History walk

This Wednesday (June 23) the Crawley Museum Society is conducting a history walk around Goffs Park.

The walk starts at 7pm from Crawley Museum in Goffs Park House. Everyone is welcome to join in. There will be a charge of £1 for Friends of Goffs Park and £2 for non-members.

This event follows a successful Poems and Pints in Goffs Manor Pub on Sunday (June 20). About 100 people attended to hear readings by Henry Smith MP, Mayor Lee Burke and other well known locals and enjoyed a drink in the sunny garden.

For more information call Tony Coles on 01293 527402.

Students FACE it!

Students from Central Sussex College vocational skills programme worked alongside Crawley Borough Council officers at The Hawth on Wednesday (June16) planting flowers, weeding and litter-picking.

The Let’s FACE it! event cleared and enhanced the theatre grounds and woodland. Ruth Growney, Let’s FACE it! coordinator, said: “Over the past couple of years we have built up a really good relationship with the college.

“These students are a very special group of young people who enthusiastically tackle every task they are given and are a joy to work with.”

Waste less and win

Crawley Borough Council is offering residents the chance to win top eco prizes if they make a green pledge during Recycle Week (June 21-27).

This year’s Recycle Week theme is to recycle small electrical items that we all have stashed away in the back of cupboards and drawers. Residents who make a green pledge could win a DAB clock radio with iPod dock or an eco kettle.

Did you know that as many as three out of four of us have at least one unused or old item that could be recycled to help save precious resources.

To be in with a chance of winning one of the two prizes all you have to do is complete a pledge form, post it in the prize draw box and then keep your fingers crossed.

The closing date for entries is June 27. Pledge forms are located on the Amenity Services information stand in the main reception of the Town Hall.

For more information on Recycle Week visit www.recyclenow.com

LEADER-ing the way in Sussex

Nearly £1 million has been granted for 40 projects supporting the rural economy and communities in Sussex over the past year.

The help is available thanks to the LEADER programme, which brings together local farmers, businesses and community representatives to identify how local actions can meet the needs of their areas.

West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy Deborah Urquhart said: “The money is available to make a real difference to our farmers, small businesses and communities.

“LEADER funding for the 40 projects helped so far will create and secure more than 120 jobs and will improve services and facilities for 30,000 residents of rural communities.”

Grants are awarded to support projects that will benefit the rural economy and communities, for example promoting and developing local food and produce, helping farms to diversify and improving vital village services and facilities.

LEADER funding helped Sussex Farm Foods to equip their new farm shop near Bury, selling a range of locally sourced produce including meat and cheeses. Caroline Spiby used her grant to buy equipment to expand her ice cream business, Caroline’s Dairy, using milk from the family’s dairy farm at Sidlesham.

LEADER grants have also been used to help foresters process more timber for woodfuel, purchase a new vehicle for a community dial a ride serving the Arun district, and to help communities reopen their village shop in Lodsworth and Kirdford.

For further information on LEADER, visit the County Council website at www.westsussex.gov.uk/rdpeleader, or contact 01243 756606.

Celebrate learning in Crawley

Celebrate adult learning and find out about the range of courses on offer at an event in Crawley next month.

West Sussex Adult and Community Learning Service is holding the ‘celebrate adult learning’ event at Crawley Bandstand on Thursday July 8 between 11am and 2pm.

West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Education and Schools Peter Griffiths said: “Our country may be technically out of recession, but many people are still experiencing hard times. Adult learning can help you learn new skills and increase your employability in the jobs market.

“There are also lots of courses for personal development, including dancing, art, history and beauty. To find out more and speak to tutors about how adult learning can help you, just drop by the Bandstand.”

The new 2010/2011 adult learning brochure is out now – with more than 2,000 courses available across West Sussex. You can pick up your free copy at the event

Gatwick Task Force Welcomed

West Sussex County Council has welcomed the Government’s decision to set up a group tasked with improving operations at major South East airports including Gatwick.

But, the County Council says that it believes that local authorities should also be represented together with airlines, airport operators, aviation and passenger organisations.

Lionel Barnard, Deputy Leader of the County Council who is responsible for transport issues, said: “We strongly support the stated aim of this group which is all about improving efficiency and the passenger experience.

“Now that further runways at both Gatwick and Heathrow have been ruled out, there is a need for a new long term vision for our airports.”

Lionel said he hoped that local authorities will be involved in the work of the Task Force.

He added: “The County Council has always had a special interest in Gatwick.

“For example, there is no doubt about the significance of the 50 year legal agreement negotiated by the Council that has prevented a second runway before 2019.

“Now that we know a second runway is not a priority for the owners of Gatwick or the Government, there is a need to look at ways in which the airport can develop to deliver the best possible experience for passengers.

“The airport plays a major role in the West Sussex economy, and the County Council has always worked to strike the right balance between the needs of a major international airport and those of the environment.”

Lionel said the County Council will be keen to look at the Task Force’s terms of reference, which are still to be published.

Music filled the air in Crawley

Crawley was filled with the sound of music on Saturday June 12, when a 40-strong choir met for the first time at The Hawth Theatre.

Singers of all abilities took part in a taster session for the unique open-air ‘Whispering Woods’ choral event to be held at Tilgate Park, on Sunday September 26.

It forms part of West Sussex – Ahead of the Game’s commitment to building a lasting cultural legacy from the London 2012 Games.

Deborah Urquhart, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy, said: “The taster session was a great success with singers of all ages and all abilities attending.

“They all got a feel of what the event in September will be like.”

‘Whispering Woods’ will involve the singers and audience walking through Tilgate Park at twilight on Sunday September 26. The first of three events, this is an international collaboration with award winning choral directors Dessi Stefanova of the London Bulgarian Choir, Emily Barden, Leader for Choirs and Voice, West Sussex Music Service and Bellacapella and Kaytie Harding of ‘Voice From The Coalshed’.

Award winning composers will be at the event to help the singers hit the right notes.

The 40-minute programme will include the premiere of new works including a new BBC commission by award winning composer, Kyril Todorov, as well as work by local composers Patrick Allen and Emily Barden. Free tickets are available now from The Hawth Box Office by calling 01293 553636.

West Sussex – Ahead of the Game is the countywide initiative to help the county make the most of the London 2012 Games.

Cook up a storm to celebrate Sussex Day

Calling all school children – Do you fancy yourself as the next Jamie Oliver or Nigella Lawson?

If so, here’s a competition for you.

To mark Sussex Day today, which took place on Wednesday June 16, school meal provider Chartwells has launched a competition to create the ultimate Sussex Day meal.

Entrants will create and cook a main course meal, which must be healthy, suitable for steaming, and have some locally grown or reared ingredients. They need to give it a name, take a photo and send it in with an application form.

The competition, open to all children of school age, runs until Tuesday August 31.

The winning meal will be announced on Thursday September 30. It will then be offered on the menu at West Sussex schools for Sussex Day next year.

The winning chef will also win a family ticket worth £90 for Haredown Mountain Boarding Centre, Chichester, and the school they attend will get to take part in a workshop teaching students about healthy living and the joys of cooking.

Peter Griffiths, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Education and Schools, said: “This a wonderful opportunity for school children to get creative at the same time as learning about local food and different ways of cooking.

“Chartwells prepare well balanced and healthy menus for the majority of our schools and anyone entering the competition can look on their website for inspiration.”

Sussex Day celebrates all that is good about the county. June 16 was chosen as it’s also St Richard’s Day. The patron saint of Sussex was Bishop of Chichester from 1245 until his death in 1253.

Entry forms are available on www.yourspacewestsussex.co.uk, http://westsussex.mealselector.co.uk/ or pick up a form at your school.

West Sussex Children and Family Centres support Breastfeeding Awareness Week

Children and Family Centres across West Sussex are backing National Breastfeeding Awareness Week (June 21-27).

The week aims to promote the healthy benefits of breastfeeding and to increase its social acceptance.

Breastfeeding is not always easy for mothers, so the Centres are holding events to support them such as:

•     Bewbush Children and Family Centre – a graduation ceremony for breastfeeding peer supporters on Saturday June 26 from 11am to 1pm.

•     Durrington Children and Family Centre – mothers can enjoy some relaxation time in their busy routine on Tuesday June 22, between 7.30pm and 9pm with treatments including neck and shoulder massages, mini facial and reiki, plus a raffle and lots more. Organised by local parents, tickets cost £3.50 from the Centre, with funds going towards the Luke Cory Trust. On Friday June 25, from 10am to 12pm, there is a drop-in session for expectant and new parents.

•     Kingston Buci Children and Family Centre – a mini-relaxation session for breastfeeding mums and those awaiting their big day, plus lunch on Friday June 25 from 10am to 1pm. Ladies are also welcome to come along to the drop-in breastfeeding support group MILK sessions every Friday, for advice and support.

•     Maybridge Children and Family Centre – MILK will be on hand to give free support and information on Tuesday June 22, from 1.30pm to 3pm. Families can also buy hand and footprint keepsakes on the day for 50p, plus there will be homemade baking and cream teas, ‘Guess the name of the bear’ competition, toys, and free pink goodie bags for new or expectant mums.

•     Selsey Children and Family Centre – ‘Breast Buddies’ peer supporters will be at the Centre every Tuesday from June 22, in the ‘Bumps to Babes’ group from 9.30am to 11.30am. All peer supporters are local breastfeeding mums who have attended and graduated from a 12-week La Leche League course run by a Lactation Specialist. A new ‘Breast Buddies’ advice line is also available – phone 07541 202419 between 8am to 10pm.

•     The Wave Children and Family Centre – a ‘Bumps and Babes Bonanza Fashion Show’ on Friday June 25, from 5pm to 8pm.  Free entry and gift for every baby bump. Browse over 15 stalls, have tea from the Wave café and children can have a go with ‘Happy Hands’ craft activities.

•     Tree House Children and Family Centre – staff will be walking with MILK during the Bognor Carnival on Saturday June 19 from 2.30pm. The Centre is also funding a children’s entertainer for MILK’s picnic in Hotham Park on Saturday June 26, from 11.30am to 3.30pm.

For more information and contact details of the children and family centres, visit http://wsgfl.westsussex.gov.uk/cfc

Council helps Crawley Festival go with a bang

Crawley Borough Council has stepped in to provide cash-strapped Crawley Festival with a grant of £1,000 – just days before it begins.

The council, which already supports the Crawley Festival to the tune of £8,317, has decided to top this up by another £1,000 from its grants budget.

Crawley Festival begins on Saturday June 19 and runs for two weeks. The extra money will go towards Main Stage in Memorial Gardens on Saturday July 3.

Councillor Nigel Boxall, Cabinet member for Community Engagement, said:

“Crawley Borough Council already supports Crawley Festival thorough our grants funding. However, we became aware of a shortfall so we are now increasing our grant by another £1,000.

“The council values the contribution that Crawley Festival makes to the town and wants to ensure that, on its 25th anniversary, it’s the best festival ever.”

Tony Witton, Event Director of Crawley Festival, said: “It’s absolutely fantastic news. It means that we can put community workshops back into the event that we had to take out. We’re ecstatic.”

Vision in Youth Collective GET INVOLVED!

Vision in Youth Collective (ViYC) is a group for young people aged 14 to 25 who advise Crawley Borough Council’s Arts Service on events for young people and actively promote them to their peers. Up to now the collective have played a vital role in selecting artists for gigs like Urban Sensations and open-mic sessions Unsigned and are currently working on some exciting new ideas for future projects.

ViYC is looking for committed new members, with a passion for different types of music and the arts, who can offer new suggestions and practical support for the group’s events.

If you are interested in finding out more and meeting some of ViYC’s current members, head to The Mainstage event in Memorial Gardens on Saturday 3 July from 11.30am, where the group will have a stall.

ViYC member Erin Witton says “ViYC has taught me a lot about teamwork and leadership, and also about thinking outside of the box. Through ViYC I have made friends with people I would never have thought to speak to before and I have been given so many opportunities within the team. As a part of ViYC I am constantly expanding my boundaries and challenging my views. Being a part of the group has given me the confidence to go out and get involved in national projects as well as others within the community. I look forward to every meeting!”

As well as playing a part in deciding on the events the collective organises, members of ViYC have the opportunity to get arts administration, stage management and marketing experience and develop leadership and teamwork skills.

ViYC want you to – Get involved!

For more details or to arrange to attend a ViYC meeting contact liz.hart@crawley.co.uk or phone 01293 438156.

Giving West Sussex young people the best opportunities in life

The new Children and Young People’s Plan 2010-2015 has been launched.

West Sussex Children’s Trust hosted an evening at the Charmandean Centre, Worthing, to celebrate young people’s achievements and issued a challenge to ensure the plan is delivered.

Organisations and services working with children through the Trust such as West Sussex County Council, District and Borough Councils, the voluntary sector, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, Sussex Police and NHS West Sussex, attended the launch.

Events that took place on the night were:

• Dancing from group Amp’d who are based at Park Centre Youth Club in Burgess Hill, and singers from Dormans Youth Arts Centre in Crawley.

• A Duke of Edinburgh Award group from Worthing talked about their involvement with the scheme and how they have benefited from it.

• The Local Youth Forum team, which is made up of young people who are helping to improve activities for their peers and manage the Youth Opportunities Fund, talked about their work and how to apply for funding for a wide range of projects.

• A performance from students at the West Sussex County Youth Theatre’s ‘Year Out’ project.

The five-year plan has been developed using a wide range of data about the needs of children, young people and families. This was supported by many consultation events and activities with children, young people, parents and carers.

The Children’s Trust used the information to choose five priorities that will have the greatest impact on young lives.

Throughout the evening, children addressed each priority and challenged how this can be delivered.

At the end, the children presented scrolls to ‘designated champions’ of each of the priorities, detailing their pledges to the delivery of the plan.

The ‘champions’ are -

• Children and young people will live in decent homes – Lee Harris, Chief Executive Crawley Borough Council

• Parents and families will get the support they need – Chief Superintendent Martin Walker, Sussex Police

• Children and young people will have the support they need to achieve – Peter Griffiths, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Education and Schools

• Children and young people will feel confident to learn and develop healthy lifestyles – Mike Harris, Chairman of NHS West Sussex, (who was represented by David King, Non-Executive Director, at the event)

• Children and young people will feel and be safe – Ian Sumnall, Chief Executive of Arun District Council

Peter Griffiths, who is also the new Chairman of the Children’s Trust, said: “The Plan shows our commitment to improve all aspects of life for children and young people.

“It is vital they feel we are doing everything we can for them to give them the best opportunities in life.”

Children’s entertainer helps Sitting Service celebrate 10th birthday

CHILDREN’S entertainer Dave Benson Phillips will be the special guest at a picnic being held on Saturday June 26 to mark the 10th anniversary of West Sussex County Council Sitting Service, which helps the parents of disabled children to take a much-needed break for a few hours.

The Service has attracted some 200 volunteers since its launch at the beginning of the millennium.

“The picnic is our way of marking this milestone by saying a big, big ‘Thank You’ to our volunteers for their valuable contribution over the years.

“They have made a big difference to hundreds of families throughout West Sussex by giving up a small amount of their time every couple of weeks,” said Jess Elliott, Sitting Service Co-ordinator.

The Sitting Service began with only a handful of volunteers.

“Now we have a countywide network. But we are always seeking more volunteers to spend a couple of hours every fortnight looking after a disabled child.”

For further information about becoming a volunteer, contact Jess Elliott (Worthing and Adur) on 01243 642318, Doreen Bradbury (Chichester and Arun) on 01243 642462 or Michelle Watts (Mid Sussex, Crawley and Horsham) on 01403 246467 or email sitting.service@westsussex.gov.uk.

The picnic, which is being held in Ingfield Manor School, Five Oaks, Billingshurst, RH14 9AX, on Saturday June 26 between noon and 4pm, will also feature clowns, music and face painting. Dave Benson Phillips will be there between 1pm and 2pm.

Note to Editors: You, or your representative, plus a photographer/camera crew, are invited to attend the Sitting Service’s 10th birthday celebrations between noon and 4pm. As well as a photo opportunity this is also a chance to learn more about the valuable role the Sitting Service plays in the lives of people throughout West Sussex.

Day Activity plans outlined by County Council

West Sussex County Council has outlined plans for day activities in the county under the Developing Day Activities Project.

The initial proposals will go to the Adults’ Services Select Committee at its meeting on Tuesday June 22.

A decision will be taken by the Cabinet Member for Adults’ Services Peter Catchpole to go out to public consultation on what day activities residents would like to see available in the community. The consultation period will be for three months.

The project focuses on older people and working age adults who have a physical or sensory impairment, or acquired brain injury.

Peter said: “Research carried out by the County Council has shown adults want to engage in a wide range of day activities rather than just attend a day centre and we need to adapt our service to meet residents’ changing demands.

“The County Council has to make substantial financial savings and to help achieve this we are looking at all our services to see if they can be provided more efficiently and more effectively.”

The proposals being looked at would support people with low to medium needs to use local community based activities and clubs whilst referring people with medium to high needs to the more specialist services that would be provided in day centres.

Under the proposals the County Council will make significant changes as follows:

• The Grange day centre in Midhurst. The proposed new Grange centre would have community facilities, but no provision for a day centre. Proposals are to increase attendance at the Rotherlea day care centre in Petworth and to work with third sector and community organisations to provide alternative day services in Midhurst and the surrounding area.

• The Brooks in Pulborough. The centre is unable to meet the needs of more highly dependent people. Proposals are to work with third sector and community organisations to use this and other local facilities for day activities.

• Harwood House in Horsham. The building needs considerable investment. Proposals are to make better use of Mill River Lodge, just one mile away, and increase attendance levels at Lavinia House, the Age UK day club in Horsham.

In each case the County Council would work closely with those who attend the day centres to find appropriate alternative provision for them.

The review would generate £1 million of savings, of which £250,000 would be invested in developing alternative day services.

Future Jobs Fund gets underway in West Sussex

More than 70 young people have started in paid work across West Sussex under the Future Jobs Fund initiative and there are more jobs available.

West Sussex County Council led a successful bid for £1.378 million funding from the Future Jobs Fund scheme, to create 212 new jobs for young people.

Around 150 job vacancies will have been identified for the scheme by the end of June. Seventy-five young people have started so far in funded six-month positions.

There are around 50 varied positions to be filled by the end of June – to find out more visit your local Job Centre Plus and ask to apply for a Future Jobs Fund position.

A recruitment event will be held at the Connexions Office, 28 Chapel Street, 1 The Chambers, Chichester, PO19 1DL, on Thursday June 17, and a further event is planned for Worthing. For further details, drop into your local Job Centre Plus.

The jobs are aimed at 18 to 24-year-olds who have been claiming Job Seekers Allowance for approaching six months. Some of the jobs targeted at the most deprived areas of the county, including Crawley and the coastal strip, will be open to those aged over 25.

County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy Deborah Urquhart said: “There is a real emphasis on green and community jobs, for example in areas such as climate change, countryside management and community arts.

“We’re still identifying possible jobs as part of the scheme and I would urge businesses to contact us if they would like to take part.”

Organisations involved in the project include the County Council, District and Borough Councils, Chichester, Northbrook and Central Colleges, the University of Chichester, the West Sussex Councils for Voluntary Services, the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum in Singleton, NHS West Sussex and the registered charity Creating Futures.

Job Centre Plus will identify people eligible to apply for jobs and refer them to the programme. They will then be matched with a job that suits their skills and training, their interests and career aspirations.

Each job will last for an initial period of six months, with employers able to extend the length of employment offered. In addition, all young people on the scheme will receive training and development.

For further information on the scheme and how to get involved, visit the County Council website at www.westsussex.gov.uk/skills.