In celebration of a new initiative bringing together the communities of Gillingham, residents are invited to a family-fun day in the town centre.
The Big Day Out event is being held in Gillingham High Street on Sunday, 1 September, from 11am until 4pm, and everyone is invited.
The day will be packed full of entertainment for all ages, including live performances from local bands, stalls to browse, street performers and creative workshops.
The event is being held as part of the Love Gillingham initiative, working with communities and exploring opportunities to help improve the town so it becomes an even more desirable place to live, work, learn and visit.
The event and initiative are both possible thanks to the support of a number of organisations including Gillingham Town Centre Forum and Gillingham Task Force. The forum successfully bid for funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with the grant being used in the heart of the community to support businesses, people and skills.
Hear the voices of those who live and work in Gillingham
Cllr Harinder Mahil, Portfolio Holder for Economic and Social Regeneration and Inward Investment, covering town centres, said: “The Big Day Out is a fantastic opportunity to not only bring the communities of Gillingham together, but into the high street and support the fantastic local businesses. The family-fun day is part of wider work to hear the voices of those who live and work in Gillingham, and put a plan together of how improvements could be made.”
Gillingham Task Force has been created to address issues and challenges facing residents living and working in the town, and brings together a variety of council services including planning, highways, climate change and waste to help tackle the issues that matter most.
Celebrate the diverse community in Gillingham
Naushabah Khan MP for Gillingham & Rainham, said: “For far too long now Gillingham Town Centre has been neglected, with local residents worried about its future.
“That is why I set up the Gillingham Taskforce, bringing together stakeholders from the across community, and why I am determined to work alongside Medway Council, to ensure the transformation of Gillingham Town Centre.
“The Big Day Out is the first part of that journey, bringing together businesses, local services and residents, to ensure you can have a say in the future of the Town Centre. But it is also an opportunity to celebrate the diverse community in Gillingham, with lots of fun activities and entertainment and the launch of our new ‘Love Gillingham’ brand!”