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Folkestone Dispatch @folkestonedispatch.substack.com · 28/08/2026

The Dispatch will be taking on a fire walk in aid of our 2026 charity of the year South Kent Mind in October. If you could spare something for this great cause, as little as £1, it would really make a difference! www.justgiving.com/page/folkest...

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Folkestone Dispatch @folkestonedispatch.substack.com · 07/08/2026

Until the end of August we are offering 20% off annual subscriptions to the Dispatch... folkestonedispatch.substack.com/summersale

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Folkestone Dispatch @folkestonedispatch.substack.com · 22/07/2026

Folkestone is to be merged into a new Mid Kent unitary council as part of the biggest shake-up of local government in Kent for more than half a century. Fair to say not everyone is impressed...

folkestonedispatch.substack.com

🗳️ Folkestone to be merged into ‘insane’ new Mid Kent council

Plus: Parks awarded Green Flag status, and ‘Cold War bunker’ up for sale

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Rhys Griffiths @rhysdgriffiths.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Asked a cllr where they think the HQ of the amazing new Mid Kent Unitary Authority should be located. Ashford, maybe? Sittingbourne, perhaps? "It really should have good transport links from all parts of the authority, and on that basis, I guess we have to look at St Pancras."

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Folkestone Dispatch @folkestonedispatch.substack.com · 13/07/2026

This evening we launched our new weekly what's on email: On The Town. This week, news of the line-up for this year's Folkestone Book Festival and plenty more...

folkestonedispatch.substack.com

📚 Book festival programme revealed

Your weekly guide to what's on in Folkestone

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Folkestone Dispatch @folkestonedispatch.substack.com · 06/07/2026

🎉 Very happy to tell you the Dispatch was highly commended in the Kent Voices Award category at this year's Kent Press & Broadcast Awards, which were presented at a ceremony in Canterbury last Friday. Thanks to @maximpr.bsky.social, the judges and sponsors for making the event possible! #kpba

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Folkestone Dispatch @folkestonedispatch.substack.com · 01/07/2026

Finds from an Anglo-Saxon cemetery are to go on show at Folkestone Museum this week. We visited the top-secret dig site to find out more about the remarkable artefacts uncovered by archaeologists...

folkestonedispatch.substack.com

🗡️ Anglo-Saxon artefacts of ‘international importance’ on show in Folkestone

Plus: Plans for homeless charity’s new home withdrawn, and inspectors say care home must improve

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Folkestone Dispatch @folkestonedispatch.substack.com · 24/06/2026

❤️ A lovely message received today from our newest paid subscriber. It is always wonderful to hear from our readers, and know that they value the work we do. Join them? folkestonedispatch.substack.com/subscribe

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Folkestone Dispatch @folkestonedispatch.substack.com · 24/06/2026

Next week Folkestone will pay moving tribute to fallen Canadian soldiers in a tradition that goes back more than a century. Ahead of Canada Day, in this week's Dispatch we explain the enduring bond between the North American nation and our town...

folkestonedispatch.substack.com

🇨🇦 Honouring the enduring bond between Folkestone and Canada

Plus: Arrest after scores of cars damaged across town, and lottery funding secured for reopening of sports centre

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Rhys Griffiths @rhysdgriffiths.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Great to be part of this event for @publicinterestnews.org.uk Indie News Week, speaking about @folkestonedispatch.substack.com and how we're all trying to make new models of local journalism work

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Local Authority @localauthority.news · 22/06/2026

We held a panel discussion on local journalism with Christine Rayner, former editor of the East Kent Gazette, and @rhysdgriffiths.bsky.social of @folkestonedispatch.substack.com. The clearest themes were that we need real relationships with our communities and enough reader support to sustain us.

Our Indie News Week panel. From left to right: Steven Keevil, Christine Rayner, Rhys Griffiths, and Ed Jennings.

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Folkestone Dispatch @folkestonedispatch.substack.com · 17/06/2026

To mark Refugee Week, in this week’s Dispatch we look at the work of local charity Kent Refugee Action Network and hear from their media ambassador, who herself came to the UK from Eritrea...

folkestonedispatch.substack.com

🌍 ‘I would like people to have the courage to understand our story’

Plus: Fly-tippers hauled before the courts, and confirmation special summer bus service will not return this year

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Folkestone Dispatch @folkestonedispatch.substack.com · 10/06/2026

Concerns have been raised about birds dying after getting trapped in netting at this town centre supermarket. But the response from the company has been branded 'half-hearted'...

folkestonedispatch.substack.com

🐦 Birds dying in supermarket netting

Plus: Joint operation targets illegal tobacco and vape sales, and tribute to legendary guitar heroes unveiled

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Folkestone Dispatch @folkestonedispatch.substack.com · 03/06/2026

In today's Dispatch we report on the council's escalating bill for temporary accommodation for those facing homelessness in the district. The costs have more than doubled in a year, rising to almost £2 million in the last financial year...

folkestonedispatch.substack.com

🏠 Bill for temporary housing for those facing homelessness continues to soar

Plus: Former library building in Grace Hill snapped up for £1, and work starts on long-awaited Road of Remembrance repairs

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Folkestone Dispatch @folkestonedispatch.substack.com · 21/05/2026

We are delighted that the Dispatch has been shortlisted for the Kent Voices Award at this year's Kent Press & Broadcast Awards. This award recognises those 'going the extra mile to serve their local community' and we are proud to be among the four finalists www.kpbawards.co.uk/finalists #kpba

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Folkestone Dispatch @folkestonedispatch.substack.com · 31/05/2026

We were out with the wonderful Folkestone Fellas for their monthly 'walk and talk' this morning. Always a great get-together and a chance to meet some new faces! Find out more about the Fellas here: folkestonedispatch.substack.com/p/folkestone...

A group picture of the Folkestone Fellas men's group on the Harbour Arm in Folkestone

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Folkestone Dispatch @folkestonedispatch.substack.com · 21/05/2026

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Ed Jennings @edjennings.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

So proud of @rhysdgriffiths.bsky.social and what he's achieved in the first year of @folkestonedispatch.substack.com. Kent needs more hyperlocal journalism like it.

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Folkestone Dispatch @folkestonedispatch.substack.com · 22/04/2026

His plans for a new war memorial were thrown out and branded 'insulting', but this local history enthusiast tells the Dispatch he has 'no animosity' towards the councillors who thwarted his scheme...

folkestonedispatch.substack.com

❌ History buff has ‘no animosity’ over rejection of ‘insulting’ war memorial plans

Plus: Opening date for new town centre library confirmed, and work on coastal park play area refurbishment begins

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Folkestone Dispatch @folkestonedispatch.substack.com · 15/04/2026

In this week's newsletter we go inside the Folkestone Sports Centre to hear about progress towards reopening this summer - and see the recent shocking damage done by trespassers...

folkestonedispatch.substack.com

🏊 Inside the Sports Centre

Plus: Work to reopen Road of Remembrance could start next month, and England World Cup matches will not be shown at the Harbour Arm

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Rhys Griffiths @rhysdgriffiths.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

But another wonderful reader took up our offer on annual subs (below) this morning, so I am already up on the deal for the day. And I've had a lovely walk by the sea. So all good... folkestonedispatch.substack.com/onethousand

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Rhys Griffiths @rhysdgriffiths.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Logging on for my traditional Monday procrastination session before I write the entirety of the @folkestonedispatch.substack.com tomorrow in a blind panic. A very comfortable routine...

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Darryl @darryl1974.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Funnily enough, a day after this was published, Southeastern put out a press release today boasting of big rises in season-ticket sales in Kent (be interesting to see where it gets regurgitated)

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Phillip de Wet @phillipdewet.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

When users revolt against your pricing strategy: "... more than 300 regular travellers trade tickets for trains between Folkestone and London, often ones purchased well in advance—to secure the very cheapest fares—but which are no longer needed." folkestonedispatch.substack.com/p/commuters-...

folkestonedispatch.substack.com

🚄 Commuters bemoan ‘eye-wateringly expensive’ fares for packed Folkestone trains

Plus: Car park's ANPR cameras to be scrapped after unsuccessful trial, and lorry driver charged with dangerous driving after crash

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Folkestone Dispatch @folkestonedispatch.substack.com · 19/03/2026

To celebrate reaching 1,000 subscribers we are running a limited-time offer of 20% off an annual paid subscription. This is what the first person to claim the discount had to say... Join them here: folkestonedispatch.substack.com/onethousand

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Folkestone Dispatch @folkestonedispatch.substack.com · 19/03/2026

More than 1,000 people have now signed up to receive the Dispatch each week. This is an incredibly significant milestone on our journey towards making this newsletter a sustainable source of independent journalism. Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far, we are just getting started...

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Folkestone Dispatch @folkestonedispatch.substack.com · 10/03/2026

Now our most-read story since we launched almost a year ago...

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Folkestone Dispatch @folkestonedispatch.substack.com · 05/02/2026

Today is #TimeToTalkDay and is a chance to reflect on mental health support. In 2026 the Dispatch is raising money for South Kent Mind, our charity of the year. You can donate to this important cause here...

justgiving.com

Folkestone Dispatch supporting South Kent Mind

Help Folkestone Dispatch raise money to support South Kent Mind

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