Charity&Community News

Sussex Snippets

Charity & Community news from across the counties

Discover your local library! West Sussex Libraries have asked us to remind readers about all the things your local library can offer: • Free, warm welcoming spaces for everyone • Computers for people to use • Free Wi-fi in every library • Regular free activities – children’s rhyme times & story times, knit and natter sessions, reading groups, board games and jigsaws • Digital volunteers to help people get online if you are nervous or new to the internet • Take home toys – children can take home up to three toy bags (for up to three weeks, with no late fees!) • Newspapers and magazines • Books for people wanting to start new hobbies, learn a language and more They also offer Home Library Direct for people who are unable to visit personally. Lastly they are always on the lookout for more volunteers. www.westsussex.gov.uk/libraries. Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) Katy Bourne is inviting residents to provide their thoughts on policing priorities in a survey about police funding through council tax. You can provide your views on potential increases and tell Katy what you want the police to focus on. The short online survey is at www.sussex-pcc.gov.uk. A new initiative from the West Sussex Waste Partnership (West Sussex and District/Borough councils). is aiming to improve recycling rates in students aged 15-24. The partnership is working with the University of Chichester and the Chichester College Group (at Brinsbury, Chichester, Crawley, Haywards Heath, and Worthing). Concern about children’s mental health and the negative messages in children's media has led two dads to launch a fun and satirical podcast and magazine aimed at promoting kindness and mental resilience in children. Martin Spinelli is a professor at the University of Sussex while Lance Dann teaches at the University of Brighton. Their podcast is called The Rez and it has also just been accredited to be taught in schools as part of the PSHE curriculum. www.jointherez.com South Downs MP Andrew Griffith has made the views of his constituents known in his response to the new routes published by the Rampion 2 proposed windfarm, calling it a “cable motorway” that would “leave a scar on the South Downs”. Andrew says that “vast swathes of delicate chalkland in the South Downs will be trenched” to accommodate the cables and accompanying access roads which will run from Climping beach through to a new substation at Cowfold, via Storrington and Washington. Rampion say that all disturbed land will be restored after the work is completed. See the routes at www.rampion2.com/consultation-2022. A fresh and redesigned website has been launched by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to support those living with mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity conditions. www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk. West Sussex-landscaper Paul Greenyer is baring all for the horticultural charity, Perennial, in its ‘Naked Grubby Gardener’s calendar” for 2023. Proceeds are going towards its work helping people from the horticultural industry to improve their financial and mental well-being. The calendar is available to purchase online at www.perennial.org.uk. Potholes are a big source of frustration for all road users, and in the six months from April 2022 West Sussex Highways say approximately 22,000 were filled. They are also taking a holistic approach to the condition of our roads, with whole roads and larger sections completely resurfaced to make them more resilient to potholes, and “vastly reduce the need for smallscale, disruptive repairs”. You can report a pothole at www.westsussex.gov.uk or by phone to 01243 642105 if it is an immediate safety risk. The Sussex Sunday Walkers programme runs from October to March with walks usually 12 16 miles long, starting and ending at the same car park, with a pub stop along the route. www.sussexsundaywalkers.org.uk

Charity & Community News

Citizens Advice offer local drop in sessions Citizens Advice Horsham are now offering advice sessions in village and semi-rural communities in the Horsham District to support those who find it difficult to access advice digitally or are unable to travel into town centres. • Roffey, St Andrews Methodist Church RH12 4DX. 9th Jan 2-4pm then alternate Mondays • Billingshurst Library, RH14 9JZ. 6th Jan 10am1pm then alternate Fridays Sessions are also available at Storrington, Pulborough, Steyning and Henfield. Full details are at www.advicewestsussex.org.uk/horshamoutreach-drop-ins. Further on-street electric car charging points As a result of collaboration between Horsham District Council and West Sussex County Council, additional funds have been awarded to the West Sussex Chargepoint Network to provide more electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints for Horsham District residents who live in areas which have no off-street parking. Unattached people - new year, new beginning! Many people find that those weeks after Christmas and New Year provide a time to reflect and make decisions about changes they would like in their lives. The Group, a Sussex club for unattached men and women aged 55+, has venues in Worthing, Burgess Hill, Brighton, Lewes and Horsham. The Group isn’t a dating agency but it does offer a great opportunity to meet new friends of both sexes in a welcoming atmosphere. There are walks, pub evenings, theatre trips, golf, galleries, lunches and dinners, live music, holidays, and much more. The Group, a non-profit organisation, has been operating for 17 years and there are over 300 members. www.thegroup.org.uk Council LEAP funding supports local business Horsham District councillors recently attended the official opening of The Horsham Sports Injury Clinic. The clinic has benefitted from two rounds of LEAP funding awarded from Horsham District Council which has supported expansion of the business with training and new systems.

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Charity & Community News

Walking football moves to Holbrook Walking football has finished its long season on the grass pitch at Shipley. Tuesday morning sessions are now at Holbrook Club on artificial surface. Although the grass pitch is now too slippery and unsafe for walking football, there are now two boys’ and one girls’ team, from three different Junior clubs making use of it for 9-aside matches. It is providing a much needed facility for up to 65 local children each week. Horsham and Shipley Community Project Walking Football is just one of the activities offered by the Horsham and Shipley Community Project, most of which are based at Shipley Football Club on the A272. The Men’s Shed is open on Mondays and Tuesdays where all kinds of woodwork and other projects are conceived and realised. Or if you just want to go along for some company and a cuppa, you’ll be welcome. There are four all-weather Petanque pitches. All newcomers are welcome whether experienced or otherwise; all ages are welcome and there is wheelchair access. The main session is held on Tuesdays at 1015, and on Friday evenings in summer. Health Walks are organised on Wednesdays. The distance is usually between four and eight miles and most will be reasonably flat - although often with some stiles along the way! Good walking shoes, weather appropriate clothes, plenty of water and moderate fitness is required. For those with maybe a little more energy, there are two grades of bike rides held each month. The Leisure rides are around 20 miles along mainly tarmac roads. The Professional rides are for the more hard core! The Green Team are a group who love to work outside maintaining and enhancing the site and everything that involves. The group meets every Monday at 9.30 rain or shine! www.horshamshipleycommunityproject.org Stories to info@sussexlocal.net