NEWSLETTER ISSUE #

ISSUE #10

   
 
 

Wealden Citizens Advice

In the last year Wealden Citizens Advice (WCA) have helped over 5000 people with 17,000 issues and have gained revenue for clients in excess of £2 million pounds. From June this year WCA now offer advice by email for East Sussex residents. Advice can be accessed at www.eastsussexcab.org.uk

As well as continuing to offer free, independent, impartial and confidential advice, we have been working on a 2 year project called ‘Better Together’ which is being funded by the National Lottery Big Lottery Fund and Cabinet Office. In order to deliver a wide variety of new services under this project we are working in partnership with Wealden District Council, Hailsham Foodbank, Clued-up.info, Rotherfield St Martin, Newhaven Community Development Association, Brighton Housing Trust, Age UK, East Sussex Disability Association, South East Advocacy Project and Homestart.

The project has provided a welfare benefits and housing adviser employed by Brighton Housing Trust and a CAB debt adviser based in Crowborough bureau. These advisers are specialist in their field and are proving very valuable, with gains so far of nearly £40,000 for their clients. We have now opened our Hailsham Bureau on a Tuesday for appointments with debt, housing, welfare benefit checks and free legal appointments.

We have also begun to offer a ‘Skypereach’ service with Rotherfield St Martin and the Polegate Children’s Centre. Skypereach offers face to face appointments over the internet which allows more flexibility with how and when advice can be given. WCA are looking at rolling out this service across Wealden.

All of these new initiatives are being paid for by the National Lottery Big Lottery Fund; however there is still a need for funding to support all of the core and day to day activities that WCA carries out and there is continuous focus on fundraising for these.

There is also is a need for volunteers for the service. If you are interested in helping your community and can spare a day per week, then why not train to become a volunteer CAB Adviser? For more information contact Cas Smith via email: administrator@uckfieldcab.cabnet.org.uk or telephone 01825 762807.

 
 
  CONSULTATIONS    
 
 

Wealden Disrtict Council Housing Strategy 2014-16

Wealden District Council’s current Housing Strategy has now expired and we are consulting on a Draft Housing Strategy for 2014-16. This strategy will be reviewed in one years’ time and updated in line with the Corporate Plan priorities and having regard to any political changes both nationally and locally as a result of the 2015 elections. It will also allow us time to assess the impact of the changes around welfare reform, the Localism Act and other national changes.

The consultation on the Draft Housing Strategy 2014-16 will run between Monday 7th July until Monday 29th September and be available online at: www.wealden.gov.uk/housingconsultations or a hard copy can be requested by emailing housingpolicy@wealden.gov.uk or calling 01323 443322.


 
 
  WHATS ON    
 
 

Last chance to book!



Last chance to book your plase at the East Sussex Assembly which takes place on Monday 14th July in the Gold Room, Winter Gardens, Eastbourne. Please get your booking form here and complete it by Wednesday 9th July and return it to essp@eastsussex.gov.uk




BHT Training – Essential Training for the Voluntary Sector

Motivational Interviewing – 8th & 9th July 2014
Supporting Volunteers – 10th July 2014
ITEP & Node Link Mapping – 15th & 16th July 2014
Needs Assessment and Support Planning – 24th July 2014
Managing Difficult and Aggressive Situations – 13th August 2014
Professional Boundaries – 19th August 2014
Equality and Diversity – 19th August 2014

All of the above courses will be running in Brighton unless stated otherwise. If you would like further information about one of the courses listed, please contact the Training Team: Tel:  01273 645401 Email: training@bht.org.uk  Website: www.bht-training.org.uk 


Make a Change4Life with free activities in Seaford and Peacehaven

One in five children in Reception year at school is overweight or obese and one in three is overweight or obese in Year 6 (age 10/11years) (Source: Public Health England (2014) Source: Public Health England (2014)).

This can lead to serious illnesses like coronary heart disease, cancer and type II diabetes in later life, as well as placing pressure on support systems and the wider family. All parents want their children to grow up to be happy, healthy adults, but for some families it can be a challenge to know how to achieve this.

On Thursday 24th and Friday 25th July 2014, Seaford and Peacehaven families are invited to make a Change4Life at the Downs Leisure Centre and Peacehaven Leisure Centre with access to loads of free or reduced price activities during the day. Now into their fourth year the day promises a variety of activities for all ages!

Thursday 24th July 2014 - Downs Leisure Centre, Seaford (12.30-3.00pm)
Amongst the free activities there will be access to Trampolining, Gymnastics, Football, Dance, Arts & crafts, Health & nutrition, Face painting,and a lunch box for £1.75 at CafĂ© Wave will be available.      
Supported by the Seaford and area primary schools, the Seaford Children’s Centre, Health Trainers and Wave Leisure the day offers an ideal opportunity to try out sessions that you may not have had the time to access.
 

Friday 25th July 2014 Peacehaven Leisure Centre (12.00noon-2.00pm)
Amongst the free activities there will be access to Trampolining, Basketball, Table Tennis, Dance demonstration, Zumba taster sessions, Indoor cycling taster sessions, Health & nutrition and Face painting.       
 

Supported by the Peacehaven and area primary schools, the Peacehaven Children’s Centre, Health Trainers and Wave Leisure Trust the day offers an ideal opportunity to try out sessions that you may not have had the time to access.

On both days a variety of physical activity sessions offer a spontaneous and highly enjoyable way for children to be healthy. They burn energy, strengthen their bones and reduce the risk of developing obesity. But there are plenty of other benefits too. Team and individual activities build children’s confidence by encouraging them to interact with others, it helps develop their imagination – and it makes them feel good too!

For more information visit www.waveleisure.co.uk or our Facebook page www.fb.com/waveleisure  or call the Downs Leisure Centre on 01323 490011 or Peacehaven Leisure Centre on 01273 588858.

Seahaven Para Games 2014 Call for Participants
Following three successful years Wave Leisure Trust (WLT) is delighted to confirm the launch of the 4th Seahaven Para Games due to be held on Sunday 10th August. For 2014, WLT has appointed transport partners and secured funding to be able to provide free transport for participants who need assistance in being able to attend the event. East Sussex Disability Association (ESDA) Coaches and Community Transport for the Lewes Area (CTLA) will be managing transportation for the day.

There is no cost for participants for the event or for transportation as these games are funded by the Community Games initiative through Active Sussex, the Rotary Club of Seaford, Sainsbury’s (Newhaven Harbour) and the Wave Leisure Trust Inspiring Active Lifestyles Community Fund.

The programme - running from 10am until 4pm - will include five sporting activities plus a buffet lunch. The activities will include archery, new age kurling, table tennis, boccia, bowls and the wheelchair slalom. The event this year is supported by Seaford Kurlers, Blind Veterans UK and Seaford Head Table Tennis Club.

WLT is only able take a maximum of 40 participants on the day, and would request that participants, if required, must be accompanied by a carer at all times. Transport and transport support requirements can be booked at the time of registering. If you are interested in entering either a team or as an individual please call 01323 493026 or email info@waveleisure.co.uk
 

 
 
  MEETING UPDATES    
 
 

Older People’s Partnership Board

At its meeting on the 12 May 2014, the Older People’s Partnership Board discussed:

  • Healthwatch East Sussex’s current reviews of hospital discharges and access to the GP complaint service
  • An update to the plans to close ESCC run day centres for older people and re-provide the services in the voluntary and private sectors.
  • The areas that Adult Social Care are currently focussing on in order to achieve the saving target of 30% on care packages.
  • Proposals for tackling social isolation among older people.
  • The Living Well Service, run by Family Mosaic/Intouch, that is helping people to improve their health and wellbeing through the provision of time-limited support, advice and practical solutions.
  • The Stroke Association’s range of services in East Sussex, including a programme of exercise and education classes running in local leisure centres.

Full minutes of all meetings can be found at: http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/community/over50s/developingservices/partnershipboard.htm
 


East Sussex Strategic Partnership Board Meetings

To view papers and minutes of previous ESSP Board meetings, see the meetings page of the ESSP website.

 
 
  EAST SUSSEX IN FIGURES    
 
 

East Sussex in Figures (ESiF) is the local information system (LIS) for the county. It’s a website that provides access to essential data, information and analysis.

Headlines

The number of people in East Sussex who are unemployed and claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) fell in May 2014, in line with regional and national trends. Claimant numbers are now at their lowest since September 2008.

A new local authority level Area profile is now available detailing the dwelling-led (policy-based) demographic projections produced by East Sussex County Council.

New datasets – highlights

The net flow of people (the difference between people moving in and people moving out) for East Sussex in 2012 was 4,400.

There were 39,840 people living in East Sussex of working age claiming benefits (including out-of-work benefits) in November 2013.

Please contact the Research and Information team if you have any specific data or information enquiries.

 
 
 
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