{"id":5827,"date":"2014-05-22T12:02:06","date_gmt":"2014-05-22T11:02:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/music-matters\/?p=5827"},"modified":"2014-05-22T14:49:00","modified_gmt":"2014-05-22T13:49:00","slug":"summer-music-week-and-porchlight-interview-with-kate-lumley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/music-matters\/2014\/05\/22\/summer-music-week-and-porchlight-interview-with-kate-lumley\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Music Week and Porchlight; interview with Kate Lumley"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ahead of the Big Band’s curtain-raising gig at Deal Bandstand next month in aid of Porchlight, I talked with the charity’s\u00a0Community Fundraising officer (and Kent alumnus!), Kate Lumley<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Tell me about Porchlight<\/strong><\/p>\n

Porchlight is the charity I work for. Porchlight helps people who are homeless or facing housing issues and also works to prevent homelessness in Canterbury and across Kent.<\/p>\n

What sets it apart from other local charitable organisations ?<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is a good question! I think a few things. Firstly, the charity is committed not only to helping people, but also to changing negative attitudes and stereotypes that are connected with homelessness. We want people to understand that homelessness can happen to anyone, that we think everyone has a right to a secure home, and that help is available if anyone finds themselves, or someone they are close to, facing this kind of situation. I also think that the sheer range of our services sets us apart. Porchlight is committed to providing long-term solutions to homelessness, a lot more than a roof over someone\u2019s head and a bowl of soup, but helping someone to tackle the issues that caused them to become homeless in the first place and get their lives back on track. We have such a broad range of services from a 24 hour helpline, a rough sleeper team and different levels of supported accommodation, to prevention work supporting children and adults, so that each person we help can follow a tailored support plan based on their own personal needs and aspirations. It goes without saying that this doesn\u2019t come cheap! And so this is why we are so in need of support from the local community to continue to provide these services.<\/p>\n

\"Kate
Kate Lumley<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Forty years is quite a birthday to be celebrating this year! How are you doing so ?<\/b><\/p>\n

I feel very privileged to be working for a charity that has been helping people and changing lives for the last 40 years. It\u2019s a very exciting year for us and we are marking Porchlight\u2019s anniversary with lots of different events! We\u2019d really like this year to be about raising the profile of the charity and encouraging people to support us, whether that\u2019s by raising awareness, volunteering or fundraising. Please check out the Porchlight website<\/strong> <\/a>if you\u2019d like to get involved.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re looking forward to our fund-raising event for you: can you guarantee the sun will shine ?!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Haha! No, but I hope it does. And if the Big Band are as good as I remember then it\u2019ll be a great event come rain or shine! Thanks so much to Ian and the band for doing this event for Porchlight, we\u2019re extremely grateful for the support.<\/p>\n

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\"Print\"Find out more about the Big Band’s seaside gig\u00a0during Summer Music Week here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n