Free arts and crafts sessions for parents and children are being offered thanks to a partnership between a Covid hero and a council.

Reshmi Kalam, who has previously been recognised for her Covid Community Role, has set up a craft group at the Maidstone Islamic Centre (MIC).

The 32-year-old first introduced family support sessions in January, running them every week.

The group started with the intention to help families with children aged up to five, irrespective of their culture, background, religious beliefs or gender.

Reshmi says families in the community have been really affected by Covid, and groups like this one make them feel encouraged to come out and enjoy things like they used to do before.

During the sessions various activities are available, including book reading, sensory skills, social playgroups, baking workshops, and lots more.

The response was so immense that Reshmi has now been able to team up with Kent County Council (KCC), Maidstone Children's Centre and Kent Adult Education to run a new arts and crafts group.

Reshmi said: "The KCC staff at the Maidstone Children's Centre have proactively collaborated to help this group by supplying resources or staff needed, managed by Kareen McKeown, along with two of her wonderful early help workers, Laura Enache and Asma Chowdhury.

"They are an absolute godsend for their endless support – which makes this group so successful. They bring new activities and ideas for the kids every week.

"Their help has bolstered my vision to its perfection and their expertise are a consistent support, irrespective of the size of the group that we have.

"Caroline Grover, interim curriculum manager at Kent Adult Education, decided to pour in more support by offering to conduct free art and craft sessions for the group.

"This is the kind of professional aid we always wanted.

"Being joined by this amazing team I am finding it super exciting, and I think both the organisations have gone extra mile to make this group thrive.

"We encourage more such groups and events to be held in future and families to be part of it."

The Family Funtime group at MIC is still running every Thursday from 10 to 11.30am.

Additionally, the arts and crafts group will run on a rota basis, with parents being notified of the session date and times via email.

To book a place, parents who have not previously attended the group can register by email to reshmi.kalam@maidstonemosque.com.