Hello, I am Cllr Andrew Kennedy, the Kent County Councillor for Malling North East.

Each year in the week before Christmas I organise a Carol Concert for our Military Veterans and widows at the Royal British Legion Village. I also invite our "Community Heroes" - people who volunteer their time for the benefit of the local community, such as scout and guide leaders, litter pickers, food bank volunteers and many more.

Over the years the popularity of this event has grown. 50 people attended the first concert in 2022, 120 came in 2023 and I now have over 200 booked for this year!

As numbers have grown, so have the costs.

Our guests are entertained by the Medway Singers, a professional choir who perform two 45 minute sets. Each guest receives a complimentary arrival drink from the bar, and in the interval we serve cheese and biscuits, grapes, mince pies and satsumas. There is also a small gift of chocolate for all our veterans and community heroes.

This event is paid for by donations and receives no support from TMBC or KCC. I am very grateful to Tesco in Lunsford Park, Morrisons at Larkfield, T Brown Wholesale Fruit and Veg, Brimstone UXB and FCC Environmental, who each sponsor part of the event. And also Ditton Parish Council who have donated the hall free of charge.

However, I still must raise £1,200 to cover the costs.

If you would like to make a contribution, I would be hugely grateful. Any funds received over and above what is needed will be donated to the food bank at the Brassey Centre run by St Peter and St Paul's Church in Aylesford.

Thank you

Andrew Kennedy