Moving to Kent

[MultitaskingMumma]

Hello all, my family and I are moving to the Kent area so I'm after any help/advice/pointers please.

Does anyone live in Rainham/Chatham area? Is it a 'safe area' for my black family and I? We are looking in Walderslade/Lordswood area. Any advice would be greatly appreciated? :)

My friend and her young adult son live in Chatham. She has no issues with it and it has been safe.
She moved two years ago from Abbey Wood.
I believe, from memory when I've driven through, Walderslade is nice.

Yes it’s quite nice and you can get so much more for your money moving an extra 30 mins away from London

Yes I know. I think about it often. My friend's place was a great price.
I'm right on London/ Essex border and even buying here was more than I could ever get where I grew up in zone 3 South london.
If not for my children and staying close to their father I'd move further too.
Definitely plan in 10 years or so if still affordable.

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I live close by. Overall the Medway Towns are very, very diverse now. Much more than they were 5 years ago. It depends on where you in Rainham. Some of it is nice, some quite deprived. The areas you mentioned in Chatham are good, the rest of it can also be quite deprived.

Thank you for replying :) After visiting a few times we have realised exactly what you have said! Sometimes we'll be looking at a lovely detached home and as you turn the corner there are not so nice houses but overall there are lovely homes and we're putting offers in which is less stressful then making a substantial offer in London and entering a bidding war for every offer made, its so stressful! Also the schooling system seems great out there, so many Ofsted 'Outstanding' schools and Grammar schools.Thank you!

That's great, thank you for easing my mind! Safety is most important for us as I have an 18 year old that loves to socialize (as they do) but he went out last week and was commandeered by some boys in East London and I've just had enough of these stories.

My Mr and I were literally talking about what we think the house prices will be like in 10 years in the area as we've noticed the slight increase in the last 6 months we've been looking. Fingers crossed the prices will remain steady for you :)

I live in Chatham, in one of the rougher bits. It’s fine. Main problem is fly tipping - I’ve been here 30 years. Never been burgled and have no problems with the young people round here.
I’ve just realised this is in black mumsnetters, sorry - it came up on the active threads. I’m white so my experience will reflect that but I brought up my mixed heritage (Irish/Jamaican) nephews here for 20 years and there weren’t really any issues. It’s a very diverse area - my neighbours are Ugandan on one side and Polish on the other. The kids all play together. There are loads of ethnic food shops and the Asda has several aisles of international foods which I think shows the diversity of cultures here. My friend teaches at one of the boys grammar schools and says it’s 50/50 black and white/european and although there are sometimes racial tensions it’s not black/white but different European cultures at the root. The football club runs a lot of stuff for young people.

Also, you can be at the beach (leysdown, seasalter) in half an hour!

So worrying for your son. Hope he was ok.

Do update on how thr house search develops.

Defo will keep you updated, thank you! :)

I realise this thread is a few months old now, but does anyone live in Sevenoaks? Thinking of moving there soon and wanted to get a feel of how it is there for Black families in general.

Thank you, we have brought now and will be moving next week. Your post was so helpful thank you :)

My friend lives there, she loves it. It’s not as diverse as she wanted it but has had no issues and her neighbours are lovely.

Ah thats good to know! Does she have school aged children? How do they find it? Any recommendations?

hope your move goes well @MultitaskingMumma.🌸

Amazing! Hope you are very happy here. If your kids are into gaming/video/3d printing type stuff look up Electric Medway!

It was stressful but we’re in! Thank you so much for the well wishes.

It’s so quiet and lovely and our neighbours are great. So happy we made the move :)

Yes they are, I will definitely check this out with them. Thank you! :)