Right at Home Maidstone Officially Opens Its Doors

Friends, family and local organisations came together to celebrate the launch of our family-run homecare service.

After months of planning, preparation and hard work, we were delighted to officially launch Right at Home Maidstone and welcome guests to celebrate the beginning of our journey.

Our launch event was held at the Maidstone Innovation Centre, where our office is based. Opened in 2018, the council-run business hub is home to a range of organisations across the health wellbeing and professional services sectors, creating opportunities to build local connections and collaborate with like-minded businesses that support the Maidstone community. Throughout the afternoon, we welcomed around 20 guests, including local business owners, healthcare professionals, community leaders, friends and family.

We were particularly honoured to be joined by the Mayor of Maidstone, Councillor Brian Clark, alongside Councillor Stephen Thompson, Cabinet Member for Healthier Stronger Communities, representatives from One Maidstone, BBN Networking and other local organisations. Their attendance reflected the importance of community partnerships and provided an opportunity to build relationships with groups that are passionate about supporting local people and strengthening community connections across Maidstone.

We also had the opportunity to speak with the Mayor of Maidstone, Councillor Brian Clark, about his journey in local government and his passion for supporting Maidstone's communities. Our conversations focused on the importance of helping people remain independent, connected and confident within the communities they have built their lives in.

Having friends and family there to support us made the occasion even more meaningful.

As a family-run business, relationships are incredibly important to us. We know that supporting people to live independently at home often takes a community effort, which is why it was so encouraging to spend time with organisations that are making a positive difference across Maidstone. Throughout the afternoon we spoke with local businesses, healthcare professionals and community groups about the services they provide and the role they play in supporting local residents.

One conversation that stood out was with the team from Xcel Health, who shared more about the physiotherapy services and community classes they offer locally. We discussed the important role movement, strength and confidence can play in helping people remain active and independent, as well as the opportunities available for people who may benefit from additional support to stay mobile and connected to their community.

Guests were invited to take a tour of our office before enjoying lunch and networking with others from across the Maidstone community. Conversations throughout the afternoon ranged from reducing social isolation and supporting independence, through to identifying opportunities for local organisations to work together in the future.

One of the most memorable moments of the day was seeing everything finally come to life. After months of planning, preparation and hard work behind the scenes, it was incredibly rewarding to see our office filled with people, conversations and activity. What had started as an idea had become a reality, and being able to share that moment with our family, friends and the wider Maidstone community made the occasion even more special.

Alongside the official speeches and networking, we wanted the event to be interactive and enjoyable.

Around the room, guests could take part in a lucky dip, try their hand at table tennis and get involved in a variety of conversation and team-building activities.

One of the most popular areas was our training station, where visitors were encouraged to have a go using our CPR training equipment and choking response vest.

The activity sparked lots of conversation and gave guests an insight into the training our Carers undertake as part of their role. At Right at Home Maidstone, we are committed to ensuring our team receive comprehensive training and regular refresher sessions, helping them maintain the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to provide safe, high-quality care. For families, that reassurance is important, knowing the person supporting their loved one has received up-to-date training and ongoing professional development.

For a bit of added fun, we also asked guests to suggest a name for our CPR training dummy. After plenty of suggestions and a few laughs, "Stephen" was chosen in honour of Councillor Stephen Thompson, giving our training companion an official identity of his own!

Everyone also left with a Right at Home goody bag containing branded water bottles, running belts and pens as a small thank you for joining us.

Hearing such positive feedback from our guests was incredibly encouraging and made us even more excited about the future.

Managing Director of Right at Home Maidstone, Ayesha Qureshi commented:

"Launching Right at Home Maidstone has been something we've been working towards for a long time, so being able to share that moment with our family, friends and the wider community was incredibly special."

We would like to thank everyone who attended, supported us and helped make the day such a success.

This event marked the start of our journey, and we look forward to becoming a trusted part of the Maidstone community while supporting local people to live safely, independently and happily in the place they call home.