Sleeping Bags Needed For The Homeless

Local charity, The Bridge Trust, in Tonbridge is putting out an urgent plea for people to donate warm winter sleeping bags to them.  

The charity provides good quality accommodation and support services for single homeless adults in West Kent.  However, they are unable to provide immediate emergency accommodation, so until a room becomes available in one of their houses, The Bridge Trust urgently needs sleeping bags, which at least provides some warmth to a homeless person on these cold winter nights.  

Do you have a warm sleeping bag that you no longer need which could provide some relief from the cold for a homeless person?  If so, please get in touch urgently with The Bridge Trust on 01732 368363 or email them at info@thebridgetrust.org.uk.  

Please also "share" this information with your friends, family, colleagues and through your social media networks.  Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated - thank you.

Tonbridge Taster Opens

The Tonbridge Taster Day kicked off today at 10am with Dame Kelly Holmes leading a workout to warm up the members of the Dragon Boat teams. Here it is in pictures.

Dame kelly with Tonbridge Boots Camps

Dame Kelly

Tonbridge Juddians

Juddian Dragon Boat team members

Dame kelly and The Juddians Team

Dame Kelly encourages The Bridge Trust Tonbridge

Even the Mayor is joining in the excitement

The Bridge Trust Dragon Boat team members

KAT Dragon Boat team

Walk for The Bridge Trust

Ightham Moat

Tonbridge Lions Charity Walk - Sunday May 19

Registration from 9 to 9.30am at

Shipbourne Village Hall, Shipbourne Common

Enjoy a walk in the fresh air through some of Kent's loveliest countryside, and support The Bridge Trust's work with single homeless adults at the same time!

The route is 5 or 10 miles - maps and instructions are provided - refreshments free.

Both routes will have marshals and drinks stations at suitable points. Doges are allowed but must be kept on leads.

The 10 mile route:-
Shipbourne Common, Fairlawne Home Farm, Dunks Green, Fairlawne Park, Ightham Mote, Wilmot Cottage (lovely views across the Weald), Greensand Way, Carter's Hill, White Rock Inn, Underriver House, across open level pasture land to Mote Road, Shipbourne Church, The Chaser Inn, and finally across The Common to the Village Hall at Shipbourne. All road crossing will be marshalled by members of Tonbridge Lions Club.

The 5 mile route:-
This route is similar but starts the return leg at Budds Green.

If you would like to take part and raise sponsorship for The Bridge Trust, please contact Caroline Dunmall on cdunmall@thebridgetrust,org.uk as soon as possible, as your name needs to be forwarded, together with those joining you, to Tonbridge Lions Club.  You will also need to be sent a Sponsorship Form.

Light Up Your Community

Winning Christmas Lights for TN9 - Elaine Knight, St Marys Road

Tonbridge Lions Club’s first competition for Christmas lights outside domestic residences in the Tonbridge area came to a close on the 20 December as the judges came together to consider the entries.

Having studied the photographs of the submitted entries, Mike Stout, President of Tonbridge Lions, Guy Portelli, well known local sculptor, and Robert Ham, son of the Lion member who had the idea of the competition, inspected the lighting installation of each of the selected finalists before reaching their decision.


There being no entry from the TN11 area it was decided to have two winners in the TN10 area from where the majority of the entries came.

Winner in TN9 was Elaine Knight’s lights in St Mary’s Road. She earned a £200 donation to The Bridge Trust.

TN10 joint winner Adrian Winter, Hopgarden Road

 Winners in TN10 were Adrian Winter of Hopgarden Road and Chris Owen of Framley Road. Both nominated Hospice in the Weald as their chosen charity so a £400 donation resulted. Each winner received Christmas food hamper.

TN10 joint winner Chris Owen, Framley Road

Chairman of the organising committee, John Ruck said,
“The competition was widely publicised in the local press, local news magazines and on internet blogs. We delivered over 100 entry forms to houses where good lighting displays had been installed. Whilst the quality of the entries received was good we saw many more that could have been contenders but were not entered. But we are delighted with the winning lighting schemes and pleased to donate to the nominated charities.”