Newhaven Twinning Association News

Newhaven Twinning Association

An open and friendly association to which we hope all people will feel welcome by: Encouraging contact and friendship between individuals, groups and civic leaders in the towns of Newhaven & La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin.

In spite of the pandemic, Newhaven Twinning Association are keeping in touch with members here and in France using Zoom, with bi-lingual quizzes most months.

We also meet every Sunday morning (weather permitting) at 10:30 am for socially distanced Petanque. We meet at the Boules court opposite the Hope Inn by the riverside. It's free, but to keep safe you will need your own set of boules and can only play with members of your household or support bubble. Anyone can come along to watch or take part and there is no charge.

If you have any questions, contact Norman Hopson on 01273 588193 or email norman.hopson@btinternet.com.

Community asked to ‘March for Martlets’

Make a difference and get moving for hospice care –

Martlets is asking people in the community to connect with hospice care and get moving during the month of March with their fundraising activity ‘March for Martlets’. The charity is encouraging everyone – young and old – to take a step in the right direction to raise money for their local hospice. Martlets has kept caring day and night for over 2,200 patients with lifelimiting illnesses and supporting their loved ones across the community during the Covid-19 pandemic.

March for Martlets will be the charity’s first event of 2021 and due to Covid restrictions, people are encouraged to sign up and pledge to raise sponsorship for their own personal walking, running or marching target. Martlets cares for local people across an area of 34 square miles of Sussex, taking in Brighton and Hove, from Portslade in the West to Newhaven in the East. The charity is hoping people will be inspired by that distance, so whether it’s a 3.4 km walk per day, 34 times up and down the stairs every morning or 34 miles in total, everyone can make a difference - sign up at www.martlets.org.uk/take-part

Over the past 12 months, Martlets’ charity shops have had to close during lockdown and all fundraising events have been cancelled - while the need for hospice care and support is greater than ever. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Martlets has seen a 25% rise in calls to its phone hub, which offers expert advice and support to patients, families, carers and other professionals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. During April to September 2020, Martlets’ phone hub handled 7,456 calls from community patients and their families, and 7,891 from healthcare professionals. In many cases, crisis callers were only one call away from ringing 999.

Martlets supports people, living with a terminal illness, across the city and beyond. These people need pain management, symptom relief, emotional support and mobility care. Due to the impact of COVID-19 and social distancing measures, many people with a terminal illness are having to cope with long periods of isolation. They may also have decided not to go to hospital for treatment or visit their GP as often. This means the team at Martlets are working harder than ever to reach and support many more people with complex needs.

Martlets is hoping that it can encourage people to remember its hard-working doctors, nurses and wider healthcare teams, and show their support by virtually walking alongside them. Signing up to March for Martlets to raise a donation, no matter how large or small, will help Martlets to keep caring.

www.martlets.org.uk