Harmony first started back in 1999 to support all ages and all groups of people whether disabled, with special needs, underprivileged or able-bodied… its core aims were to improve communication, tolerance and understanding between people through creative expression. Creator John Kingdon worked tirelessly for over 15 years to provide this space for people to feel safe and be able to express themselves.
Ill health forced John to step down in 2019 and the charity risked closure, only just surviving covid with the support of government grants. Then in 2021 a local music promoter and good friend of Johns, chose to come and revitalise Harmony and dedicate her life to saving what had been so passionately created in the two decades previously.
As Zoe Sparkle rebuilt Harmony from the ground up, she gathered a team of talented creatives and professional individuals to become the first new volunteers, and together they regenerated and rescued the almost 100 year old building. A year later Harmony was hosting regular dance classes for young children, monthly live jam nights for under 18s, summer eco craft workshops, and an inclusive drama group that would have made creator John proud, which included members of the very first group that started back in 1999. We even bought together a group of under 30's to host Maidstone's first ever Pride event in June this year.
Through the new workshops and events now regularly held at Harmony we have supported many young people, struggling with neurodiversity, mental health and life in general, they say: “It brings me joy to find a space where people get me”, “It’s increased my confidence” and “there is nowhere like this locally”. The parents of our young attendees tell us: “Harmony has truly transformed his life” and “he now feels like he belongs somewhere where adults see past his ADHD, treat him with kindness and actively encourage and help him”.
We’ve done the best we can for the past three years with volunteers, equipment donations and small local authority grants, however we can no longer carry on without serious funding and investment to save not only our building and our part time dedicated staff, but the young people we support and assist.
Please help us, to help our young people build their confidence through our creative activities and community connections. Without help, it’ll be the final curtain for Harmony in December 2024.
If we cannot make our minimal target of £10,000 we will use the money raised so far to host a series of events and workshops in Maidstone town centre for our young community under the Harmony name.