Charity & Community news

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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

Wey & Arun new guide The Wey & Arun Canal Trust has updated its essential guide, Visiting the Wey & Arun Canal. The latest publication has been revised to include recent restoration projects such as the £375,000 Gennets Bridge Lock and £375,000 Southland Lock, both near Loxwood, West Sussex, the circular walkway at Birtley in Surrey and the Thriscutt Slipway at Dunsfold on the Surrey/Sussex border. With handy maps and photos, historical background and practical advice on accessing the canal, the guide is an essential for those who want to get more out of their exploration of the 23-mile waterway. The guide covers the canal route in detail, with maps and extensive illustrations in full colour. It highlights the unmissable beauty spots, areas of restoration and original features and also explains the next steps needed to bring each section of the canal back into use. Wey & Arun Canal Trust chairman Sally Schupke said: "While the Canal Centre at Loxwood, West Sussex, and the public boat cruises offered from there may have helped many people explore one section of the canal, there are many other parts of the waterway that visitors have yet to discover. This guide offers a glimpse into the old and new of the canal, its route through the stunning Sussex and Surrey countryside, and provides a practical guide to getting the most from the Wey & Arun Canal."

Notices: info@sussexlocal.net The 72-page guide, priced £6, was first printed in 2012 and has been written and edited by volunteers Julian Cheek and Geoff Thomas. It is available from www.weyarun.org.uk/shop/. Year of Culture legacy Cllr Jonathan Chowen, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Leisure & Culture , writes: “After an incredibly exciting year, the Horsham District Year of Culture 2019 has now officially come to a close. Our hopes for a few events in the year were very quickly surpassed by the sheer volume of groups, organisations and makers who came together to put on an impressive programme with over 700 events across the district, touching the lives of thousands of residents and visitors. It has been a pleasure to visit some of these events, and it has been particularly pleasing that so many children get involved in them –from dancing on stage at The Capitol to parading through Horsham Town as part of the first children’s parade and carrying their lanterns high in Billingshurst Lantern Parade, to the very many artistic and theatrical endeavours, their involvement has been second to none. From local businesses sponsoring events, to venues giving up their spaces in kind, to performers, groups, artists, sculptors, event organisers, innovators and funders and the many, many volunteers involved –thank you. There are legacies to the project, including the Horsham Children's Parade, Horsham Film Festival, Sussex Comedian of the Year and it's spin off Stand Up Horsham, sculptures in Warnham Nature Reserve and Steyning. There's sure to be plenty of others coming from this wide-ranging programme. Thanks again for all your support”

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22 Charity & Community

West Chiltington resident awarded MBE in Queen’s honours list

West Chiltington resident Mark Apsey was awarded an MBE for services to sustainable energy and energy efficiency in the New Year Honours list. The 43 year old chemical engineer is a director with the energy efficiency company Ameresco. In his spare time Mark volunteers for the Institute of Chemical Engineer’s energy centre board of which he is chairman. Mark also leads technical and business development teams to help organisations including schools, hospitals and factories to identify and introduce energy-saving initiatives. Mark has lived in West Sussex all his life and has been living in West Chiltington for the last five years. Mark’s wife Teresa commented, “We are all so proud of Mark”.

Sock appeal for homeless The Adur Winter Sock Appeal has two collection points for new, unwanted items set up 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.

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