KidsOut was able to provide every child in refuge during the 2019 Christmas period at least one new toy and is happy to announce that the 2020 Giving Tree Appeal is now live and ready for you, friends and colleagues to sign up to take part again.

Due to Covid-19, the children they support are needing more than ever before and therefore intend to provide more than one new toy per child.

A motion to the 21st October Folkestone and Hythe District Council meeting proposed by Labour Group Leader Connor McConville calling to look at options for reduced or zero Council Tax for Care Leavers aged 22-25 in Folkestone and Hythe was passed tonight by 28 votes for with one absention.

The motion was passed unamended and is at https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/moderngov/mgAi.aspx?ID=13650

At the online Folkestone and Hythe District Council (F&HDC) meeting tonight (21 October), Lib Dems Tim Prater and Gary Fuller successfully moved a motion on fireworks that recevied wide cross-Party backing.

The motion sought to introduce measures to reduce the distress that fireworks cause to the elderly, children, pets and other animals, while also recognising the pleasure that fireworks bring to many. It also sought to ban the release of sky lanterns from F&HDC land.

Since 1974, applications have been welcomed each year around this time from residents of Folkestone to apply for the Town Mayor of Folkestone's Christmas Fund for assistance with their winter expenses. Prior to 1974 this was known as the Mayor's Coal Fund and gifts of coal were distributed to those eligible.