One Folkestone

Community partnership

1F Newsletter #1
January 2026

Welcome to our first newsletter

It begins here and now!
We hope 2026 has got off to a good start for you and yours.

The aim of One Folkestone is to tackle long term issues in our community
by working together in partnership across the voluntary sector,
alongside the private sector and local authority elected representatives.

We see great potential for the group in influencing major spending and resourcing decisions by using our collective community commitment and expertise.
This first 1F newsletter is to keep you and interested parties informed
about the thinking and the planning behind One Folkestone.
So let’s look at our starting points for this new collaborative group…

Firstly: We are inviting you to affiliate to 1F as an individual or as a group:
If you support the concept, simply email back YES!
Next: One Folkestone events & activities are being programmed from now onwards.
See initial info below.
And also… watch out for new social media links shortly
Our website is ‘a work in progress’ and a useful starting point for now…

Community Building Network: a visible sign of One Folkestone
Some of you know that the One Folkestone team have been negotiating with KCC,
along with Creative Folkestone and other partners proposing a new partnership model for the Grace Hill Library to combine arts, library and community usage.
At the time of writing, KCC have not yet engaged in direct discussions with all parties around the table on this plan to see up to £6m invested in the building.
Two weeks ago, KCC voted to put this grand building up for sale instead.
Last week, however, Folkestone Town Council voted through
a strong expression of interest in working with us and our community
and are offering a new deal to help secure the future of this iconic building.
Meanwhile, we are exploring options on several fronts to develop
the Community Building Network plan for local spaces to work together,
promoting collaboration and joined up thinking for effective community support.

Watch this space!

If you want to share this newsletter and info with friends and colleagues, please do so!

On our website, you’ll find the beginnings of our longer term agenda for regeneration,

under six main headings. The graphic below shows these six key areas.

Plans for 2026

This year, we are hoping to pull together a number of key strands of work.
The graphic below shows these 8 programmes..

1. We are looking to build membership – interested parties who support our aims

2. We hope to create a steering group for each of the key areas for action

3. We hope to expand the Community Building Network – a practical partnership of venues working together to empower individuals and community groups

4. We are involved in the Folkestone Is A Library programme: promoting ideas, words & communication across our community

5. We are working on a bulletin board, where you can add ideas, comments or projects which you might be looking to move forward with support from others.

6. We are working with Folkestone Performing Arts Company on an idea for community theatre with the working title of Sold Out ‘26…

7. We will be arranging a series of community health and wellbeing workshops in partnership with Folkestone and Hythe District Council and others

8. We will be running a series of themed seminars – linked to the development of the 1F Steering groups

Who is behind
 One Folkestone

One Folkestone is a model for long term regeneration planing
which has emerged from work done collectively through the Folkestone Community Partnership.
The New Folkestone Society and Sunflower House – local community organisations
are providing interim support, while the 1F structure is developed for community ownership.
One Folkestone is recognised by Folkestone and Hythe District Council, Folkestone Town Council, Tony Vaughan MP, Creative Folkestone & Folkestone Community Forum.
We are a strictly non-party political group and focused entirely on community partnership work.
We welcome offers of support and practical help, particularly with shaping the six steering groups.

Find out more by visiting our website: www.folkest.one