A campaign to get Maidstone nattering on World Friendship day (Monday July 30th) is being promoted by the West Kent Befriending Service in a push to fight loneliness and raise funds for Age UK Maidstone.
The campaign is supported by local MP Helen Grant who did a walkabout in Maidstone's Fremlin Walk with West Kent Befriending Service manager Wendy Pfeiffer, asking shops and businesses to get involved.
Helen said 'The idea is to get everyone to pledge to speak to at least one person that they would not usually speak to on World Friendship Day. It reminds ourselves how valuable warmth and civility can be, especially toward those who may suffer from loneliness. I hope the campaign will encourage people to natter more anyway, and not just on 30th July - it helps make a healthier society'.
Wendy Pfeiffer said 'It can be a neighbour, a work colleague, someone you see every day on your journey to work or even someone standing in a queue in a shop. Too many people can go a whole day without speaking to another person...but together all of us, the people of Maidstone, can make a difference. It really does 'matter to natter''.
People can offer financial support to the West Kent Befriending Service by adding a donation to their 'Total Giving' page along with comments about who they are going to speak to (or who they have spoken to) on Monday 30th July. www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/itmatterstonatter. For more information on how to get involved please contact Wendy on [email protected] or 07808 711 353.
