David Hanson, MP and Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice came to Sunlight today with representatives from Rochester Prison. Sunlight staff create programmes of activities to help people coming to the end of their prison sentence to readjust into normal life, to reduce the risk of re-offending.

You can come along and join in with our friendly community group which meets every Tuesday 3.30 – 5.30 pm at the Sunlight Centre.

For more information please contact Richard; 07525 323056/01634 338600 Richard@sunlighttrust.org.uk

You can download and print off our poster.

(attached below)

living your life poster

Today's brilliant event(Saturday 23rd May)gathered together some of the best local bands and well known acts from further afield. More importantly, we couldn't have had a more friendly and enthusiastic crowd.


Medway needs more events like this to bring people from all walks of life together and promote diversity and local talent. That's why this year the LMHR team, which includes 6 Radio Sunlight DJs decided to do 3 days instead of just one.

This Sunday 24th May, Radio Sunlight DJ Mikey Ragga will host the first ever 'Love DJs Hate Racism' event from the love music hate racism organisation.

Monday 25th May, will involve absolutely fantastic musicians again.

Each day, there will be workshops, face painting, food and various stalls.

Come and meet the crowd. Bring your frinds and family and if you are new in the area, come and make some friends.

The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Family Support team have been welcomed on to the family of project groups within the Sunlight Development Trust.

Sunlight rolls out more new innovative health related services which you will not find in another dedicated place in Medway.

Thanks to an application to People’s Millions, from Sunlight volunteer Bob Smith, Medway now has a dedicated space, using fresh approaches to help people suffering from various difficulties.

Through his volunteer work at Sunlight, Bob met countless people from all walks of life who were experiencing problems which were holding them and their families back in life. He wanted to create a place for people to turn when the existing service providers fail them.
Sunlight visitors told Bob about problems they had in life and often difficulties in finding options for treatment. We all know debt, relationship breakdown, depression, taking substances or alcohol, isolation and bereavement can tear apart the lives of many people and others close to them. Also when a relatively small problem is not addressed it can escalate and trigger other problems, but sometimes people don’t find it easy to find help from the statutory services. A host of situations may prevent people from seeking help. Barriers obscuring a path to better health include; financial cost, embracement, privacy, legislation, fear, language, bureaucracy, waiting times or being discouraged by disrespectful attitudes experienced from other service providers.

You may benefit from one of the new Open Door services at Sunlight, or you may know someone who you could refer.
Click the following link to have a look at the current list of services at the Open Door.

Radio Sunlight now has its own news page where you can keep up to date with events in the local area as well as everything happening right here at Sunlight. Click here to have look.

On 20th December between 11am and 3pm at Sunlight there will be a great Christmas event organised by Playball football academy and Free Spirit Live.

There’s lots going on. The local fire brigade are bringing down an engine, there’s a football penalty competition, Santa will be here, a fantastic gospel choir are performing and there will be celebrity and VIP guests including Gillingham Football Club players and Dave Courtney. Click ‘read more’ to look at the poster, or call 338600 for more information.

For the complete schedule of workshops, click on the 'Projects and Groups' link on the left hand side of the page and follow the link to ‘Medway Create’.

Please contact Ciaran McKay on 07908293773 or via email ceem.design@hotmail.co.uk for any further enquiries and booking needs.

There a places available on workshops throughout the school summer holidays for people interested in exploring their creative talent.

Local artist Cieran McKay has been awarded £10,000 by Invicta FM to run creative workshops at Sunlight during the school summer holidays. The project is called Medway Create.

Volunteers between the ages of 16 – 25 will assist professional artists and a youth worker to run workshops tailored for 12 – 18 year olds. The dates are scheduled every Wednesday and Friday between 30 July and 5th September between 9am and 4pm.

On Tuesday, 1 July the Chief Constable of Kent Police, Michael Fuller, saw first hand the excellent work of Sunlight Development Trust, Community groups and volunteers, in the Sunlight Centre.

Michael Fuller was accompanied by PCSO’s Jo White, Mick Dann and Kathryn Francis who are familiar faces on local streets. They hold regular surgeries at the centre, get involved with community activities have forged positive relationships with local people.
Matt Pearse, Michael Fuller, PC Homam Al-Sinawi and Ram Ray

Foundation stage children from Burnt Oak Primary School released butterflies in the High Hopes Community Garden at Sunlight for the second year running. The school children watched the chrysalises develop in class and on Friday 3rd June and Thursday 12th June Teachers and Teachers Assistants brought groups to the High Hopes community garden to release newly ‘hatched’ butterflies. The High Hopes garden group planted various species of wild flowers and bushes to provide food for butterflies and moths.

TA Fay Bingham releasing tortishell butterfly

The official opening of the Sunlight community garden was on 29th May at 1pm.

Over the last 3 years a group of Sunlight volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds have converted a derelict dump behind the Sunlight Centre in Gillingham, into a beautiful green oasis which local people can enjoy.
High Hopes community garden

High hopes community garden open

Paul Clark officially opened the Kent Autistic Trust gallery at Sunlight on Friday 13th June. The café, main corridor and Honeybees room display high quality pieces from people who use Kent Autistic Trust services. Some artists with work in the gallery come to activities and groups at Sunlight.

Comments so far include:
A very good exhibition of some excellent work
Very interesting and professional exhibition
A very positive, fresh show. A great opportunity to showcase local talent.

Please have a look on the walls next time you are in the centre.

Paul Clark witht KAT at gallery opening