Crawley MP Welcomes Help For The Poorest Local Children Through The Pupil Premium
Henry Smith has welcomed new figures which show that disadvantaged children in Crawley are set to receive £683,000 this year under the Coalition Government’s new ‘pupil premium’.
The pupil premium is a new policy promised by the Conservatives before the general election last year. It is an extra lump sum of cash which follows every disadvantaged child and is received by schools, allowing them to provide additional support such as one-to-one tuition and extra pastoral care.
The Government has announced that in the year from April 2011, the pupil premium will be worth £430 for every pupil on Free School Meals, £430 for every looked-after child, and £200 for every child who has a parent in the armed services. This means that in Crawley this year 1,590 children overall will benefit from the £683,000 funding.
Henry Smith said:
“This is fantastic news for young people in Crawley. The gap between the academic performance of children from deprived backgrounds and their peers is far too big and has been ignored for too long.
“The pupil premium will tackle this disparity head on, providing targeted funding for those who need it most. This could mean extra one-to-one tuition or more pastoral support.
“The Government didn’t create these problems but, even in these tough times, it is delivering a massive boost to the education of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children.”
The event: Gatwick Diamond Rotary Club Stroke and Health Awareness Day
Gatwick Diamond Rotary Club have again joined forces with the South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) for this Year’s Event.
South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) paramedic and Clinical Operations Manager for Crawley, Dave Atkins said: “Strokes devastate the lives of thousands of people across our region every year and SECAmb are pleased to be able to support local awareness raising events. If someone suspects a person has suffered a stroke they should call 999 immediately. The sooner we get to someone who may have suffered a stroke the sooner we can get them to the specialist care they need”
High Blood Pressure can affect people of ALL AGES and most do not know they have a problem till it is TOO LATE.
It is better to be safe than sorry so please come along for your FREE Blood Pressure Test between 10am and 4pm.
In 2008 when we did the same event during the two hour event 35 men and woman of all ages had a blood pressure check carried out by medical professionals. Five had higher than usual blood pressure and were encouraged to visit their GP for further checks. This equates to nearly 15% of those tested.
We ran our second ‘Know Your Blood Pressure’ event on Saturday 17th April 2010 with alarming results. During the event 54 men and woman of all ages had a blood pressure check carried out by the South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb). Ten had higher than usual blood pressure and were encouraged to visit their GP for further checks. The percentage referred in 2010 was 20% a 25% increase on 2008.
Drama unfurled towards the end of the 2010 event when a visitor from Coulsden dropped in for a routine check.
After making the necessary checks and an ECG phone calls then triggered an ambulance being called and the visitor being rushed to East Surrey Hospital in Redhill.
Rotary Know Your Blood Pressure Day 2011 will see over 400 Rotary clubs taking to the high streets to take the public’s blood pressure.
On average, the awareness day sees around 13,500 people step up to have their blood pressure taken, with just under 3,000 being advised to see their GP for more tests and a further 196 urged to seek medical advice immediately. It’s fair to say that over the years, this event has prevented thousands of people suffering the sometimes fatal and often disabling consequences of a stroke.
Rotary Know Your Blood Pressure Day is run in partnership with The Stroke Association to help people better understand the relation between high blood pressure (hypertension) and stroke. It is estimated that 40% of the 150,000 strokes suffered by people in the U.K each year could be prevented. This condition can easily be controlled.
Rotary recognises that one of the biggest challenges is to help people understand that strokes don’t just happen to other people. They can happen to anyone, at any age and the biggest single risk is high blood pressure. Rotarian volunteers play an invaluable role in reaching out to people, encouraging them to have regular checks and take action when needed.
Rotary clubs run their blood pressure check events in church halls, supermarkets, shopping centres, libraries and leisure centres, usually assisted by a small team of health professionals, perhaps a GP or practice nurse.
Crawley MP Congratulates Local Firm On Successful £100m Deal For London 2012 Security Services
The Manor Royal based G4S has won a deal to recruit, train and manage over 10,000 security staff for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Henry Smith said:
“This £100 million contract is one in a series of successful business deals won across Crawley which help place local business at the heart of the upcoming 2012 Games.
“Well done to the G4S team that worked so hard to put together and sell a winning bid which will undoubtedly create yet more jobs locally and assist other businesses. The bid was won against the backdrop of tough competition and it is a true testament to G4S that they have been appointed for this essential role.
“I am pleased to see the extent to which Crawley is benefiting from the London Games and will continue to try and build on this platform further still.”
Have an eggs-cellent time at Buchan Country Park this spring
There are lots of eggs-citing events going on at Buchan Country Park in Crawley this spring and summer.
The 2011 brochure is out now, packed with fun for all the family.
Some of the events are:
• Wednesday 20th April – celebrate the Easter ‘Eggstravaganza’ between 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm with a traditional craft session including egg decorating, Easter card making, Easter boxes and chocolate sweets. It costs £3 per child and they must be accompanied by an adult – adults are free. Meet at the Countryside Centre.
• Sunday 1st May – birdlovers can celebrate ‘International Dawn Chorus Day’ with a two-mile guided walk between 4.45am-7.30am. It will be followed by a continental breakfast at the Countryside Centre. Tickets cost £5 per person or £15 for a group of four people. Adults must accompany children. Meet at the Countryside Centre.
• Saturday 4th June – discover ‘Midnight Moths’ between 9pm-midnight. Find out how ultra-violet light, wine and treacle attracts moths. Tickets cost £3 per person or £10 for a group of four people. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Meet at the Countryside Centre.
• Saturday 23rd July – take a picnic and rug along with a favourite teddy bear to the ‘Teddy bears tea party’ between 2pm-4pm. There will be pond dipping, treasure hunts, storytelling and games for all ages. It costs £3 per child and they must be accompanied by an adult – adults (and teddy bears) are free. Meet in the Wild Garden.
Booking is essential for most events. To book, phone 01293 542088 or email buchan.park@westsussex.gov.uk
Keith Blake, West Sussex County Council Deputy Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy, said: “As the weather starts to get warmer and the lighter evenings approach, there are many activities for all the family to get involved in over spring and summer.”
For more events at the country park, or to download the brochure, visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/buchan and click on ‘events’
Work to add a pedestrian crossing to an existing traffic lights junction between the A23 London Road and Martyrs Avenue, in Crawley, starts from Monday 28th March.
The £33,000 West Sussex County Council scheme is scheduled to take up to four weeks to complete, weather permitting. It will be carried out Monday to Friday 09:30am to 16:00pm, and occasionally on Saturdays from 7am to 1pm.
Temporary lane closures and sections of the pavement will be closed during the course of the work.
The Hawth’s film seasons go from strength to strength. The four-times Oscar winning King’s Speech has proved it really does reign supreme as the first screening at the theatre sold out and a second showing has been added on Wednesday 23rd March at 8pm in order to accommodate all those desperate to see the film on the big screen.
The new season of film then kicks off with another Academy Award winner. The Fighter starring best supporting actor, Christian Bale and best supporting actress Melissa Leo will be shown at The Hawth on Thursday 7th April at 8pm. The film, certificated a 15, is inspired by the true story of two brothers, both boxers who, against all odds, come together to train for an historic title fight.
On Tuesday 3 May at 8pm Nicole Kidman’s powerful performance as a bereaved mother will be brought to the screen in Rabbit Hole (PG). Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by David Lindsay-Abaire, this moving film has been subject to much critical acclaim.
Rounding off the springtime film selection is True Grit (15) on Wednesday 4th May at 8pm. A great opportunity to catch the Oscar nominated masterpiece on the big screen before it’s too late. The Coen brothers’ adaptation of the classic Western story of vengeance and valour received 8 Bafta and 10 Oscar nominations and tickets to the Hawth’s screening in May are selling fast.
TRUE GRIT
Tickets for King’s Speech, The Fighter, Rabbit Hole and True Grit are priced £6 (discounts £5.50) and are available from the Hawth Box Office on 01293 553636 or you can book online at www.hawth.co.uk.
On Wednesday 11th May and Monday 27th June 10am – 5.30pm , The Hawth Studio will hold free screenings of Life At The Hawth. The selected footage from Gavin Beasley’s four hour documentary filmed at The Hawth in 2009/10 follows life in the theatre from work backstage to the performances themselves. The footage will run throughout both days, so feel free to pop in to see a little of life behind the scenes.
Last year’s Crawley Folk and Beer Festival attracted crowds from across the country, who came to soak up the atmosphere in The Hawth Grounds, peruse the stalls, watch the dance displays, listen to top performers from across the globe and enjoy a pint or two of some of the finest ales on offer in the UK.
This year sees Crawley Folk Festival celebrate its 20th anniversary so join us as we throw a party to remember! This year you can look forward to some great music courtesy of Warsaw Village Band, local folk legends The Copper Family and The Demon Barbers, fresh from winning Best Live Act at the 2011 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
Warsaw Village Band
Warsaw Village Band have been described by Songlines as ‘the Polish Pogues’, the six piece acoustic band mix thrilling, versions of traditional Polish songs with unbounded energy and enthusiasm! They are sure to get the festival off to a flying start for all folk fans on Friday Night (24 June, 7.30pm). If blues is more your taste then The Elevators performance at 8.15pm (Studio) on the same night, is the perfect gig for you. Influenced by BB King, Peter Green and Eric Clapton the band are the leading exponents of classic electric blues.
On Saturday night Sussex folk legends The Copper Family offer up their traditional English songs and unique harmony and then to bring the festival to an impressive close The Demon Barbers Roadshow combine Clog, Rapper Sword and Morris with B-boying, Popping and Krump in Time Gentlemen Please! a humorous and unmissable visual feast that is sure to bring the house down on the final night.
The Demon Barbers Roadshow
There will of course be free performances including concertina and fiddle band Spare Parts, blues from Cajun Dawgs, 4 Square will be playing alternative folk, Los Salvadores combine world music and folk and local band Touchstone will be performing for their 20th consecutive year at the fest – all this plus many more across the weekend.
There will also be the usual goodies on offer including workshops, food stands, craft stalls and demonstrations in Morris and traditional folk dance. Be sure to sample a pint at the Beer Festival too as there are 50 beers and ciders to choose from.
Don’t forget that if you really want to get into the festival spirit, we have great on-site camping facilities from just £10 and as always, under 12s go free. So why not bring the whole family along!
Help families with disabled children to ‘share the care’
There is a real need for more short break carers to help West Sussex disabled children and their families.
Caring for a child or young person with a disability is demanding so sharing the care, even for a short time, can make a big difference.
West Sussex County Council is using Share the Care Week (March 21-27) to highlight the recruitment drive.
Posters are being put up at schools, hospitals, health centres and Libraries.
Cabinet Member for Children and Families, Peter Evans, said: “Short break carers come from a wide range of ages and backgrounds. The most important quality is to share a love of working with children.
“We are looking for new carers. The amount of time they give is very flexible and can be anything from a few hours a week, to an overnight stay once a month.”
Jan Bambridge, from the Family Placement Disability Team, said: “Not only do short break carers give children the chance to take part in activities that most non-disabled children take for granted – they also give parents a break from the demands of caring.
“Being a short break carer is such a rewarding and enjoyable role to have in a disabled child’s life. We hope that when they hear about the opportunity many more people will think ‘I could do that’ and find out more.”
Short break carers have access to a comprehensive training programme, which includes how to care for a specific child’s needs, and are paid either for overnight stays or an hourly rate if care is during the day.
If you want to find out more contact the Fostering Recruitment Team on 01403 229333.
Read All About It – Crawley’s first ever festival of words
There’s a host of events to celebrate Crawley’s first ever festival celebrating words and writing.
‘WORDfest’, which runs from Saturday April 2 till Saturday April 9, is led by Crawley Library and the town’s Waterstones bookshop.
Throughout the week there will be author talks and signings at the Library, including world-famous novelist Wilbur Smith on Tuesday April 5, at 4.30pm, and local author Alex Preston, who wrote the festival’s chosen book ‘Bleeding City’ on Saturday April 9 at 7pm. Tickets for both events are £3.
There will be some week-long activities, including ‘Fun Days’, where people can design a new cover for their favourite book, and a live writing exhibition. This will see a different author every day being given a blank writing pad, pen and laptop and have to produce a short story inspired by different one word themes. On the sixth day, an illustrator will design an image for each story.
Both these events will be held at Waterstones in the County Mall and people can come along and see the authors in action.
If you want to know how to self-publish a book, visit the Library on Friday April 8 at 6pm to speak to Keith Churchouse, Alan Gilliand and Christine Mustchin, who are all self-published authors and will give advice and information. Tickets cost £3.
Other venues will be hosting events. At The Hawth Studio on Tuesday April 5, there will be a free special WORDfest Open Mic night. The cream of Crawley’s talent will be there, including ‘Pighog Press’ poet Anthony Owen. Anyone who would like to recite someone’s else’s work, or read their own work can come along the night and put their name down.
Keith Blake, West Sussex County Council Deputy Cabinet Member with responsibility for Libraries, said: “In an age where television and film is so popular, it’s vital to remember the importance of reading, writing and being creative – and WORDfest will do this.
“With a wide range of events and activities, some of them free, there will be something for everyone, and it’s a great opportunity to share information, be creative, meet new people and gain advice from the professionals.”
Henry Smith MP today welcomed Virgin Atlantic’s announcement that it will be expanding its service operations at Gatwick Airport.
Ten new A330 aircraft will be introduced over the next two years, which will not only boost services on offer from Gatwick (specifically additional weekly flights from London to Ghana, Tobago, Grenada and Havana) but will also create 350 new jobs locally.
The new posts will include cabin crew, pilots and ground staff for the newly created supporting head office roles.
Henry said:
“I warmly welcome Virgin Atlantic’s announcement to expand their Gatwick operations.
“Once again, Virgin Atlantic has demonstrated that it is a forward thinking and successful British company, that I feel very proud to have based here in Crawley. This move will serve only to further cement Gatwick’s status as the nation’s second gateway.”
Still time for businesses to give views on broadband
A survey for businesses to give their views on broadband in West Sussex closes at the end of March.
Nearly 600 businesses have responded so far, letting West Sussex County Council know how broadband helps, or hinders, their work.
The County Council’s been lobbying BT and internet service providers to help get faster broadband in West Sussex and tackle ‘not spots’ where people are unable to get broadband at all.
Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy Deborah Urquhart said: “We’re keen to hear from as many businesses as possible to help us understand which areas are affected by poor internet connection.
“Many businesses rely on the internet, and we want to do all we can to help encourage internet service providers to make the system in West Sussex as fast and efficient as possible, so supporting our economy.”
All survey responses will be used by the County Council as evidence when lobbying for improvements and towards bids for funding that could help bring improved quality broadband to the county.
There are a number of ways to fill in the survey:
· For those who have access to the internet, it is available at www.westsussex.gov.uk/broadband
· Printed copies of the questionnaire are available from West Sussex Libraries or by calling 01243 642119.
Amble along with amphibians at Buchan Country Park
Hop along to Crawley’s Buchan Country Park for its Amphibian Amble on Friday 25th March.
Starting at the Countryside Centre, the event involves an evening walk and pond dip searching for frogs, newts and toads emerging from hibernation.
The event is from 6pm to 8.30pm. Booking is essential, with tickets costing £3 per person, or £10 for a group of four people. Adults must accompany children.
No Smoking Day (9th March) could be the day that smokers in Crawley decide it’s finally time to quit. In its 28th year, No Smoking Day is encouraging smokers to give up smoking, save thousands of pounds and take the opportunity to find out how they can get help and support.
Local MP Henry Smith is supporting this year’s No Smoking Day campaign and will be supporting events Crawley. Thousands of No Smoking Day events will be taking place all over the UK. There will be interactive stalls, an abseil, poster displays, a sack race and even a flash mob. Stop smoking services, fire and rescue services, local councils, supermarkets, local football clubs and many more, will be out and about to help and support smokers who are ready to call it quits.
Henry said, “Smokers can make No Smoking Day the official day that they stop smoking and they don’t have to do it alone. Help and advice is at hand and if they get the support of their local stop smoking service they can increase their chances of success by up to four times.
We have some of the highest smoking rates in Crawley, with a Department of Health report showing last year that nearly a third of Crawley adult residents are smokers, which is above the national average.
I would encourage smokers to give it a go. You may not notice the benefits straight away but you will start to be able to breathe easier, have more energy and it will make a big difference to their pocket – saving those who smoke 10 a day up to £2,000 a year.”
Dragons’ Den star and entrepreneur, Duncan Bannatyne, who is the No Smoking Day President,said, “Quitting smoking isn’t always easy. Most of the nine million UK smokers say they’d like to quit, and many have tried to stop several times over the last year.
“If you’ve tried and failed a few times, it’s easy to give up hope. But you’ll find few ex-smokers that quit the habit on their first attempt. So pick yourself up, dust yourself down and believe that this time you really can do it!”
Crawley MP Keeps Blood Pressure In Check With Help Of Pharmacy Professionals
Henry Smith saw first hand the role community pharmacy plays in delivering expert public health services with a free blood pressure check at the House of Commons recently.
The event, attended by over 40 MPs and Lords, was organised by leading community pharmacy chain Lloydspharmacy, in partnership with British Heart Foundation, and aimed to raise awareness of the importance of regularly monitoring your blood pressure.
One in three adults in the UK has high blood pressure and many people aren’t aware they have the condition, which means they are increasing the chance of becoming seriously ill if they continue with an unhealthy lifestyle. Often dubbed ‘the silent killer’, high blood pressure can have no symptoms until it has become extremely severe. Left unchecked it can lead to a stroke or heart attack. If left untreated it can also damage other organs such as kidneys and eyes.
Henry said of the initiative: “People are working harder, longer hours and are living more stressful lives. We know that the public are taking unnecessary risks by failing to get their blood pressure checked and it’s commendable that Lloydspharmacy offers such a vital health screening and lifestyle advisory service. Pharmacists have a significant role to play addressing public health issues in the community. I hope this encourages local residents to follow suit and take advantage of the convenient health services which are available in their local pharmacy.”
Ronan Brett, Lloydspharmacy’s head of professional and external relations commented: “We are delighted that Henry Smith was able to attend the event to hear about how community pharmacy is leading the way in providing accessible health services to the public in their local communities. At Lloydspharmacy we have been championing public health initiatives in our pharmacy consultation rooms since 2003 and have conducted millions of tests, from blood pressure to diabetes. These and the many other pharmacy services we offer help support the public in managing their own health and wellbeing. Our work can allow other health professionals to focus on more acute conditions and something as simple as a quick blood pressure check can stop someone from developing a serious health problem in the first place.”
The future of bus services in West Sussex comes under the spotlight in the latest Digital Democracy video interview on the County Council’s website. Deputy Leader Lionel Barnard is challenged about his decision to reduce the annual budget to subsidise bus journeys. The budget is being cut from £4.7m to £2.7m as part of the County Council’s overall aim of saving £79m.
Interviewer Chris Rider asks Lionel about the effect on rural communities, and asks if people could be stranded without transport. He also asks how decisions will be taken on which services to leave untouched, or where subsidies should be reduced or removed altogether.
Lionel explains that some under-used services can cost the equivalent of £7 per passenger in council taxpayers’ cash. Now a cross-party task force of county councillors is being set up, to decide where reductions might be made.
“I am called on almost every day to account for all my actions as a county councillor, and I was happy to explain in the film how we will be arriving at our decisions,” says Lionel. “One thing we have already decided is to do all we can to encourage the growth of community buses. There will be many opportunities for people to find their own solutions to transport needs.”
The video can be seen on the County Council website at www.westsussex.gov.uk. Just click the Digital Democracy link on the home page.
Savvy schoolchildren make it to the finals of 21st Road Safety and TravelWise Quiz
Fingers are at the ready for the 21st Road Safety and TravelWise Quiz as 20 West Sussex schools make it to the finals on Friday 4th March.
A record 127 schools took part in the first round leading up to the finals. Barnham Primary School got the top score in round two with 115 points out of 120.
The schools taking part in the finals are:
Arundel – Arundel CE Primary
Barnham – Barnham Primary
Billingshurst – Loxwood Primary
Bognor Regis – Edward Bryant
Burgess Hill – Birchwood Grove Community Primary
Chichester – West Dean CE Primary
Crawley – Bewbush Community Primary
Copthorne Junior
Maidenbower Junior
Pound Hill Junior
Goring by Sea – English Martyrs Catholic Primary
Haywards Heath – Lindfield Primary
Northlands Wood Community Primary
Horsham – Leechpool Primary
North Heath Community Primary
Littlehampton – Connaught Junior
East Preston Junior
Petersfield – Harting CE Primary
Pulborough – Dorset House
Worthing – Our Lady of Sion Junior
The 120 schoolchildren in the finals will answer questions in four rounds on topics relating to road safety and how to travel around West Sussex in environmentally friendly ways.
The winning school and runners-up in second and third place will each get the prestigious Pemberton Shield and Evans Cycles vouchers.
Lionel Barnard, Deputy Leader of West Sussex County Council with responsibility for Highways and Transport, said: “There are still free tickets to be had for this milestone event, so if you like quizzes and want to see the schoolchildren in action, come along and cheer them on.”
The finals will be held at Chichester Festival Theatre, Oaklands Park (PO19 6AP), from 7pm.
To book free tickets or for more information about the quiz, contact the Road Safety and TravelWise teams on 01903 839360.
Read All About It – World Book Day and Night in West Sussex
World Book Day on Thursday March 3 and the first ever World Book Night on Saturday March 5 will be celebrated in West Sussex with a series of author visits and free books being given away.
Three female authors will be visiting Worthing and Storrington Libraries.
Author of the ‘Jordan Lacey’ series and the ‘Casey Jones Cruise Ships Mysteries’, Stella Whitelaw will be visiting Worthing Library on World Book Day at 2pm. She will give a talk aimed at new writers, and those exploring a career in writing, on how to get your book published. She will also be signing copies of her most recent book, ‘Book Proposals: The essential Guide’.
Tickets are free but space is limited so advance booking is required. Call Worthing Library on 01903 704809.
‘Wheels Around the World’ at Storrington Library, from 7pm, also on World Book Day, will see travel writers Pam Goodall and Doreen Webster discuss their books based on their experiences of travelling the world with a difference.
West Sussex resident Pam was approaching her 60th birthday when she decided to leave her comfortable home and pedal her way around Europe, Asia and America on a bicycle.
Doreen Webster, 76, has written a guide on travelling with her wheelchair-bound husband, around the world, seeing everything from a Canadian glacier to the Great Wall of China.
Tickets are £1 and are available from Storrington Library on 01903 743075.
World Book Day is followed by the first ever World Book Night on Saturday March 5.
Across Britain more than a million books will be given away for free in an effort to get more people reading and talking about literature. Publishers are providing the books of nominated book-givers to give out and some have been chosen to do this West Sussex Libraries.
A limited number of free copies of books will be available during the day at:
• Billingshurst Library – Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes
• East Grinstead Library – Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
• Horsham Library – Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes (for those joining guided tours behind the scenes of Horsham library).
From 6.30 – 8.30 pm, Crawley Library will see authors and readers unite, with visitors receiving free copies of several books, including the award-winning Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell and books by bestselling author Sam Hayes, who will be attending the event.
Tickets cost £3 and include a free glass of wine or soft drink.
Around 1,000 places are now available on Crawley Borough Council’s GREENbin service.
The council has rearranged the GREENbin collection rounds so it can accommodate more customers while still using one collection vehicle and crew.
This change does mean a small number of residents will now have their green garden waste collected on a different day of the week to their rubbish and recycling collections.
The service can now accommodate around 5,000 customers. All customers on the waiting list will be contacted before accepting new customers.
Councillor Keith Blake, Cabinet member for Environmental Services, said: ”The GREENbin scheme has been a great success.
“It has collected lots more garden waste than our previous scheme and results in fewer journeys to the Household Waste Recycling Site.
“Also, this extra green waste going to the composter should add between one and two per cent to our annual recycling rate.”
Last year, the scheme saw 879 tonnes of green waste collected from 4,000 homes.
All customers already signed up to the service will receive their annual invoice at the start of February and collection calendars detailing the collection schedules for the year will be sent out around the middle of February.
The cost for the 2011 GREENbin collection service is just £45, which takes into account the VAT increase as well as inflationary increases in contractual costs. The fortnightly collection service runs from March until November. The green waste is taken to a large composting facility in Henfield.
To apply for a GREENbin, visit www.crawley.gov.uk/greenbin, call 0800 5875 888 or email amenity.services@crawley.gov.uk
Crawley MP Nominates Local Group For National Award
Crawley MP Henry Smith has nominated the Jack Doors group for the Prime Minister’s Big Society Award.
Henry said, “I am delighted to give my support to the Jack Doors group, and its chair, Jackie Rose. As the only disability group in Crawley, I feel that they represent what the Big Society is all about. I have seen the effort that Jackie puts in to stand up for her members, and she deserves tremendous credit for her endeavours.”
Jack Doors provide outings to those with mobility issues and vision impairments. They are the only disability group in Crawley, and provide the only from of social inclusion for over 20 Crawley residents. Their meetings give members a chance to go on daytrips together, as well as having gatherings closer to home.
Henry continued, “Jackie has ensured that the Jack Doors group provides enjoyment to people who may not otherwise enjoy social interaction. I was delighted to hear the Leader of Crawley Borough Council, Cllr Bob Lanzer, has agreed to second this nomination. I urge the Prime Minister to take a close look at this group, and what her work means to Crawley residents”
