It was a pleasure to meet with Gabriella Rolls at the Gillingham Service Centre on 16th February. As Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the Kent Cricket Foundation, Gabriella provided valuable insight into the range of wellbeing and fitness activities offered through the organisation. It is encouraging to see inclusive sports opportunities being actively developed and made accessible within our region.

 - Clive Bassant
   Community Liaison and Engagement Officer

I was delighted to attend the the ‘What Matters Most’ event at the Greenwich University Medway Campus to feedback on proposed Health Service developments. It was a great opportunity to ensure the needs of the Wheelchair Service and of course our service users, are taken into account and considered when delivering neighbourhood health initiatives.

- Clive Bassant
   Community Liaison and Engagement Officer

Thank you to the team of Active Kent and Medway for inviting me to their meeting at Shorne Country Park, to talk about the essential work that RossCare Wheelchair Service does, and why it important to ensure activities are inclusive to wheelchair users.

Another day another event, on the 04/12/25 Nicola and myself attended the Medway Physical Activity Alliance Conference, not just an opportunity to tell the world what a great job Ross Care is doing, but also taking time to encourage other sector services, groups and clubs to make their offering fully accessible to wheelchair users.

I’ve put together our latest updates, and insights to keep you informed and engaged. From details on upcoming events, including the dates for our next Service User Engagement Forum, to details of Wheelchair Sports and how you can get involved.

Service User Engagement Forum (SUEF)

Are you a wheelchair user, carer, or family member of a wheelchair user? Would you like to help shape better services?

Come along and have your say at our next Service User Engagement Forum. We will discuss our usual topics, and of course, you will have the chance to share any feedback or recent experiences you’ve had with our service.

If you have any questions or concerns, we’ll be happy to answer and help. If you have any ideas you'd like to share on how we can improve the service, we'd love to hear from you. 

🗓️ Wednesday 18th March 2026 from 11:30am
📍 Online via Teams or in person at our Gillingham service Centre
(Kent and Medway Wheelchair Service, 1 Ambley Green, Gillingham, Kent, ME8 0NJ)

✅ Service updates from the Operational team, clinical lead and the service as a whole.
✅ Details of any upcoming events in the local community.
✅ Information on projects Clive, our CLEO, is involved with.
✅ Talk about our new website - we welcome your feedback!

All are welcome! To register your interest, please email Clive Bassant, the CLEO for Kent and Medway Wheelchair Service, at Clive.Bassant@rosscare.co.uk or email Nicola at Nicola.Armstrong@rosscare.co.uk

Lead by Archie Beaumont and Beth Miller

Kent and Medway Wheelchair Service would like to hear from our younger service users! If you are under the age of 30 and would like to tell us about your experience, good or not so good, then come along to our group.

We have guest speakers in attendance on the day, who will be offering their help & advice.

• Sophie Fournel from Disability Assist
• WetWheels
• Archie Beaumont and Beth Miller (Wheelchair Rugby)
• The Education People (Shane Forster)
• Whizz-Kidz

🗓️ Wednesday 18th February from 11:30am - 2pm
📍 Our Gillingham Service Centre at 1 Ambley Green, Gillingham, Kent, ME8 0NJ

Email Nicola.Armstrong@rosscare.co.uk to book your place

“On a rainy September morning, I had the privilege of joining Nicola on a boat trip off the coast of Dover. As luck would have it, the skipper offered me the chance to steer the craft, and I eagerly accepted. Despite the less-than-ideal weather, I knew it was going to be an unforgettable experience..."

Commentary by Harry Selala

“It was my privilege to join Clive Bassant (Community Liaison and Engagement Officer) in being invited to attend the Wheelchair Rugby, International match between England and Wales on 24th August at Christchurch Sports Centre and witness first hand how exciting and physical wheelchair rugby is.

All the attendees, whether they were players or spectators, were treated to a very competitive game that reinforced what an impact a wheelchair can have. I was able to speak to some of the players and get a better understanding of needs and support that the wheelchair service could provide and I hope to be able to more involved at future events.

Congratulations have to go to the England team who won the tournament 6 matches to 1.”

“My name is Julie and I joined the Wheelchair Service in Gillingham in November 2025.

I qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2002 in London. I began the first 4 years of my career as an OT in Northern Ireland where I was born and brought up and worked in The Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast..."