Young people urged to bid for Brussels

YOUNG people in West Sussex are being urged to bid for Brussels by giving their views on what it is like to be both a young UK citizen and part of Europe.

The call comes from West Sussex County Council Youth Cabinet, which is holding its annual Do You Speak European competition at County Hall, Chichester, on Friday June 11.

The competition is aimed at schools and youth groups. The winning team will win a place in the nationwide grand finals. The first prize is a trip to Brussels where the winners will take part in the international finals, which are being staged in the European Parliament.

Pandora Ellis, Youth Cabinet Co-ordinator, said: “International Citizenship is fast becoming a major part of the Citizenship curriculum in schools and youth groups.

“But our surveys show young people are struggling to understand how they fit in, what the European Union is and the difference between citizenship and international citizenship.

“This competition is designed to introduce young people to Europe and to explore the challenges and opportunities that Europe can present.”

Presentations can be in any format.

“PowerPoint, drama, interactive dialogue, speeches, mime – whatever the competitors feel most comfortable with – can be used to get their message across,” said Pandora.

The teams – which must be no more than five young people – will be judged by a panel comprising MPs, MEPs, County Councillors, academics and members of the Youth Cabinet.

Brad Watson OBE, County Council Cabinet Member responsible for the Youth Cabinet, said: “The competition is an excellent way of giving young people the opportunity to find out for themselves what it means to be part of Europe, as well as a citizen of the UK. It helps them understand what the EU is and how they fit in.”

For further information about the competition email Pandora at pandora.ellis@westsussex.gov.uk

Free composting advice

Crawley Borough Council is offering free advice on home composting at the Town Hall next week.

Home Compost Week runs from May 2-9. Displays, expert advice and special offers will be available on Tuesday May 4 and Thursday May 6 from 9am-12 noon.

Crawley Borough Council is running the event in association with Better Tomorrows and West Susses County Council.

For more information about home composting visit www.bettertomorrows.org.uk or www.wsussex.getcomposting.com or call 01243 642106.

Magistrates’ open day

Crawley Magistrates’ Court is opening its doors to the public next month to help people find out more about the life of a magistrate.

The open day, on Saturday May 15, runs from 10am-12 noon at the courtrooms in Woodfield Road. The day aims to encourage more people to become magistrates and to discover what the role involves.

Magistrates are ordinary people who perform a vital role for the community.

They come from a wide variety of diverse backgrounds and occupations:

postmen, teachers, shop assistants and train drivers – anyone can be a magistrate. But what they have in common is high personal integrity and a commitment to serve their community.

Kevin Harrison JP, Chairman Sussex (Northern) Advisory Sub-Committee, said:

“What is not widely realised is that magistrates play a key role in the judicial process and hear more than 95 per cent of all criminal cases, including many that affect the public, such as anti-social behavior.

“It is really important that magistrates reflect the local community. We’ve gone a long way to achieve that in north Sussex but we are always on the lookout for more people. Selection is based purely on merit regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.”

An open mind, maturity and the ability to work well with others are more important than any formal qualifications. You need to be aged 18-64 who can commit to a minimum of 26 half-day sittings per year. In return you’ll get full training, and a responsible and satisfying role.

If you are interested in becoming a magistrate, please contact Mid-Sussex Magistrates’ Court (Administration Office) on 01444 472603 who will be happy to give you more information. Alternatively, go to www.direct.gov.uk/magistrates

Task Force to be set up to improve Blue Badges scheme

West Sussex County Council’s Adults’ Services Select Committee is setting up a Task Force to help stamp out fraudulent use of blue badges.

It will include members of the Committee and the Strategic Environmental Services Select Committee, and will look at the issues raised about the scheme.

It will also help shape a County Council response to a Department for Transport Blue Badge Reform Programme consultation.

The Committee debated how to make sure badges are only used by the people they are issued to and what happens to the badge in the event of that person’s death to stop it being used by relatives.

The Committee discussed how to get access to registered deaths data to help with monitoring the use of blue badges. It was recommended the County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Protection make the information on the county’s registered deaths held by the Registration Service available to the scheme.

Irene Richards, Chairman of the Adults’ Services Select Committee, said:

“In West Sussex, for every 1,000 of the population, 67 have blue badges, so this issue is right at the heart for our residents.

“It is vital the administration process and use of the badges are looked at thoroughly to ensure they are being used appropriately, and to their full potential.”

A webcast of the meeting can be found at http://www.westsussex.public-i.tv/site/

Composting – ‘give it a grow’, says County Council

‘GIVE it a grow!’ That’s what West Sussex County Council will be urging gardeners during the 10th annual International Compost Awareness Week, which gets underway on Sunday (May 2).

During the week, the County Council will be promoting the benefits of home composting at a series of events, including the Weald and Downland Food and Farming event, and highlighting bargain-priced composters.

Derek Whittington, County Council Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning said: “More than 30 per cent of the average household bin can be composted. Already around one third of householders compost at home, but we are encouraging others to get involved.

“Home composting saves money, saves energy, saves water and provides free garden compost year after year. By converting material that is considered rubbish into a valuable resource, nutrients are recycled back into the soil.”

Households in England throw away around four million tonnes of waste every year that could have been composted.

“There is often a belief that waste such as vegetable peelings or garden waste is harmless. But in a landfill tip they cause powerful greenhouse gases to be released into the atmosphere,” said Derek.

“Home composting organic waste materials not only helps to significantly reduce carbon emissions, but can also be used as an effective way of reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill.”

Now is the perfect time to get started. Through the County Council, householders can purchase home compost bins for as little as £14 plus delivery for the 220ltr model and £17 plus delivery for a larger 330ltr version.

For further information about these products, please call: – 0844 571 4444. Alternatively, you can order your home composters and composting accessories online, just visit www.getcomposting.com

Not forgetting about dementia

West Sussex County Council is developing a series of projects to help the county’s 13,600 residents who suffer from dementia.

Almost 12,500 of those with dementia are aged over 65, and the number is expected to increase in the years ahead.

Together with the NHS West Sussex, the County Council is looking at ways of caring for these people.

The series of projects coincide with the ongoing National Dementia Awareness Campaign.

Initiatives include:

• Care mapping: staff are being trained to sit with the person being cared for over a period of several hours to try and see the world as the person sees it. The ‘mapper’ records what seems to make the person happy or sad and this is fed back to staff caring for the person so they have a better idea of how to look after them

• Life story work: by knowing a person was once a teacher, a doctor or a farm worker helps to understand why they react in a certain way or talk about specific subjects. Their care can then be adjusted to better meet their needs.

• HOPE: a group of people who have direct experience of a variety of dementias. Some of the group members attend with their carers and would attend learning sessions together, allowing staff and students to hear directly of the impact of the disease on both person and carer.

• The Council has developed joint plans with NHS West Sussex to improve services for people with dementia locally, which includes earlier diagnosis and support.

Dementia is the term used to describe more than 100 different types of brain diseases, which result in ongoing memory loss and confusion.

Peter Catchpole, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Adults’ Services, said: “The County Council Adults’ Services Team feel it is vital to highlight the issue of dementia, listing the warning signs, ways to reduce the risks, and how to cope with someone with the illness.

“There are many suggested ways to reduce the risk of dementia, such as eating a balanced diet, not smoking, and watching your blood pressure and cholesterol.

“These initiatives are just part of the dementia campaign, and are helping to ensure that people with dementia get the right level and type of care, and shows a great deal can be done to improve the quality of life for those people now and in the future, and help them maintain a normal life.”

For more information, visit www.westsussex.gov.uk and type in dementia. The national website is www.nhs.uk/dementia/Pages/dementia.aspx