North Kent charity We Are Beams is one of the first in the country to receive a grant of £5,000 from the B&Q Foundation, following the sale of face masks at B&Q stores.

The charity is using the grant to refurbish its short stay respite centre, the Dragon's Retreat in Hextable, to enable it to continue supporting disabled children and their families across Dartford , Gravesham and Sevenoaks.

Dragon’s Retreat is a popular 6-bed, short stay respite unit for disabled children and young people aged 8-19; and the makeover will include bringing in new signage, furniture, bedding and mattresses, soft furnishings as well as redecorating the lounge, bedrooms and corridors.

We Are Beams provides support services to families of children and young people with any form of physical, learning or sensory impairment, and Dragon’s Retreat provides an enriching overnight stay, promoting independent living skills and fun activities while giving whole families a break.

It has a soft play area, sensory room, interactive garden area, lounge and kitchen with height adjustable work surfaces.

B&Q has so far raised nearly £500,000 for the B&Q Foundation from the sale of face masks, with £1.50 from each pack donated, all of which will be distributed to charities around the UK through grants.

Julia Hussain from We Are Beams said: “We’d like to thank the B&Q Foundation for the funding. Being able to refresh the facilities at Dragon’s Retreat, so we can continue to support families in the local area, is really needed; particularly as we currently have intense cleaning regimes. Offering this service means the disabled children and young people we support have a stimulating and enjoyable holiday, but it also allows their families to reset for a couple of days too, which is just as important.”

Catherine Burge, Chair of the B&Q Foundation, said: “We Are Beams does absolutely vital work in Kent helping disabled children and their families. We’re really pleased to be able to support them through a B&Q Foundation grant to update Dragon’s Retreat and help them create an even more safe and homely space for their clients.”

More grants are available - so local charities in Kent wishing to find out more about the B&Q Foundation and to register interest to apply for a grant please visit: https://www.neighbourly.com/BandQFoundation

Read more: all the latest news from Gravesend

Read more: all the latest news from Dartford