Crawley MP Welcomes Lotto Charity Awards for “Good Causes”
Henry Smith is delighted to extend his support to the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) for their essential work in raising funds for good causes in regional communities throughout the UK, including world-wide relief efforts.
Henry said, “I know that Crawley, as a town, would benefit immensely from available lottery money and I will support any bid that will be a benefit to Crawley and its residents.”
While discussing the local funding possibilities, Henry continued, “We live in a vibrant town with many organisations dedicated to helping others enjoy a better standard of living. Grant awards from BIG would certainly make a huge difference to those in need of support and benefit the groups who make it all happen.”
BIG is the grant-making charity created by the Government to administer the funding of worthy projects to help change people’s lives. Following the creation of the National Lottery, BIG has awarded over £3.6 billion to voluntary and community projects supporting health, education, environment and other charitable purposes.
BIG have provided numerous grants to individuals and organisations in the South-East, including Crawley; on behalf of BIG’s ‘Heroes Return’ programme for the 65th Anniversary of VJ Day, Henry called for all veterans and widows the chance for a fully financed commemorative trip, including travel and accommodation, to visit the places where they saw battle all over the world.
Recently, The Big Lottery Fund South-East Team also announced they are “sharing over £1.5 million in Lottery good cause funding”. With the Crawley Museum’s bid to move to a more central location with the help of Lottery grant money, local good cause agencies are already taking an initiative to request assistance from the charity, with Henry’s full support.
It appears BIG is already starting to make ripples in the Crawley community; If you know of an organisation which could benefit from such an award, or want to learn more about the Big Lottery Fund, please check out their website at www.biglotteryfund.org.uk or for other lottery funding queries, please contact BIG’s South East Regional Team via email at southeast@biglotteryfund.org.uk
Just before the children broke up from school the children at Gossops Green Community Primary School were treated to some special DIY.
Headed up by Neal Allison and his team from The Apollo Group once again came up trumps for the school (some may remember the write up on the school play area at GGCPS. Apollo were the company who donated their time to install the play area to help the school <click here to see the write up>), now, with their bird box programme. Neal told us “it’s a great programme. We take our our old wood and pallets and give them to Mencap who then make them into easy to assemble flat packed bird boxes. We then buy them back. This helps us with the programme and gives Mencap some much needed funds as well as being proactive. It’s good for them, good for us, and great for the environment”. We asked Neal what the children think of it. Neal said “the children love building the bird boxes. They love to take them home to put up in their garden. It’s also good exposure to simple power tools, especially safety wise, at a young age”.
Pictures:
Crawley Happy Times popped in to watch the bird boxes being put together. We were most impressed with the patience and expertise of the children. Mrs Martin, Head of GGCPS was very pleased with the programme and welcomed Neal and his team with open arms.
We took some footage of the children whilst putting together the bird boxes who accomplished a massive twenty four very attractive looking bird boxes.
Video:
If you would like to know more about this programme and many other community programmes run by The Apollo Group please feel free to visit their website here.
Have you been wondering what to do with the children this Easter break? Well we may have found the answer!
About Andrew
Andrew Chase of Chase Fitness has gone to great lengths to find entertaining and fun events for children from four years to fifteen. With golf, silly sports and fun games, Chase Fitness are guaranteed to keep our children entertained. Andrew has a sports science degree and is a fully qualified teacher. Andrew’s recents posts include teaching at Woodfield School in Merstham, which is a special needs school. Andrew told us “I felt I had fullfilled my ambitions as a teacher so it was time to move on. it was never what I really wanted to do, but enjoyed the position immensely. I always wanted to do something with sports and felt there was a gap in the market, especially for the parents of young children in Crawley”. Andrew went on to tell us Chase Fitness already has various classes for five years and up including Boxercise, Hoola Hoop and circuit training. They also provide one-to-one fitness sessions for everyone, all year round.
Andrew Chase
Chase Fitness
In comparison to childcare costs, the cost of sending your child to any of the sessions provided by Chase Fitness is great value. From as little as £3.50 per session (£15 for golf) it makes it an affordable alternative.
Where and When
Wednesday 7th and Wednesday 14th April
Tilgate Golf Course
10 till 13.00
5yrs – 15yrs
Suitable for all abilities. Tuition by a PGA professional. Driving range with fun games. Putting green and competitions. 9 hole golf on a par 3 course. All equipment provided.
COST: £15
Silly Sports and Fun Game Days: -
Thursday 8th April – THIS SESSION IS NOW FREE. BOOK NOW!
Ifield Community Centre
4yrs to 8yrs from 10 till 11.45am
8yrs and above from 12pm till 13.45
Friday 9th April
Broadfield Community Centre
4yrs to 8yrs from 10 till 12pm
8yrs and above from 13.00 till 15.00
Thursday 15th April – THIS SESSION IS NOW FREE. BOOK NOW!
Breezehurst Community Pavilion
4yrs – 8yrs from 10 till 11.45am
8yrs and above from 12pm till 13.45
COST: £3.50 per session
Andrew told us he is hoping these sessions will go really well and they can build on it for the summer holidays to do longer days, so the parents who work can drop their children off and pick them up without it upsetting their working hours.
For more information pleae visit here or call 01293 426135 and leave a message. Andrew will get back to you as soon as possible.
Andrew also told us he performs magic as Chase Magic and recently raised over £1,200 for The Chestnut Tree House Charity. It seems it is all about the children and having fun with Andrew. Good stuff!
Claire Mowl-Seegobin is an independent Usborne representative who is making it her mission to assist children of all ages to improve their reading and writing.
Claire is currently heading a project on behalf of Gossops Green Primary School in association with Usborne. Usborne are a worldwide publishing company who supply books for home, schools and libraries Usborne will donate 60% of the total sales over £500 in extra books to Gossops Green Primary School. In real terms this would mean if every parent with a child at the school, donated £1.50, this would give an estimated total of £723. Usbornes would then donate and extra £433 in books making a total of £1156 for the school. All this from a simple £1.50 donation, astonishing!
Claire is going one better than this by actually donating 15% of her own earnings to any individual who wishes to purchase additional books for a child personally. All they need do is email Claire and inform her the value of their order.
Companies or individuals can either donate a sum or purchase books on Gossops Green Primary Shcool’s behalf to which Usborne will donate a percentage to the school for more books.
Claire told us this would be easily achievable for most schools in our area if companies were to get involved and make a donation of some kind. Do you think your school could benefit from such a project?
An average book from Usbornes costs just £5.99. The books are all extremely good value for money and very educational. Children respond to the books extraordinarily well because of their irresistible content – humour, colour, surprise and originality.
If you would like your school to get involved and benefit from Claire’s and Usborne’s generosity, then please contact Claire directly via email claire.usbornebooks@googlemail.com or visit the website here.
Claire would also like to announce the FOGGS Xmas shopping night at Gossops Green Primary School is on Thursday 8th October from 19:00 till 21:00 (adults only). Entry is free.
If anyone would like to have a stand at this event the cost is £10 and a donation to the raffle. Please contact Crawley Happy Times on 01293 572182.
On Thursday 23rd July, Crawley Happy Times attended an awards ceremony at Oriel Youth Wing, with the expectation of a brief award-giving event, then home early for a cup of cocoa. How wrong were we!? On arrival, the youth wing was busting with excited children, proud parents and various youth workers. We were greeted by Jo Bell and Michaela Homewood, both youth workers. Jo and Michaela look after the youth wing and had obviously put a lot of effort and time into making the evening such a wonderful event. With 388 members of the youth wing, they are always very busy.
As the evening began, two young presenters, Kolbi Hayes and Stuart Bayliss, came on to the stage to welcome us all to this evening and to introduce the presenters. First up, we were treated to a fantastic slide show, put together by Callum Vitler (accompanied by music from Queen and Bob Sinclair), giving everyone in the room an insight into what the children had been up to during the year, with some wonderful clips of adventure holidays and day trips. They had been to London, Thorpe Park, Lodge Hill and Southwater Country Park to
Councillor Henry Smith speaking to the audience
name but a few, involving themselves in activities like basketball, dancing, football, paintball, first aid training days and many other activities, providing discipline, exercise and by the looks of it, plenty of fun! It really was a joy to watch the children of Oriel youth wing being so supportive, considerate and polite to one another. And, of course, they were being educated in so many different ways.
Next we were introduced to Henry Smith, Councillor for Maidenbower, who told us his last visit to the youth wing was back in June 2006. Henry congratulated the children and helpers on their achievements and then went on to compliment everyone involved in keeping the youth wing’s operation so successful; wishing them continuous success for the future. Henry awarded the Outstanding Contribution Award to Callum Vitler. We recommend keeping an eye on this young man. Something tells us he may be destined for great things!
Debbie Green then took the stage to present Darren Hollis with the Wishfish Inspirational Award. Another name to keep an eye on!
Next we had what can only be described as a masterful rendition of Michael Jackson’s ‘Smooth Criminal’, performed by young Charlie Mott. Charlie must have put an awful lot of practice and effort into this performance. We filmed it for you to enjoy too. Well done, Charlie.
Steve Hemmings volunteers his time to help with the music side of the youth wing and we had the pleasure of some examples from his ‘pupils’ showing off what they had learned under Steve’s guidance. In fact, the support from various adults/parents just clarifies: the more we help and support our children, the further they can go.
The words team work, respect, unity, helpfulness and many more great words came to mind throughout the evening. Especially when older teenagers, Jessi Gasson and Karl McCaughan demonstrated what they had achieved with 5 younger members: in just 6 weeks they had become spectacular dancers.
The names of these dancers are: Charlotte Mortlock, Sophie Nulty, Blaize Szantos, Chloe Martin and Louise Brooks. It was a brilliant demonstration of unity and teamwork and pretty good dancing!
It was a real feel good evening which we are extremely glad to have been part of. The youth of
More certificates being presented
Crawley do not always get a good writeup, but let me reassure you, the young children we met on Thursday were articulate, polite, considerate, positive, educated and well-presented.
On the subject of support, Sergeant Ben Websdale and Police Community Support Officer Lucy Hailes proudly attended, admiring the achievements of the children and the efforts of others, even joining in the festivities at the after-party.
Crawley Happy Times would like to thank Jo and Michaela and all the supporters and children for a wonderful evening. Special thanks go to Margaret, Michaela’s Mum, for the delicious spread she put on which was enjoyed by all, including myself
Members receive their First Aid certificates
We look forward to reporting on the awards of 2010!
Full list of award winners: -
TROPHIES/CERTIFICATES/THANKS LIST
YOUNG PEOPLE
YOUTH FORUM
Matt Sykes – Certificate
Josh Park – Certificate
Kieran Slater – Certificate
Sam Allen – Certificate
Jack Arnell – Certificate
Ed Brooks – Certificate
James Thompson – Certificate
Callum Vitler – Certificate
Kolbi Hayes – Certificate
JUNIOR VOLUNTEERS
Stuart Bayliss – Thanks
Callum Vitler – Thanks
Kolbi Hayes – Thanks
Calum Macleod – Thanks
John Currie – Thanks
Darren Hollis – Thanks
Satheesan Nagendran – Thanks
MUSIC MENTORING
John Currie – Certificate
Darren Hollis – Certificate
Lauren Meineck – Certificate
Mathieu Clay – Certificate
Tyler Green – Certificate
Tyler Green – Certificate
Sam Trumpeter – Certificate
Faith Butler – Certificate
William Stothart-Mason – Certificate
James Thompson – Certificate
James Hawes – Certificate
PEER MENTORING
Satheesan Nagendran – Certificate
Laura Fagan – Certificate
Stuart Bayliss – Certificate
Chelsea Hardwell – Certificate
Avalon Harris-Trussell – Certificate
Charlotte Pattenden – Certificate
David Fox – Certificate
Calum Macleod – Certificate
Dan Kordowski – Certificate
Faith Butler – Certificate
James Coupar – Certificate
Lee Jeffery – Certificate
Samah Malik – Certificate
Noel Reynolds – Certificate
Liam Tankard – Certificate
Matthew Vincent – Certificate
Stephen Whittingham – Certificate
James Thompson – Certificate
DANCERS
Karl McCaughan – Voucher as thanks
Jessie Gasson – Voucher as thanks
Chloe Martin – Certificate
Sophie Nulty – Certificate
Blaize Szantos – Certificate
Louise Brooks – Certificate
Charlotte Mortlock – Certificate
Charlie Mott – Certificate
TROPHIES
Outstanding Contribution Award – Callum Vitler
Wishfish Inspirational Award – Darren Hollis
ASDAN
Darren Hollis – Certificate
Callum Vitler – Certificate
Darren Hollis – Certificate
Charlotte Pattenden – Certificate
Avalon Harris-Trussell – Certificate
Stuart Bayliss – Certificate
Calum Macleod – Certificate
Satheesan Nagendran – Certificate
FIRST AID
Misty Harris-Trussell – Certificate
Chelsea Hardwell – Certificate
Callum Vitler – Certificate
Avalon Harris-Trussell – Certificate
Charlotte Pattenden – Certificate
D OF E SERVICE AWARD
Lauren Meineck – Certificate
John Currie – Certificate
A demonstration on the drumsJo Bell speaks of her pride for the members and the youth wing
Stuart Bayliss playing Ludovico Einaudi's Nefeli
Sgt Ben Websdale trying to catch up with the talent in the room
West Sussex Music Service has hit the top note by being classed as a grade 1 service, with outstanding features.
This is the result of a report by the Federation of Music Services in partnership with the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF).
The outstanding features of the West Sussex Music Service listed included:
· support for pupils
· achievement and standards
· the quality of teaching and learning
· leadership and management
· a service which adds value for young people and gives good value for money
· skills of the musicians and teachers within the service
West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Education and Schools, Peter Griffiths, said: “This report reflects the hard work the committed team of professional teachers in the Music Service puts in, and we would like to thank everybody including parents and schools for their support.”
For more information on the Music Service, email music@westsussex.gov.uk or call 01243 612317.
RT @NRE_Southern: UPDATE: Delays between Haywards Heath and Gatwick Airport until further notice - line now blocked http://t.co/jtqaeicm#fb#22 mins ago
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