Posts Tagged ‘county mall’

DrSpaFish, only a few feet away from you

Thursday, February 3rd, 2011

On Tuesday 1st February Crawley Happy Times were invited down to the County Mall for the official launch of the eagerly awaited DrSpaFish shop.

We were slightly dubious about putting our feet in a tank full of fish, but were pleasantly surprised with the results. Here are some facts about the company and the fish they use.

DrSpaFish and the Garra Rufa fish:

DrSpafish is a bright and cheerful environment with welcoming staff. After filling in and signing a routine medical questionnaire you are then ready for the treatment. We couldn’t find much info on when or how it came to the UK but can confirm it is one of the fastest growing franchises we have ever seen.

Garra Rufa or Spa Fish are the name of the primary fish used in the spa treatment known as a fish pedicure, fish reflexology which involves the Garra Rufa fish nibbling at the dead skin to leave feet feeling soft and smooth. Also known as Doctor Fish or Kangal Fish – named after the town in Turkey where the fish are found in abundance – these Garra Rufa fish have become very popular in the development of spa techniques across the world.

The Garra Rufa fish, native to river basins in Turkey, were found to have therapeutic healing qualities about 400 years ago and earned the title of “doctor fish”. Regular treatments will eliminate any hard skin on the feet and this is the most natural pedicure treatment you can get. It can also be beneficial to patients suffering from skin disorders such as psoriasis and exzema as the fish naturally eat and remove dead skin.

We took one of our readers with us to the launch. Thank you to Maz Mitchell for keeping us company. Maz enjoyed the treatment and says she will be going back again very soon :-)

Here you will see interviews with some of the local visitors, an interview with Bradly Carter, Director of DrSpaFish and a summary of the visit from Shelley.

A triple donation by County Mall

Thursday, January 27th, 2011

The Crawley County Mall has given away £6,000 between three local charities: Home Start, Rockinghorse and Chestnut’s Challenge.

This was achieved when the local people voted for their favourite of the three charities at the interactive Christmas tree within the centre, or by voting via the County Mall’s website before Christmas.

The £6,000 funds were then split between the charities who receives £3k, £2k and £1k depending on the number of votes they received.

The three charities are:

Home-Start

Home-Start is a charity consisting of community volunteers supporting local families coping with bereavement, ill health, financial difficulties, depression, disability and isolation.

They offer friendly, practical support in the home and through family groups.

Home Start is also the chosen charity of Mayor Lee Burke while he is in office.

Rockinghorse

An independent local charity, which aims to make life better for sick and disabled children across Sussex. Rockinghorse has been making life better for sick children for 43 years, by supporting children’s hospitals respite centres across the county.

Chestnut Tree House

For every life-limited local child that Chestnut Tree House is caring for, there is another child somewhere in Sussex that they are not yet caring for due to lack of funding. Please help them meet the challenge of reaching every one of them. Chestnut Tree House is the only children’s hospice in Sussex, providing practical and emotional support, expert advice and dedicated care for local families with children affected by cancer, muscular dystrophy and other life-limiting illnesses.

We are very proud to announce in first place came Rocking Horse, second was Chestnut Tree House then Home Start.

In the video:

His Worshipful the Mayor Councillor Lee Burke attended County Mall for the awarding of the cheques, along side Terrina of Chestnut Tree House, Anne of Home Start and Analiese of Rocking Horse.

Something Fishy is Afoot at the County Mall Shopping Centre

Thursday, January 20th, 2011

The ultimate foot spa with a difference is arriving at the County Mall in Crawley this month and it promises to have its shoppers ‘fishing’ for compliments!

Dr Spa Fish will hold its official opening from 11 am on Tuesday 1st February offering a unique walk-in pedicure experience which involves live fish nibbling away the dead skin on feet.

The Garra Rufa or ‘Doctor Fish’ work through the build up of hard skin on the heels and soles of the feet getting rid of any dry skin, but leaving the healthy flesh untouched. Originating in Turkey over 400 years ago, this unusual treatment is the latest craze to hit the beauty world and is expected to be popular with Crawley’s shoppers. The toothless spa-fish are seen as an alternative to pumice stones and foot scrubs, leaving the feet feeling soft and smooth.

Bradly Carter, managing director of Dr. Spa Fish said: “We are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to share our unique pedicure experience with the people of Crawley. It is a fantastic way for adults and children alike to relax and have fun, why not come along and enjoy the experience as a family.”

The ‘natural pedicure’ gets rid of hard or flaky skin on the feet; effectively assists with treating psoriasis and eczema; improves blood circulation in the feet and also relaxes the body to reduce fatigue.”

The Garra Rufa tanks are specially fitted with UV light filters and the water is filtered through Dr Spa Fish’s unique eleven stage filtration system, which cleanses the water between each treatment and ensures it is completely germ free, without any harm to the fish.

Bradly continues: “Our fish are sourced from breeders with a constant healthy stock of Garra Rufa fish. Dr Spafish takes pride in sourcing only the best of these very special fish and only provides true breed Garra Rufa.”

The new Dr Spafish store is located in Unit 95 of the Upper Mall in the County Mall Shopping Centre, for more information please visit www.drspafish.com .

Father Christmas is still at County Mall until Christmas Eve

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010

Father Christmas is still at County Mall until Christmas Eve, he has set up home in Debenhams on the Top Floor Children’s Department and will be around to meet all the good little boys and girls of Sussex everyday from 11.00-5.00pm, however on Christmas Eve he will be closing at 3.00pm to get his reindeer fed and ready for the busy night ahead…… visiting Father Christmas is absolutely free and every good little boy and girl will receive a free present.

This Christmas, County Mall is giving away £6,000 between three local charities: Home Start, Rockinghorse and Chestnut’s Challenge.

We are asking you to vote at our interactive Christmas tree within the centre, or simply vote here on our website. Voting will be open until 24th December 2010.

After Christmas, the £6,000 fund will be split between the charities and they will receive £3k, £2k and £1k depending on the number of votes they received.

Here’s a little information about the three charities:

Home-Start

Home-Start is a charity consisting of community volunteers supporting local families coping with bereavement, ill health, financial difficulties, depression, disability and isolation.

They offer friendly, practical support in the home and through family groups.

Rockinghorse

An independent local charity, which aims to make life better for sick and disabled children across Sussex. Rockinghorse has been making life better for sick children for 43 years, by supporting children’s hospitals respite centres across the county.

Chestnut Tree House

For every life-limited local child that Chestnut Tree House is caring for, there is another child somewhere in Sussex that they are not yet caring for due to lack of funding. Please help them meet the challenge of reaching every one of them. Chestnut Tree House is the only children’s hospice in Sussex, providing practical and emotional support, expert advice and dedicated care for local families with children affected by cancer, muscular dystrophy and other life-limiting illnesses.

John Partridge lit up the County Mall

Friday, November 19th, 2010

John Partridge, aka Christian Clarke in Eastenders came to Crawley to switch the Christmas lights on in the County Mall.

We could not have wished for a better personality to come and start Christmas off in the right direction. John was bubbly, full of fun and smiles and couldn’t do any more for the crowd if he tried. They loved him! John went around the hoards of onlookers and let them all take pictures and gave hugs and kisses. At one point John lifted a little child over the barrier so the proud parents could take a picture.

We were impressed and honoured to meet such a genuinely lovely person. At the after party, which was attended by the 25 County Mall competition winners, John even took time to speak to a lady on the phone to wish her a happy birthday at the request of one of the winners.

Crawley Happy Times were invited down to stand in the ‘press area’. We would like to thank Neil Carter, Nicola Stevens and all the staff at the County Mall. A job well done!

Pictures:

Video:

Crawley Millenium Concert Band

Monday, November 8th, 2010

Countdown to Christmas

Crawley Millenium Concert Band with Millenium Voices and Friends will provide the entertainment in aid of Crawley Open House.

Tickets are £5 per person or £15 for a family of 4

available from the Hawth Box Office 01293 553636 or online at www.tickets.hawth.co.uk

Monday 6th December 2010 @ 20:00

County Mall, Crawley

Crawley Open House

Monday, November 8th, 2010

Crawley Open House

Helping the Homeless and Disadvantaged

November 2010

Friends and Volunteer News

Dear Friends and Volunteers

It is a little early for our next newsletter but we have a lot of exciting things happening in the next few weeks and we need to tell you about them. Please support as many of them as you are able to.

New Web Site You will remember that our free BT site ceased to be live on 31st October. We looked at the new site offered to us by BT but it proved to be exceptionally difficult to update and to work on. Because of this we decided to design and build our own site which we have now done. The site went live on 1st November and the draft version can be found at www.crawleyopenhouse.co.uk It is a work in progress so keep watching.

Harvest Dinner what a great evening, 77 friends attended and had a really nice meal. They were then entertained by Debbie and her troupe of belly dancers who after a great display got a lot of guests up dancing with them. A raffle and an auction completed the evening and we raised £1,104. A very big thank you to Brenda and Bob for organising it and for everyone who came and spent a lot of money.

Harvest It has been a good season this year and although it has not quite finished we seem to be getting more food that we had last year. We have also attempted when possible to ask for specific items, sugar, coffee, tinned meat etc and that seems to have worked. We gave 30 talks in churches and schools, our highest number to date and so far we have received donations from over 90 schools, churches and other groups.

Award Jayne our Day Centre Keyworker was honoured in the Crawley Borough Council “Let’s FACE it!” 2010 awards. It was in recognition of achievements made to improve the local environment. She organises our gardening group which this year worked on an amazing display of flowers around Riverside and also grew fruit and vegetables which we actually used. We are all so proud of her.

Countdown to Christmas County Mall Have agreed to host an evening of seasonal music and good fun for all of the family at 8.00pm on Monday 6th December. The Crawley Millenium Concert Band with Millenium Voices and Friends will provide the entertainment. Tickets are £5 per person or £15 for a family of 4, they are available from the Hawth Box Office 01293 553636 or online at www.tickets.hawth.co.uk They are also available from Aspasia in County Mall. All of the proceeds will come to Crawley Open House. Attached to this newsletter is a poster for the event, please print off as many as you can to hand out to people or to put up wherever you can.

Christmas Buffet This will take place on Thursday 23rd December at Riverside House. This is an annual event to which everyone is welcome, friends, volunteers, staff, clients, ex-clients, families and children. Lots of fun things to do, lots of food and presents for everybody. It starts at 12.00 and goes on to 3.00. Please come you will be very welcome.

Talks If you would like one of us to visit your office, school, church, club or any other organisation to give a talk about the work of Open House or more generally about homelessness please give Peter or Charlie a call on 01293 447703/05 to book it.

Donations We continually need good quality men, women, young people and children’s clothing, toiletries, sanitary items, stationery and food (especially UHT milk, sugar and coffee). With the cold weather now arriving we also need blankets, flasks and warm clothing. If anybody has or knows teenagers then the clothes that they wore once before they went out of fashion would be appreciated in Southwell Lodge our young persons hostel.

Don’t forget to view our new website www.crawleyopenhouse.co.uk we are trying to keep it as up to date as we can and it is well worth looking at.

Peter Mansfield-Clark MBE

Director

01293 447703

Environmental champions honoured

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

Environmental champions honoured

Volunteer residents and children were honoured for their environmental feats at the 2010 Let’s FACE it! Evening of Celebration at The Hawth last night (Monday October 25).

More than 300 Let’s FACE it! projects have been undertaken since the campaign’s launch in 2005.

The awards ceremony also gave the town another opportunity to celebrate its fantastic successes in the Britain in Bloom and South and South East in Bloom competitions this year.

Britain in Bloom Awards included:

• Category winner and silver gilt for large town/small city

• Let’s FACE it! was crowned the best community project in the entire country when it picked up the Britain in Bloom Community Award

• Residents of Bolney Court, in Bewbush, gained UK-wide recognition when they were awarded an It’s Your neighbourhood National Certificate of Distinction – a terrific achievement for them and for Crawley.

South and South East in Bloom Awards included:

• Gold and category winner prizes for the large town/small city category

• Crawley won a discretionary award for community projects

• Sussex Life magazine awarded the town for having the highest scoring entry in Sussex

• The town was recognised as having increased the number of overall neighbourhood entries

• We were also awarded plants from Ferring Nurseries

• Tony Massimo was awarded a discretionary award for his outstanding contribution with his allotment at Malthouse Road, Southgate.

Councillor Lenny Walker, Cabinet member for Leisure and Cultural Services, said: “We are not just the jewel in the crown regionally but we are now the jewel in the crown nationally.”

Let’s FACE it! is all about local people improving the areas in which they live. FACE stands for “Focused Action for Crawley’s Environment” and is open to anyone who cares about the town.

By working together, the community and Crawley Council have made huge improvements to areas of the town that needed a bit of extra care and attention.

Let’s FACE it! activities have included:

• Cleaning up litter, graffiti and eyesores

• Improving the way neighbourhoods look

• New recycling ideas

• Gardening and nature conservation

• Community events organised by groups such as Friends of Goffs Park, Three Bridges Forum and local residents’ associations

• Fundraising.

The 2010 Let’s FACE it! Awards saw images of different projects from every neighbourhood in the town shown on a large screen, before overall winners were presented with prizes.

Since 2005, more than 1,300 volunteers have given almost 5,000 hours to help improve Crawley’s environment.

Let’s FACE it! is about the community working together to improve the local environment by complementing the cleaner, greener and safer priorities of the council.

In addition to the main awards 13 Britain in Bloom It’s Your Neighbourhood Awards, 10 South and South East in Bloom Certificates of Excellence and eight South and South East in Bloom school awards were given out.

Tony Massimo, who won the Gardener of the Year Award with his partner Mary Cook, also received a South and South East in Bloom Outstanding Achievement Award for his allotment in Malthouse Road, Southgate, and Garden News magazine’s Vegetable Plot of the Year. On their tour of the town in August, Britain in Bloom judges described the allotment as ‘the best they had ever seen’.

Main sponsor Ferring Nurseries provided all of the plants on stage.

Award winners
Geoff Simmons Award
Dave White

Let’s FACE it! Awards
Jayne Simpson
The Twitten, West Green
St Andrew’s Church, Furnace Green
Zari, Ifield

Let’s FACE it! Gardeners of the Year 2010
Tony Massimo and Mary Cook

Let’s FACE it! Outstanding Achievement Award 2010
Ben Anderson

Let’s FACE it! Best Business Award
County Mall
Ginger Moo Gallery

Let’s FACE it! Best Community Group
7th Crawley Beavers

Let’s FACE it! Best School Award
Desmond Anderson Primary School

Walking the MBT way

Monday, October 18th, 2010

Crawley Happy Times were invited down to the fairly new MBT shop in the County Mall to learn why MBT are slowly becoming the market leaders in the anti-shoe department.

Shelley popped down to try the footwear.  Shelley told us “on arrival I found the shop to be very organised and well laid out. The staff were very welcoming and James talked me through how the shoes work and how they can benefit those who wear them. James explained how all their shoes perform in the same way. They can improve balance, increase activity of the limbs in the lower body whilst toning muscles in the calves, thighs, abdomen, and bottom. James was very consious about not giving the wrong advise or information which I felt was very important and vigilant”.

Carol, the manager of MBT Crawley told Shelley “I wear mine all the time and have dropped a dress size.  They are not a footwear designed for losing weight, but it is just a natural reaction for the body to tone and in turn lose weight. Walking seems so much more attractive now it has hidden benefits”.

Shelley found the shoes extremely comfortable and diverse in styles. From a very fashionable boot to a trendy trainer the footwear could be worn in all weathers and occasions. Shelley said “I am actually really excited to see what they can do for me. I would definitely notice if they were toning me which would be wonderful. I will just need to walk more from now on, but that is never a bad thing!”.

Shelley enjoyed her visit to the MBT shop in County Mall, Crawley. Shelley said “to be honest, I had seen the shop and the footwear before but had been under the misconception that they were for people who had back problems or bad posture. But after meeting and talking to the staff I now know they are more for prevention of bad posture while giving your lower body a mini work out, toning areas while you walk, it’s just ingenious really. I was also wrong in thinking they would look ‘strange’ on my feet, whereas they looked just like any other pair of trainers and were very attractive in colour and style”.

Exert from MBT’s website:

MBT (Masai Barefoot Technology) was born in 1996 when we discovered that natural instability has some amazing health benefits. We made this discovery by observing the wonderfully agile Masai people walking barefoot on natural, uneven ground. Seeing these people in action made us realize that the human body is simply not designed to walk or stand on the hard, flat surfaces of modern society. So we set out to develop a new kind of footwear, one that would mimic walking on soft, uneven ground. The results have been dramatic and revolutionary. MBTs are now sold in more than 35 countries around the world and enthusiastic users testify that wearing MBTs noticeably increase their well-being.

MBTs activate and tone your muscles

MBTs are good for your whole body (not just your feet)

MBTs help you burn more calories whether walking or standing

MBTs increase your well-being

When the body is unstable, the body is stronger

When walking in MBTs, the ground is no longer flat and stable, so the body has to use more muscles to compensate and create stability. This activates the whole body, increases back muscle activity, improves posture, tightens buttocks and thighs and even burns more calories. All while reducing stress on the ankle, knee and hip joints. And with extensive scientific documentation to back up these claims, healthcare professionals around the world are now recommending MBT footwear in the treatment of backache, musculoskeletal injuries and other physical pains.

Science under your feet

The MBT Academy is our central R&D facility, providing a forum for our ongoing dialog with international experts and researchers in the fields of clinical medicine, physiotherapy and sports. Here we test, verify and optimize the effects of MBT footwear on the human body.

Today we have more than 40 studies which provide scientific documentation from independent universities and research institutes of the unique physical benefits our footwear delivers.

Watch out, there are fakes about!

There are unfortunately a number of companies offering consumers cheaper, lesser quality fake MBTs that can actually damage rather than help strengthen the body.

We therefore strongly recommend you purchase MBTs only through approved retailers and dealers who are trained to ensure you can enjoy the full benefits of our unique, scientifically-proven footwear.

Please visit their website for further information.

We would like to thank Lauren Holness, Account Executive for Cow PRwho organised our visit and very kindly sent Shelley her own pair of MBT’s (which she has not taken off since receiving!).

An excited Shelley and her new MBT's

Please follow us on twitter (@CHTOnline) or Facebook (Crawley Happy Times) to hear Shelley’s updates and progress with her new MBT’s.

Citizens Advice Shop celebrates it’s first birthday

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

On Thursday 23rd September the Crawley Citizens Advice Bureau celebrated it’s first birthday.

Interview: Here you see Shelley talking to Julian, Advice Shop Manager and Sarah, Chief Executive Officer for Central Sussex Citizens Advice Shop Bureau. Then Shelley speaks to Deputy Leader of Crawley Borough Council Duncan Crow. Next is Henry Smith, MP and Deputy Mayor Carol Eade.

Pictures:

With the likes of Henry Smith, MP for Crawley, Deputy Mayor Carol Eade, Deputy Leader of Crawley Borough Council Duncan Crow, County Mall Manager Neil Carter,  and many members of staff, the shop was filled to the brim.

On behalf of the community, Crawley Happy Times would like to thank the Crawley Citizens Advice Shop for all their hard work and advice which has helped over 6000 people over the last twelve months. Keep up the great work :-)

Have you been advised by the shop? Please send in your comments to editor@crawleyhappytimes.co.uk or comment below.

Related posts:

Crawley Festivities to get you in the Xmas mood

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

This Christmas Crawley is leading the way to get the community into the festive mood. So what can you look forward too?

Crawley in lights

Crawley in lights

This is Crawley Happy Times’ first christmas as an online newspaper for Crawley, so we are looking for the support of the community by coming out and celebrating with us and the rest of the town’s people. If for any reason you cannot get into town to see this fantastic event you can watch it via your internet access here…

Thursday 19 November – County Mall Christmas
lights switched on by a celebrity at 7pm. Town centre lights switched on too

Thursday 19-Saturday 21 November
Continental Market in Queens Square and live music

Continental Market in Queens Square

Continental Market in Queens Square

Saturday 21 November
Santa’s Grotto launch in the County Mall

Friday 27-Sunday 29 November
Christmas Music Festival in Queens Square

Crawley Millenium Concert Band will be playing for us whilst we shop

Crawley Millenium Concert Band will be playing for us whilst we shop

Friday 4-Sunday 6 December
Roller disco in the Queens Square

Monday 7 December

Crawley Millennium Concert Band’s Charity Family Christmas Concert at 7.30pm in County Mall.
Tickets from Toy Barnhaus, County Mall & on the Crawley Happy Times website

Saturday 12 December
Christmas Craft Market in Queens Square

Sunday 13 December
Live music and entertainment in Queens Square

Saturday 19-Sunday 20 December
Winter Wonderland in Queens Square

The spirit of Christmas is in the music

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

Christmas is coming and it’s time for the community of Crawley and all their friends and family to get ‘into the mood’. It’s also time for the annual christmas concert to get you in the christmas spirit.

Make sure you get your tickets for the Xmas concert

In aid of Home Start and Crawley Shopmobility this year’s Christmas Concert is going to be loud, bright and talented.

For tickets please call 01293 574179. Also sold at Toy Barnhaus in the County Mall, Crawley. On Sunday 29th November and Saturday 5th December between 14:00 and 16:00 tickets are available on the lower ground reception in the County Mall. Priced at only £5 each or a family ticket of four £18 it is great value for a wonderful evening for the whole family, so get yours NOW! Alternatively you can purchase them online via the payment button below.

 

Sponsored and supported this year by HH Design and Crawley Happy Times. Both are Crawley companies, dedicated to looking after local people.

This is going to be an awesome event but can only be great with the support of the community, so we look forward to seeing you there :-) xx

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