Garden Party: NVDi in Action, 22 July 2022, 1pm to 3pm: Eastgate Gardens, Eastgate, Rochester, Kent ME1 3EW

Garden Party showcasing the work of Medway Non-Visible Disability Initiative in Rochester

Thank you from the organisers, Phil Bungay says:

Thank you to those attending the Garden Party on Friday. A special note of thanks must go to our Guest of Honour the Worshipful Mayor of Medway Cllr Jan Aldous and her Consort Tony Aldous. Thanks must also go to Celbie Catering for the food, Scouts Medway Active Support Team (MAST), the Rotary Club of Rochester, our Master of Ceremonies Matt Salisbury and the very helpful Paramount Foundation team, the wonderful University of Greenwich Ambassadors, all the staff at both Eastgate House and at Medway Adult Education but a special thank you to all those who attended the NVDi garden party and for helping raise awareness of Non Visible Disabilities- thank you! 

Below are some pictures taken at the Garden Party, many of them provided by the Worshipful Mayor of Medway Cllr. Jan Aldous::

the NVDi Stall

The Worshipful Mayor of Medway Cllr. Jan Aldous visits the NVDi Stall manned by members of the Steering Group

Paramount CIC

Matt Salisbury was our Master of Ceremonies and provided musical entertainment

Therapy Dog Mabel

NHS Medway Foundation Trust - Medway Maritime Hospital Meet Mabel one of our therapy dogs, who specialises in patients with learning disabilities.

University of Greenwich STAART

Dr Melanie Thorley and her STAART team of Ambassadors also helped serve the food
Medway Non-Visible Disability Initiative

NVDi in ACTION - Programme

Opened by the Worshipful Mayor of Medway Cllr. Jan Aldous and her Consort Mr Tony Aldous.

i).  Update on the work of the Non-Visible Disability Initiative (NVDi) in Medway, by Cllr David Brake (Chair NVDi Steering Group)
ii).  Talk by Jane Cullen on her inspiration to write her Parkinson's book/ play 'Say that Again' and her forthcoming book about non-visible disabilities
iii).  Presentation by the University of Greenwich on its work with NVDi including development of a phone app/ website to identify disabled friendly businesses and services. Presented by Dr Melanie Thorley (STAART Manager). 
Please click HERE to view the presentation
iv).  Presentation by MidKent College on Non-Visible Disability training. Presented by Becky Farley
v).  Dementia Friends training by the Alzheimer's Society, recruitment.
vi).  Presentation by the University of Kent on its Non-Visible Disability Research, including therapies at the new Parkinson's Centre for Integrated Therapy. Presented by Dr Laura Smith, Lecturer in Psychology
Please click HERE to view the presentation
vii).  Music by Matt Salisbury from Pretending People Theatre Company and Manager at the Paramount Foundation that helps vulnerable and disadvantaged people.

Information stalls by providers of support for those with non-visible disabilities, see below.

Free refreshments: Finger buffet by Celbie Catering; Hot drinks by the Scouts Medway Active Support Team (MAST); Bottled water donated by MidKent College.

University of Greenwich volunteers headed by Dr Melanie Thorley (STAART Manager) and her team of Ambassadors together with Hayley Smith from the School of Engineering and Science - will help serve the food.


Please click HERE to see the full programme.

Feedback Form:  If you have attended the Garden Party and didn't complete a feedback form on the day, please complete the online form HERE .  Thank you. 
NVDI IN ACTION EVENT

NVDi Stallholders

NVDi is very grateful to the following organisations that are supporting NVDi and have agreed to provide an information stall:

1.  Club AUsome, Medway
4.  Medway Dementia Action Alliance (MDAA)
5.  Multiple System Atrophy Trust (MSA Trust
6. Jane Cullen, author of Parkinson's book/ play 'Say That Again' 
7.  Dyslexia House Association
10. Parkinson's UK , Medway
11. Medway Neurological Network (MNN
12. Functional Neurological Disorder (FND Action
14. Christians Against Poverty (CAP
15. wHoo Cares 
16. NHS Medway Foundation Trust (Medway Maritime Hospital)
17. Carers First  , Medway
18. Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness (FASD Awareness)
19. MS Society, Medway Group & Dystonia UK (Kent)

Please see Photo Gallery of Information Stalls below:
Many thanks to the Worshipful Mayor of Medway Cllr. Jan Aldous for permission to use her photographs.

Club AUsome 

Dystonia Society

FASD Awareness

FND Action/ WALT

Medway Library

MND Association

Paramount CIC

Parkinson's UK Medway Branch

Parkinson's UK Working Age Group

Sam Rapp Dyslexic Poet

wHoo Cares

Medway Adult Education

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