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Charity&Community News
Charity & Community news from across the counties
Steven Rushmer, age 17 from West Sussex has been given The British Citizen Youth Award. Now in its eighth year, the award honours 25 young people from across the UK who have made a difference in their communities and society as a whole. For the past three years Steven has given up his weekends leading up to Remembrance Day to volunteer by selling Poppies for the Royal British Legion. 4Sight Vision Support, which offers support to blind and sight impaired residents of all ages throughout West Sussex, provides specialist advisors who guide its clients through the process of identifying and accessing benefits and concessions to which they may be entitled. If you or someone you know needs support accessing benefits and concessions call 01243 828555 or visit www.4sight.org.uk West Sussex County County (WSCC) has renewable energy systems - including two solar farms and many more solar panels on its buildings - which generated more than 16,000 MWh of clean electricity last year. That’s enough to power more than 5,500 average UK homes. This prevented 3,700 tonnes of CO2 being released into the atmosphere compared to generating the same amount of electricity from fossil fuels. The Warmer Homes programme is still available to residents in West Sussex and aims to help raise the energy efficiency of low-income and low -energy performance homes. Funding is available for things like roof, underfloor, wall and park home insulation, air source heat pumps, solar panels, storage heaters and heating controls. Apply quickly so you don't miss out and please pass this information to anyone you think may benefit from this programme. More details at www.warmerhomes.org.uk/programme Applications are now open for children who start in reception at primary and infant schools in September 2023. The quickest and easiest way is to apply is online and the deadline for applications is 15 January 2023. Search for Starting School Places at www.westsussex.gov.uk. The next major fundraiser for Air Ambulance charity Kent Sussex Surrey (KSS) is Host a Roast in which people invite friends, family or colleagues in November to enjoy a roast and, through donations, raise vital funds. To find out more about Host a Roast or other opportunities to support KSS, please visit www.aakss.org.uk David Bathurst, author of several walking guides both local and national, has just written a guide called “Exploring the Bridleways of Sussex”. It is the definitive practical and armchair guide to Sussex bridleways which provide the perfect means of exploring the countryside. The book costs £15 and all profits will be donated to Friends of Sussex Hospices. David will be signing copies at Shoreham Art Gallery BN43 5WA (just by Shoreham railway station) between 11am and 3pm on Saturday November 12th. The Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Centre (Portsmouth) is for anyone affected by cancer, patients and loved ones. It helps with emotional support, counselling, financial advice, self-management workshops and signposting to other professional or voluntary services – all free of charge. The charity is looking for Meet & Greet Volunteers to welcome visitors in by offering refreshments and a listening ear to all that come through the door. If you have a friendly disposition, and want to spend some spare time helping others feel supported, then this could be perfect for you. If you can help please email macmillancentre@porthosp.nhs.uk or give them a call on 02392 283 323 for more information. Community stories are printed free of charge. Please email info@sussexlocal.net
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Charity & Community News
Rotary Club Book Stall raises £10k for local causes The Rotary Club of Storrington & Pulborough District continues to welcome customers on Saturday mornings at Place Villerest, Storrington and now has other outlets in Pulborough Station and Stable Antiques, Storrington. The running and organisation is carried out by a team of five with the support of other Club members and Rotary Friends. In the past year £10,000 has been raised helping the Rotary Club develop its community support programme including - Young Person’s development at Lodge Hill, Christmas Sacks distribution to needy families, local Pop-in lunches for the elderly and monthly film nights. Internationally, where disasters have struck, the Club has been able to help, more recently in Ukraine and Pakistan. Project leader Wendy Rendal-Jones is grateful for the support of her team and others involved in this major fund-raising project. “Sponsorship from Wall Bros Carpets and Flooring and the generous offer of space for our book sorting cabin at Instone-Air in Storrington has helped to ensure the success of our first year operating the Book selling programme and Rotary has, as a result, been able to extend its charitable outreach”. Evening of Christmas carols in Storrington Join Sandgate Singers for an evening of carols and refreshments on 4th December 7-9pm at Our Lady of England Church, Fern Road, Storrington, RH20 4LW. All are welcome. Tickets are £15 and include refreshments and are available from the card shop in Storrington and at the door: www.sandgatesingers.com St Barnabas House Light Up a Life gatherings Monday 12 December at 4.30pm or 7.00pm at Worthing Assembly Hall. Olivia’s mum, Michelle, spent her final weeks at St Barnabas House. Olivia: “Seeing her friends and watching her grandchildren play in the gardens brought mum so much joy. Donating to Light Up a Life is my way of saying thanks for everything St Barnabas did for our family.” Book free tickets and make a dedication: www.stbh.org.uk/light-up-a-life.
Charity & Community News
Storrington Conservation Society The first day of October, a sunny morning with gentle breeze, what better place to be than Hurston Warren with like minded company? A glorious setting for the work party to relish. The task? To further restore the SSSI, by clearing self seeded saplings. A good example of the ever changing landscape being conserved for the benefit of endangered species, such as the sand lizard. Also great restorative exercise for mind and body, uplifting the spirits, helped by a time to chat over a welcome cup of coffee. Our next work party is on 5th November at 10am and we are meeting at Hurston Warren again to continue on from our last session. As ever, all volunteers are welcome to join in. For information about this and our other activities, or on becoming a member, (no subscription is required, donations welcome) please get in touch with Chairman Mick Denness on 01903 745971 www.storringtonconservation.org.uk Horsham Foodbank needs urgent help Horsham Matters is launching a new “It Could Be You” campaign to increase understanding of the poverty levels amongst residents in the Horsham District. The charity runs the Horsham District Foodbank and provides food, fuel, and essential services to those experiencing hardship locally. In a recent survey, 50% of Foodbank users told the charity their need was a direct result of the cost-of-living crisis. Horsham District Foodbank, has provided almost 5,000 individual food parcels since the beginning of 2022, with 2,006 of these to children. Amalia Lovett, Network and Campaigns Lead for Horsham Matters, said “We are being pushed to our absolute capacity to meet demand from those in need. We need both money and food. We are also asking the public to send a message to their MP to urge them to increase the support to low-income households with further payments through the social security system and uprate social security benefits in line with inflation.” Easily send a message online via this form: https://bit.ly/3dxACRz. Or visit www.horsham-matters.org.uk
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