Charity & Community news

18 Charity & Community

Sussex Snippets The Good Neighbours scheme is run for West Sussex County Council (WSCC) by the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS). It connects people who may be feeling isolated with volunteers who offer their help during 12 arranged home visits. The RVS is appealing for new volunteers to donate their time to help clients of the Good Neighbours scheme across West Sussex, particularly in the Crawley and Worthing areas where there are currently several people on a waiting list to receive assistance. 01903 257019 or email gnwscoastal@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk Community and environmental aviation group, CAGNE, is urging supporters to write to the Secretary of State for Transport and demand that the growth proposed by Gatwick Airport from the main runway is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) under the Planning Act 2008 examination as it “will add approximately 55,000 extra flights a year - 340,000 aircraft movements by 2033 with 61m passengers added to the current infrastructure.” A suggested letter can be found at www.cagne.org. The LoCASE programme is a unique opportunity for small to medium size businesses in East Sussex to improve their energy efficiency and overall performance. With free energy audits and grant funding of up to £10,000, businesses can cut overheads, gain a competitive edge, and enhance their brands. This will be achieved with support from Carbon Smart –selected by East Sussex County Council to deliver the LoCASE project. Eligibility rules apply. 01323 790030. A crowdfunding programme launched in May 2018 has seen more than 100 community-led projects in West Sussex hit their target and the window is now open until Thursday 13 February for community groups to put forward new initiatives and projects they would like to receive funding for. The West Sussex Crowd, run in partnership by West Sussex County Council and civic crowdfunding website Spacehive, invites communities to come together and propose ideas to regenerate their local areas. Since its launch, more than 2,800 local people, businesses, district/ borough and town/parish councils have backed projects across the county, collectively raising over £750,000 and showing the strength of community buy-in for their ideas. www.westsussexcrowd.org.uk. Following Eastbourne Borough Council’s declaration of a climate emergency for the town, a new organisation, Eastbourne Carbon Neutral 2030 (ECN2030), has been set up to tackle the challenge of achieving zero carbon emissions within a decade. Meanwhile Hastings Borough Council has confirmed it is now looking at two possible sites to install solar panels, both in Hastings Country Park. Hastings has also pledged to be carbon neutral by 2030.

A December meeting of the WSCC Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee expressed concern over the programme and the predicted savings of the Whole Council Design project launched in 2019. In response to a report on the project by Katharine Eberhart, Director of Finance and Support Services, members noted: • The use of a new consultant was queried as work had already been done and there was a risk that a £19m investment might only achieve £17m of savings • Non delivery of savings would not invalidate work done by the previous consultants as many savings were to be made in areas of Children’s Services, such as using ipads to update cases on the road, which had subsequently needed increased spending in administrative support • Savings from the programme were at significant risk as the projects hadn’t reached delivery stage, but advances in IT meant the position to make progress had improved and there was confidence that the programme would achieve savings • The projected overspend of £1.5m was reported in the Total Performance Monitor and would be mitigated or balanced from reserves A further report on the programme with details of costs and savings would come to the Committee in January. Notices to: info@sussexlocal.net

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20 Charity & Community

Rough sleeping down Rough sleeping is down this winter in Adur and Worthing, early figures suggest. Data gathered by Adur & Worthing Councils shows that 15 people are regularly sleeping rough locally. Official government figures will be released in February, but rough sleeping numbers appear to have remained level, thanks to efforts by the Councils and their partners in the Worthing Rough Sleepers team. Made up of representatives from the police, health and social services and local charities, the team meets weekly to discuss individual cases and tackle underlying issues. Early this winter Adur & Worthing Councils stepped up their support for rough sleepers activating Severe Weather Emergency Protocols (SWEP). For a period of time, this released funding for local homelessness organisation Turning Tides to provide extra overnight accommodation for those in need. The Councils’ Outreach teams, supported by Worthing Tabernacle, also provided a drop-in centre from 7am to 9am when the shelters closed and until day services opened. Councils’ staff continue to be out and about ensuring that vulnerable individuals are directed to relevant services. Businesses and residents are encouraged to play their part. This includes: • Connecting rough sleepers to local support services via the Streetlink app. www.streetlink.org.uk. The

Notices: info@sussexlocal.net reports are checked and responded to by Adur & Worthing Councils Outreach staff and Rough Sleeper Coordinator • Buying those on the street food and hot drinks rather than giving money • Reporting any instances of antisocial behaviour to the police. In Worthing this winter there are 24 night shelter places for the rough sleeping community. These beds are provided by Worthing Winter Night Shelter faith groups with an additional shelter funded by central government and delivered by Turning Tides. There is also significant supported accommodation available for single homeless people, including beds provided by Turning Tides, Southdown Independent Living Scheme, the YMCA, Sanctuary and Homegroup. Estate agents cook for homeless A team of estate agents has come together to cook a traditional turkey dinner and spread some happiness for the homeless in Worthing. Team members from Jacobs Steel created the event to give homeless people the opportunity to have a festive celebration. Beach House Park improvements Worthing Borough Council’s parks team are carrying out a range of enhancements to Beach House Park in Brighton Road to ensure it remains a much-loved open space for years to come. The work will not only improve biodiversity, but also increase the types and varieties of plants to ensure the open space can better adapt to the ongoing effects of climate change. The Council is also taking steps to work with the local community to establish a new Friends of Beach House Park group so that residents can play a leading role in the future of the area.

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Charity & Community 21

Cycling 1,700 miles in 24 days Spencer Hodge and Dan Clark from Worthing decided to push boundaries and cycle an incredible 1,700 miles from Worthing to Sicily in July. The challenge took 24 days and they have just announced their final fundraising total –an incredible £10,000 for children’s hospice Chestnut Tree House. The pair cycled at altitude and faced all weather conditions; travelling across various terrains. They cycled over the French Alps into Switzerland, then into Italy and all the way down to Catania, Sicily; exploring some amazing cities along the way, including Paris, Milan, Rome and Naples. For more information visit www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk

Sock appeal for homeless The Adur Winter Sock Appeal has two collection points for new, unwanted items, established in the Shoreham Centre and Worthing Town Hall, with the aim of keeping those in need warm this winter. The idea came from Adur councillor Paul Mansfield, who slept rough for a week in March last year to highlight the plight faced by those with no shelter. Anyone who wishes to donate good-quality pairs of socks which are preferably thick or thermal lined, can drop them off at Shoreham Centre or Worthing Town Hall from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Help for new puppy owners A Sussex-based website has been set up which provides advice and support to new puppy parents. Thousands of puppies are bought every year in the UK, with seasonal peaks in puppy buying at Christmas and during the school summer holidays. Visitors to the website can access a range of dog and puppy care guides covering subjects from toilet training and teaching puppies to sleep at night, to preventing dog theft and administering first aid to dogs. www.ourfamilydog.co.uk