleanliness, charity and community Credit: SWNS TV BACKLASH However, Oldy says shows such as My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding have peddled offensive falsities about some supposed traditions. The controversial act of 'grabbing' seen on the show, where young men throw women over their shoulders to force a kiss, is one myth Oldy wanted to bust. "We don't believe in that; that's just something the young boys started doing," he said. "That Big Gypsy Weddings show… It's a load of nonsense. That brought on the misconceptions - it's all put on. 17 The family - who live with a whole host of animals - recently won the right to permanently stay at the former park Credit: SWNS 17 Some of the caravans have awning extensions of them Credit: SWNS "If you tried to grab a Gypsy girl at a wedding, you would get a punch: that's disrespecting that woman." "Lots of things were wrong on that show," Tina agreed. "Religion is a big part of our culture. Everybody believes in the Lord and bringing kids up with Christian values." Tina added that charity was also a big part of the culture. "Because we know what it's like to not have any bread in you, or not to have a roof over your head," Oldy rejoined. "If we see someone who needs help, we help them. We can't understand why people don't do the same for us." 17 Children playing on the traveller site Credit: SWNS KEEPING CLEAN Keeping a clean home is also essential to their way of life, with Tina crediting it for helping to stop the spread of diseases in their community. "We like a bottle of bleach and always have done," she said. "A lot of people only use bleach in their toilets, but we use it everywhere. "We've got funny beliefs and strict rules." Another of these beliefs, Tina explained, is that toilets and showers inside their caravans are never used, saying: "Never in a million years do you use the toilet or shower in your caravan. "It's too close to your sink." 17 The family continue Romani Gypsy traditions that have been around for centuries Credit: SWNS Instead they use publicly available shower blocks and toilets, or facilities in gyms and pubs. Oldy adds that he would pray their next site would be clean when he was a young boy, as it was always his job to clear it. "And people have the cheek to say, 'Dirty, stinking gypsies'," he said. Once you are married, you are married for life. And the girls go and live with their husbands and their families Oldy Herring Tina also revealed a lesser-known tradition after the passing of loved ones in the Romani Gypsy community, saying: "When you die, if there's no one to live in your caravan, the caravan gets burned." Animals and storytelling also play big roles in Romani Gypsy life. "Because we couldn't read or write, we told stories," Oldy said. "Animals are a big part of our lives; the country is our lives, and we love the country." 17 Toilets and showers inside their caravans are never used Credit: SWNS DISHING UP Food, as in most cultures, also plays a huge part in bringing together the family for evening meals. 'Old-fashioned' dishes, like meat puddings and rice puddings, are cooked in centuries-old cast-iron pots that have cooked thousands of meals over the years. The ancient pots hang in an open shed on the family's site, under which a young Jack Russell puppy barks below a framed photo of the Kray twins, who were of Romani descent. Tina explained that the pots - always heated over dead wood, which 'doesn't smoke' - lock the taste and smell of the food cooked in them. 17 Oldy says shows such as My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding have peddled offensive falsities about some supposed traditions Credit: SWNS "Meat's a big part of our diet," Tina said. "I have never met a vegetarian gypsy in my life." Despite a reputation for violence and bare-knuckle boxing, Oldy claims that the majority of the time, disputes are settled with words rather than fists. Their Christian values also encourage them to help out others in need, such as motorists who've broken down near their site. Tina also recalled stepping in during the beating of a young girl, who she took in and cleaned up after intervening. This is the first time the family have been granted permission to stay permanently at a site, meaning their children can continue studying at local schools. 17 The family recalls horrific instances of racism against their people in decades gone by Credit: SWNS "All we want is somewhere to stop," Oldy continued. "We keep it clean and tidy and nobody has complained about us. "We went to the courts and won our case. We are a quiet family and we are willing to pay our way. We pay to stay here, for the bins and the toilets. "Our children love the school here. I have never been to school in my life. It's not because we're stupid, it's because we've not had a place to call home. "The kids ask with their homework, 'Is this right?' and I say, 'You tell me!'. "I am trying to bring my children up the best way I can. "There's a lot of people who think travelling is a good way of life. "You've got to be born with this and it goes through generations. "I am so proud of being a gypsy. There's good and bad, but they all paint us with the same brush." 17 The family is now content to stay at the Wigmore Coach Park site Credit: SWNS 17 Keeping a clean home is also essential to their way of life, Credit: SWNS LONG-TERM HOME Having spent their lives up until now constantly on the move, only looking for a new site 'once we got bored', the family is now content to stay at the Wigmore Coach Park site, saying it's become more and more difficult to keep moving. Oldy said the kids are 'over the moon' at being able to have birthday parties, which they were reluctant to have whilst moving around for fear of being moved on - with Tina saying they were once moved on three times one Christmas Eve. The family recalls horrific instances of racism against their people in decades gone by, with Oldy claiming a police officer once told him: "Hitler had the right idea with you; they should've shot you all." 17 The family insist they are trying to bring up their children in the best way they can Credit: SWNS Other horror stories include burning tyres being rolled under caravans in which children slept and having pesticide purposefully sprayed on them and their belongings. Tina also recounts children's nursery rhymes warning against 'playing with Gypsies', saying this added fuel to the fire of people's perception of them. Cllr Satinder Shokar, of Medway Council, who has supported the families at the Wigmore Coach Park site 'from day one', says he's personally seen evidence of racism against the families from the authorities. "What I realised as a councillor was that the racism within organisations is institutionalised racism," he said. "There's not anywhere we didn't encounter it. We felt it important that their voices were heard. "[Being granted permanent residence at the Wigmore site] is another key victory for these families, offering further hope after years of repeated planning refusals. 17 Family life has a big focus on animals Credit: SWNS "With over 90 per cent of applications refused nationwide, until these figures change, the long-term trend of cultural apartheid against the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community will persist." It was revealed recently that cash-strapped Medway Council spent as much as £100,000 in taxpayer money on court fees fighting against the family's right to remain at the site. Oldy says he doesn't blame outsiders for their misinformed, stereotypical perception of his people. A closer look at gypsy traditions HERE we take a look at some of the traditions many gypsies follow... Family-Centric Living: The family is the cornerstone of Romani life, with extended families often living close to one another. Elders are highly respected and play a crucial role in decision-making and maintaining cultural traditions. Nomadic Heritage: Many Gypsy communities maintain a semi-nomadic lifestyle, moving seasonally to find work or attend cultural gatherings. This tradition is deeply rooted in their history and identity. Distinctive Décor: Romani homes, whether they are caravans or fixed abodes, are often brightly decorated with vibrant colours and intricate patterns. These decorations reflect their rich cultural heritage and love for beauty. Communal Gatherings: Social gatherings are a significant part of Gypsy life. Celebrations, such as weddings and religious festivals, are grand affairs involving music, dance, and feasting, often stretching over several days. Spiritual Practices: Many Gypsy families incorporate a blend of Christian beliefs and traditional spiritual practices. Homes may feature religious icons and amulets believed to offer protection and bring good fortune. Craftsmanship and Artistry: Romani people are renowned for their craftsmanship, particularly in metalwork, woodwork, and textiles. These skills are often passed down through generations and are a source of both pride and livelihood. Hospitality: Hospitality is a valued tradition. Guests are treated with great respect and generosity, often being offered the best food and drink available as a sign of honour and goodwill. Sharing Stories: Storytelling is a vital part of Romani culture, preserving history, morals, and lessons through generations. Elders often share tales that are both entertaining and educational. He says those who give his people a bad name, leaving trails of rubbish behind them after festivals and gatherings, often aren't even Gypsies but just 'like the way of life' and are 'lost'. Oldy said the same could also be said of many of those outside the Gypsy community, saying: "There's no respect. "I think they've just lost their way, but there's nothing wrong with them. "Respect for the elders is a big thing for us: respect your parents and grandparents. "We don't believe in letting our children go. That's our job, from the moment I got my eldest son. "Our way of life is coming to an end. But we don't want our tradition and culture to end. "We are holding our hands up and saying, 'We want to stay here'. "This is paradise for us. Just stopping here... It's like winning the lottery. "They are realising we are human beings." "We are comfortable here," Tina agreed. "We are starting to be accepted."
