Charity & Community News

Community news from across the counties

The National Garden Scheme (NGS) doesn’t just open beautiful gardens for charity, they are passionate about the physical and mental health benefits of gardens too. They also support charities and help community gardening projects. They have donated over £63 million to nursing and health charities and made an annual donation of over £3 million in 2021. Their core beneficiaries include Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK and The Queen’s Nursing Institute. For more information and to view all the open gardens near you, visit www.ngs.org.uk. Nature-friendly road verges are helping pollinators across West Sussex. If you notice a verge with grass that’s longer than you’d expect, it’s likely to have been left to help nature. Inspired by the council’s Pollinator Action Plan, which aims to increase the number of crucial pollinating insects - bees and moths – this has become a much higher priority in recent years. Friends of South Downs are focussed on the pollution caused by plastic tree guards. On 21 May their band of volunteers collected over 700 plastic tree Guards for recycling in Singleton Forest in partnership with Forestry England. Details on: www.friendsofthesouthdowns.org.uk/ban-plastic -tree-guards Sussex Search & Rescue, a team of volunteers that support Sussex Police in searching for vulnerable missing people, has been awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. This is the highest award that can be given to voluntary groups in the UK. More information on the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and all winners can be found at www.gov.uk/queens-award -for-voluntary-service The end-of-life charity Marie Curie is calling on people in Sussex to throw a Blooming Great Tea Party in July to help fund vital care and support for those living with a terminal illness, and their families. Simply set a date and invite family, friends, or colleagues to tuck into a treat and catch-up over a cuppa. Every penny raised will go towards ensuring more people have access to the care and support they need at the end of life. More details at: www.mariecurie.org.uk/ teaparty or contact your local Community Fundraiser Clara Gill on Clara.Gill@mariecurie.org.uk / 07717 480602. Arundel & South Downs MP, Andrew Griffith, is leading a bid for West Sussex to pioneer trialling new acoustic cameras to catch anti-social road users in the act. The Department of Transport confirmed it would be trialling four innovative noise cameras across England and Wales. Andrew Griffith MP has joined forces with Sussex Police, the Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne, West Sussex County Council, Sussex Safer Roads Partnership and local campaign groups, to make the case for a camera to be located on the noise ‘hotspot’ on the A29 at Bury Hill. West Sussex Libraries are looking for volunteers from age 14 up to support children with the Summer Reading Challenge in libraries. The ideal commitment is a minimum of 10 hours from July to September but there can be flexibility in choosing days and times. Young applicants could also use this volunteering opportunity as part of their Duke of Edinburgh award, (must be agreed with the library in advance). For more details and to apply visit www.westsussex.gov.uk and search for ‘Summer Reading Challenge volunteer’. S tu den ts from West Sussex Alternative Provision College (WSAPC) brought a sustainability and recycling stall to the “Goodwoof” dog event at Goodwood recently. Students teamed up to make a range of products from recycled materials, including dog toys, bandanas and waste bag pouches; they raised a total of £2,012 for WSAPC’s College Enterprise Fund. WSAPC delivers the equivalent of 292 full time places for children and young people from West Sussex who have been permanently excluded, those at risk of exclusion and those out of school for medical reasons.

Hospice seeks nurses

Like other hospices, Chestnut Tree House are currently looking for more nurses, from a variety of backgrounds, to join their team to care for children and young people with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions in Sussex and South East Hampshire. You might be already working within palliative care, or be a paediatric, adult or learning disabilities registered nurse looking for a new challenge. If this sounds like you, or someone you know, you can find out more by visiting www.chestnut.org.uk/job-type/clinical. Playscheme needs helpers

The Chanctonbury Community playscheme is a registered charity which provides support during the school holidays for young people with disabilities. They offer a three week provision for 5-19 year-olds from 1st August from their base at Oak Grove college in Worthing. Activities include swimming, trips out - and have just generally have a fun time, which also involves eating pizza, ice cream and making new friends. This gives respite to parents and carers to give them time to spend with other children, go shopping or just sit and have a quiet cup of coffee. The scheme is entirely volunteer-led and funded, and the charity is looking for additional helpers this summer. Anyone from the age of 14 upwards is welcome to come and join in the fun, and there is lots of help and support. For more information email ccpsorganiser@gmail.com. St Michael’s hall is for hire

St Michael's Parish in High Salvington would like to expand the renting of its hall following hard times during lockdown. The hall is a large, comfortable and welcoming place for people to gather for social activities, either one-off or regular. Contact the Parish Office on 01903 264770. www.stmichaels-worthing.org.uk Worthing Beach - no Blue Flag

Worthing Beach is being prevented from gaining a prestigious Blue Flag award by Southern Water’s “release of uncertified sewage” according to Cllr Vicki Wells, Cabinet Member for the Environment at Adur & Worthing Council.

‘Best of British’

Paint your own unique pottery piece

Call 01903 893353 to book

At Squire’s Garden Centres

Squire’s Garden Centres London Road, Washington, West Sussex, RH20 3BP

Queen’s Award for village shop

The Findon Village Shop & Post Office, which was saved from closure thanks to the local community, has been awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service - the highest award available to local volunteer groups across the UK. In May 2017 the shop faced closure, but in just one week the community raised over £400,000 which enabled a successful bid, refurbishment and the purchase of initial stock in order to be a registered Community Benefit Society, and the shop re-opened six months later, It is open every day of the year except Christmas. Other than a full-time manager and a remunerated team operating the Post Office Counter, all involved, from the management committee to all who clean, serve behind the counter or buy the stock are volunteers. Purchases are from local providers wherever possible and deliveries are made to people who are housebound or unable to carry their shopping home. All profits are returned to the community. Support is provided to the village pre-school play group and Christmas hampers have been provided for families in need. The Post Office is run at a commercial loss because the village needs the huge range of banking and financial services it provides. Social housing is provided in its own property. Informal information and advice is always available from the groups and networks using their local shop as a social meeting point and it even functions as a tourist and information centre. Many congratulations to everyone involved! Opening hours are Monday-Saturday 7am-7pm, Sunday 7am-12noon. 01903 877110 www.findonvillagestore.org.

Stories to info@sussexlocal.net

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