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Urban Blue thanks Gallery nightclub, Maidstone, for donation after Andre Bent stabbing

By: Jess Sharp

Published: 15:45, 06 September 2019

Updated: 08:59, 07 September 2019

A charity received more than £3,000 in donations after volunteers rushed to help victims of a brutal attack.

The Urban Blue Bus was parked up in Maidstone’s town centre on the night Andre Bent was stabbed to death and four others were injured.

Volunteers from Urban Blue and Street Pastors gathered in Jubilee Square, Maidstone to hold a memorial service for Andre Bent

The volunteers were some of the first on the scene and launched into first aid, before paramedics arrived.

A 16-year-old recently appeared in court charged with murder, three attempted murders and possession of an offensive weapon.

Gallery nightclub owner, Devon Modell, who runs the club with his father, Trevor Modell, gave £3,752 to the charity and it is also set to get donations from The Brenchley, Source Bar, Bierkeller and the Rotary Club.

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Val Jacobs, who runs the organisation, said: “It is going to go far because we lost so much equipment.

“Some of the volunteers came out again the following Saturday, some of them can’t go inside the bus even though it has been cleaned.

“One of them worked to save Andre and he is so upset.

Volunteers from Urban Blue and Street Pastors held a memorial service for Andre Bent in Jubilee Square, Maidstone. Credit to Street Pastors

She explained how all of the volunteers had to go to the police station to give statements and their clothes were taken by police.

“I am so proud of my volunteers for doing everything they had been taught and for making the effort they did on Andre,” she added.

“I can’t thank everyone enough.”

An online fundraising page has been set up to help raise funds for the organisation to buy new equipment as well.

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MaidSafe has organised support sessions with counsellors for anyone involved with the incident.

Volunteers from Urban Blue and Street Pastors held a memorial service for Andre Bent in Jubilee Square, Maidstone. Credit to Street Pastors

The donations come shortly after Urban Blue Bus and Maidstone Street Pastors held a memorial service in Jubilee Square.

Charity workers, door staff, police, councillors, and members of the public joined together on Saturday, August 31 to pay tribute to Andre.

A couple from the county town has also organised a special event in the 21-year-old's memory.

SCNIS Limited, a Maidstone based company, were also at the service.

Its director, Michael Swan, had been working the doors of Mcdonald’s in Week Street when he heard calls over the radio about a mass brawl.

The security guard heard someone shout knife and ran down to Jubilee Square to help.

Michael Swan (16090050)

Once he arrived, the 28-year-old explained he saw a ‘guy waving a machete and a guy waving a belt around’.

“All I could think about was the safety of the other people. We just had to watch each others backs from all directions.”

Mr Swan positioned himself near the Urban Blue Bus, which was helping to assist those who had been hurt.

“We just had to try and control the situation.

Mr Swan attended the memorial service held in the square, where he laid flowers in his memory.

Andre Bent (right) with sister Michaela and cousin Louis (16118224)

He added: “We have to stick together as a community, the volunteers at Urban Blue did an amazing job,they did everything they could.”

Prayers were led by Maidstone Street Pastor chairman, Arthur Houston, before bouquets of flowers were laid.

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone

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