March 2010 www.westsussex.gov.uk Issue No. 41 A lawfully good idea! How we're helping Freddy A new one-stop See page 3 shop for legal advice will be launched in West next month. The Community Legal Advice Service will be independent, confidential, free, cover the whole county, and follows research which shows that one in seven people fail when Pothole Patrol swings into they try and get legal help. action There will also be a See page 3 phone helpline between 9am and 6pm Monday to Friday. You are most likely to need legal advice when you are at your most vulnerable, for instance when you are going through a divorce, are a victim of domestic violence, homelessness or The only way is up long-term sickness. The new service will See page 4 be run by a consortium of all the Citizens Advice Bureaux. It will deliver a full range of general and specialist legal help, from basic advice to court representation, for Trust Wildlife Sussex Victoria Hume, Photo: people facing problems relating to family, community care, debt, employment, housing and Tree-mendous work! welfare benefits. It starts on 1 April and A two-year survey has discovered there Survey of West Sussex used the latest Could you become a foster will see more than is more ancient woodland in West Sussex technology alongside ancient maps. carer? than was previously thought. There are now 21,375 hectares (10.5% of the £7.25million invested into This means more of this precious habitat can area of the county) of this threatened and See page 7 the scheme over a three- be protected by law and saved for future irreplaceable woodland in the county. year period. generations. Ancient woodland is designated as being land The new service has The and Downs Ancient Woodland which has been continuously wooded since 1600. been secured thanks to an agreement brokered by advice. housing and employment cope with the centres and there will the County Council, the West Sussex County problems. recession.” be an outreach Legal Services Council Chief Executive “The service will People from across service for those living Commission (LSC), and Mark Hammond said: place a strong emphasis the county can use in more rural places. district and borough “We believe this on the vital role of the new service at 12 councils. enhanced service will be valued volunteer advice To contact your nearest CAB Advice Centre The Citizens Advice a major improvement workers and is good Bureau will continue to and help many more timing as an important visit www.adviceguide.org.uk West Sussex Olympic help people with other life people get legal advice part of this work is to The advice line is 0844 4771171. heroes problems such as benefits as well as help with debt, help our communities See page 14 Changing services for changing times - see page 8 2 visit our website at www.westsussex.gov.uk BUY WITH CONFIDENCE

BUSINESS AND HOME IMPROVEMENTS Qualified Tradesmen with 30 Years Experience Domestic and Commercial Properties Tiles- Slates - Asphalt - High Performance Felt Roofing BWC is a list of approved traders vetted by our Trading Standards Call 07702 954682 or 01273 884126 Service and is designed to protect both consumers and THETHE PLUMBINGPLUMBING & HEATINGHEATING ENGINEERENGINEER businesses against Central Heating Systems Radiators repaired or replaced unfair practices. supplied and fitted Landlord Safety Checks If you would like Boiler breakdowns, servicing or replacements Plus all other work to become a For a free quote please call Ricky on BWC trader, or Tel: 01903 724105 want to find one, call Mobile: 07810 671392 01243 Get a copy 642124 or go to our website Providing Extensions, groundwork, brickwork, roofing, of the carpentry, internal alterations, project management, under Trading kitchens, bathrooms and JCB hire. All enquiries welcome Standards. as we offer many other services as well. Buy With Confidence Directory of local traders at A BIG libraries, Help Points, or by ringing THANK YOU! Many of the services we highlight in stories in 01243 West Sussex Connections BEST 642124 are carried out with the CHOICE or view it online at help of our partners. Roofing & Construction Partnership working is 01903 773699 www.westsussex.gov.uk/tradingstandards vital to the County Council, freephone: 0800 756 1372 and while we would like to PROPERTY MAINTENANCE www.best-choice.info The next issue will be out in July 2010. ● Free Quotation list and thank each partner, ✓Fully insured ✓Internal/External Decs ● Specialising In Carpentry, ✓ ✓ we just do not have the Plumbing, Painting & Decorating Loft Insulation Bathroom Renovations GARDENING ● ✓Ceramic Tiling ✓Fascias and Guttering space. Response Within 48 Hours Inspired professionals – renowned for ● No Job Too Small So we would like to 0797 110 5437 quality landscaping throughout Sussex extend our thanks to all the 01903 812 428 organisations that help us provide services for the residents of West Sussex. Call now for your free consultation Would 01273 455795 CONTACT US: Switchboard: 01243 777100 www. goddardslandscapes.co.uk info@ goddardslandscapes.co.uk Email: connections@ YOU Shoreham-By-Sea West Sussex westsussex.gov.uk PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Address: Communications like to get Unit, County Hall, PO19 1RQ. your Why worry about looking after your home when Editorial: 01243 753595 Advertising: 01243 message you can trust us to take care of everything? 777431-or Finding really reliable help when there are major or minor jobs to be done around your home or ENTERTAINMENT advertising@ to over garden can be a real worry. Whether it’s a dripping tap, a wobbly shelf, a grab rail, or something westsussex.gov.uk more substantial like a level-access shower, a completely new central heating system or a full West Sussex Connections is scale home extension, there’s always the worry and anxiety you’ll unwittingly entrust the work to published four times a year and 350,000 a bunch of cowboys! delivered by Royal Mail to In fact, you might well be prepared to pay a little around 350,000 households homes. It is printed on extra if you could always be sure of a high quality and 100% 100% recycled paper. trustworthy service. If you know someone in West Well now you don’t have to, because Anchor at who is blind or partially sighted home has arrived in many areas – and exclusively for the over they can get an audio version. Sussex? 50s, we’re here to offer you complete peace of mind at real To subscribe to this free ‘value for money’ prices. So relax and enjoy the best of both service call 01243 777408. Call worlds – a high quality Home Improvement, Adaptation and For more information Maintenance Service…at sensible prices. about WSCC services, visit www.westsussex.gov.uk The service we provide is summed up by our PEACE OF MIND PROMISE. 01243 Terms and Conditions We are trustworthy, honest and reliable. The accuracy or content of any 777587 advertisement is not warranted 01444 474690 Mid Sussex&Crawley by this Council nor does this today Council endorse or guarantee 01903 788440 Arun & Worthing any of the products or services and we can advertised. The views 01243 539988 Chichester expressed in this paper are not tell you how. necessarily those of the www.anchor.org.uk Council. visit our website at www.westsussex.gov.uk 3

moves on to college and into adulthood. But they DID YOU KNOW? also have a role very early There are different levels Freddy’s on in the child’s life as they of severity for being receive that first referral registered blind. from the Health Service If you are an adult, a consultant after the child has been ophthalmologist can assess whether ready for diagnosed with visual you qualify for registration as either impairment, hopefully soon sight impaired (partially sighted) or after birth. They register severely sight impaired (blind). the child and then refer on If they think you do qualify, the to the Sensory Support ophthalmologist will complete a the future Team who will take it from certificate of vision impairment and Freddy is an active and Freddy started school with there, working with parents, send it to the Sensory Services Team. bubbly five-year-old boy home visits to get him used nurseries and schools. It is a common misconception that from Angmering who to daily routines.” More information about people who are registered severely enjoys sports and has Fiona explained he is the Teams: 01903 746739. sight impaired cannot see anything at perfect musical pitch. also taught tactile skills by, all. In fact very few people have no He is much like any for example, using a ‘feely light perception. other child his age - except bag’ to identify or compare that he is registered blind. items by touch which are He goes to a hidden in a bag, and that he mainstream primary school is now learning braille. and is helped there by She added: “Freddy, my special educational needs husband and I are all staff and his class teacher. learning it. My husband Nick Freddy and the school and I are just ahead of staff are also supported by Freddy which is what we the County Council’s aim for.” Sensory Support Team. Together they help him THE TEAMS do day-to day things such as There are two ‘sensory’ walking to school, changing teams within the county for PE, learning and council. The Children’s Team classroom activities, which currently help 480 children other young people take for with either hearing or visual granted. impairment. Freddy’s mum Fiona said: The Adult Sensory “They’ve been fantastic. We Services Team takes over were supported before when the young person Sara Leasure from the Team, helping Freddy with his mobility skills Putting our Advertisement roads to rights Over the past few weeks teams from our Highways Department have worked tirelessly to repair thousands of potholes. But the task facing them has been enormous. No sooner have they repaired the holes in one road than others have appeared elsewhere. In order to keep the roads as safe as possible most of the repairs have had to be temporary. Their temporary nature means that some repairs will fail and will have to be redone. Potholes are caused in the main by ‘freeze-thaw’ action. Water seeps into cracks and expands when frozen. This damages the road surface and causes potholes. Often potholes do not appear until several weeks after the freezing that causes the problem. It means that despite the best efforts of highways teams potholes are likely to keep appearing for many weeks to come. Stuart Smith, Highways Operations Manager, said: “Our teams try to repair the potholes as quickly as possible. However, the scale of the damage means it will take many months to complete this task. In the past five weeks alone we have dealt with over 10,000 potholes. “I know that sometimes the work will inevitably delay motorists. Can I ask drivers to be patient. We are doing all that we can to deal with the current situation. “I would ask motorists to be aware of the pothole problem and drive with due care for their own safety and the safety of others.” The County Council has provided funds for a permanent repair programme and this is already underway. You can help by reporting potholes. Call 01243 642105 or do it online at www.westsussex.gov.uk Once a pothole is reported the County Council aims to repair it within 28 days or sooner when necessary. 4 visit our website at www.westsussex.gov.uk A vital role Luke O’Keefe, centre, with the lads in schools School governors play a vital role in our children’s education. The governors act as a ‘critical friend’ of a school. They are involved in making decisions about the management of the school, the finances, and the curriculum. Governors appoint and support the head teacher as well as reviewing the school’s progress. The County Council is always looking for suitable people of all ages and from all ! walks of life to become school governors. Steven Galloway, 28, pictured, has recently become p a governor. He said: “I always u thought that becoming a school governor was something that ‘grown-ups’ is did, and assumed that members of governing bodies y would be made up of teachers, a parents and other professionals such as doctors. w So it was quite a surprise to be asked, at the relatively The only young age of 28, if I was interested in becoming a Governor at Kingsham Primary School in Chichester. John Finch is seriously thinking Youth Offending Service. Kane, who also lives in Durrington, “I don’t have any children myself, let alone any children about a future coaching young At the same time, he said, it builds said: “Facing up to and learning a range at the school, and nor did I have any particular knowledge people, possibly later becoming a skills around communication, of different activities showed me the or experience of primary education as I left school in the social worker – options he would teamwork, problem solving and value of getting out and about more. 1990s. never have considered open to positive leadership. “There was a time when I just “But I soon learnt these things don’t matter. The most him a year ago. The programme includes archery, couldn’t be bothered. But now I’m important qualities are commitment, enthusiasm and an Kane Penny is also reviewing his high and low rope challenges and into rugby in particular and aware of interest in young people. I care about giving the next future. He’s no longer ‘wasting my survival skills. the wider opportunities that are now generation the right skills and personal qualities for the time hanging around with the old It ends with a five-day leadership available to me.” future. Being a governor is a great way to have a real effect crowd’. Instead, he’s taking part in course, which requires the young on this. Steven Kilhams, of Littlehampton, activities he ‘quite honestly just people to design and run an afternoon said the Challenge has changed his “School governing bodies are made up of parents, couldn’t be bothered with’ in the past. of activity for 10 to 13 year olds. teachers, representatives of the local authority and attitude towards people. Both former young offenders are John, of Durrington, said: “The “To be honest, I didn’t have much governors who represent the local community. I am one of taking a fresh look at their lives after Challenge was a thrilling experience respect for people. Now I do. The the community governors. You don’t need any particular completing a demanding programme and the leadership course a real eye- Challenge has made a big difference to qualifications to be a governor, but you must be over the designed to reduce the risk of young opener. me because it required me to work age of 18. people returning to crime. “Coaching young people, taking with others, to rely on others and “Being a governor is a serious commitment, but it is also Called the Lodge Hill Challenge, it responsibility for them, leading them in a great way to give something back to the local community is a charity-funded outdoor education activities revealed that here is have others rely on me. and to work for the good of a large group of people. project for young people who have something I would like to do in the “This helps you appreciate people To find out more visit our website and type ‘school been convicted of a criminal offence. future. more and now I’m actively seeking governor’ into the search bar, or call the West Sussex It is run by West Sussex Youth “The experience gave me a much work - something I wouldn’t have Governors’ Helpline on 01293 423504 (North) or Offending Service at The Lodge Hill clearer understanding and done before the Challenge.” 01903 839219 (South). Centre, near Pulborough, where the appreciation of others. As well as Steven’s views were echoed by activities take place. coaching young people, I would also Jake Newnham, of Haywards Heath. “Adventurous and challenging like to help them in other ways, “The Challenge is demanding and activities are used to bring young confronting family problems, for testing. But it showed me I can do people together and confront their example, or other difficulties. There’s better with my life. It has given me an

Advertisement previous negative values and no doubt about it - I wouldn’t be incentive to get out and find a job – attitudes,” said Luke O’Keefe, Sports thinking along these lines if it wasn’t not to hang around doing nothing but and Activities Co-ordinator at the for the Challenge.” making mischief.”

Dig It, which is being supervised by West Sussex Drug and Alcohol Action Team, has been set up by Tom Van Der Wee, SAFETY FIRST 16, a pupil at Bishop Luffa School, Chichester, and Abby Burch, A drugs information drive and a project promoting 19, who is retaking A Levels at St Phillip Howard School, greater understanding of young people from other Bognor Regis. backgrounds have scooped the top prizes in a “The aim is to raise young people’s awareness of not only competition designed to make the county a safer place. the risks of drugs and alcohol misuse, but also the damaging The West Sussex effects it has on family and friends. This will not only reduce Safer Place Awards the risk to individuals, but help prevent residents becoming encourage young victims of drug-related crimes,” said Tom. people to devise initiatives to help tackle crime, the fear of crime and anti-social PlumptonPlumpton CollegeCollege behaviour in their A specialist Land-based College communities. They are Course taster days for school students organised by the West Diploma in Environmental and Landbased Studies Sussex Strategic Apprenticeships Train to Gain Bespoke courses for Employers Open Day. Saturday 8th May 2010, 10am - 5pm Community Safety A fun, family day out. Farm. Tractor/trailer rides. Forestry. Riding displays. Countryside crafts. Metalsmithing. Craft show. Trade stands. Woodland walks. Sheep Partnership. shearing. Small animals. Dog grooming. Fun dog show. Terrier racing. Food hall. Wine Dig It (Drugs Information and Guidance) won the Sussex tasting. Wine sales. Refreshments. Floristry and sales. Hanging baskets and plant sales. Courses and careers advice. £5 adult. Concs. Free to under 16s. Police sponsored Senior Category and Connaught Junior In association with the Sussex Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs. School, Littlehampton, won top prize in the Junior Category, Tel: 01273 890454 email:[email protected] www.plumpton.ac.uk sponsored by the County Council. Ditchling Road, Plumpton, Nr Lewes, , BN7 3AE visit our website at www.westsussex.gov.uk 5 On the move! Playing a Our children and family centres are on the move to reach rural different tune villages where families find it hard to get to the main centres. There are five mobile centres currently established in the county, covering villages in Horsham, East Grinstead, Chichester, Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath areas, with more being developed. Working to a published timetable, the Rural Horsham Children and Family Centre visits nine villages in the district. Various professionals accompany the team offering advice, information and support on a range of subjects such as stop smoking, childcare and oral health. The vehicle offers both a toy and book library to families, pre-schools and Our West Sussex Music Service is toddler groups, taking play and expanding and even giving people learning resources to those a taste of the rock ‘n’ roll life! who would not usually New Rock Workshops were introduced last access them. year and have proved very popular. The next ones will be in There are several Worthing over the Easter holidays and summer term. Other new Children and weekly workshops are scheduled during the year in Family Centres Chichester, Bognor Regis and Midhurst. opening this spring. If rock isn’t your thing, there are new classical courses for The target is to all abilities, including playing for an orchestra. have 49 centres, The service has also welcomed two new teachers who one in each have both rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous. community, by the Choral teacher Emily Barden managed the choir on a Russell end of March. Watson tour, and brass teacher Jenny Smith played on stage See our website for with Elton John. details of all Children Turn to the back page for a list of music classes and and Family Centres. workshops throughout the county. Advertisement Advertisement

01273 236036 6 visit our website at www.westsussex.gov.uk 2012 Nick Buckfield WEST SUSSEX Roll of Honour Sascha Kindred OBE What do Daley initiative to help our county decathlete Daley Thompson be launched this July to tie in went to a school, college or Thompson and Sally make the most of the (1980 and 1984) was a with the London 2012 Open university. Or maybe they Gunnell have in common London 2012 Games, is member of Haywards Heath Weekend. Events are trained at or were a member apart from being gold compiling the list. Harriers. And the gold medal planned to take place across of a sports club. medal winning Olympic We will honour people winning hurdler Sally Gunnell West Sussex to mark the We need your help for athletes? They both have with a connection to West has lived in West Sussex for two-year countdown to the the full list - go back as far links with West Sussex. Sussex who have competed a number of years. Swimmer 2012 Games. into the past as you want. We need your help to at previous Olympic and Duncan Goodhew MBE, who To qualify for the Roll of Please e-mail your compile a West Sussex Roll Paralympic Games, and those won gold for the 100m Honour, people need to have suggestions of Olympians of Honour of past and future with the potential to breaststroke in Moscow, a link with our county. and Paralympians of the past Olympians and Paralympians. compete at the London grew up in Yapton and has a Maybe they were born in or future who have a West Sussex - Ahead of the 2012 Games. road named after him. West Sussex or lived here at connection with West Sussex Game, the countywide The gold medal winning The Roll of Honour will some point. Perhaps they to info@westsussex- aheadofthegame.com LOCAL GOOD FOR Sally Gunnell HEROES BUSINESS OBE Join Workshops are being Sally Gunnell OBE held throughout the Hurdler, lives with her family year for West Sussex in Steyning businesses keen to bid Gold medal at Barcelona the hot for London 2012 1992, also the only woman contracts. to hold the European, The Olympic and World, Commonwealth Paralympic Games mean and Olympic 400m hurdle school business opportunities for titles at the same time. thousands of small firms in the country where they’re Sascha Kindred OBE meals held. Richard Leman Swimmer, with family links to There are more than Broadfield 6,000 contracts on offer for Six times Paralympic Gold the London 2012 Games medal winner across four team! and West Sussex - Ahead of Games, including Mens’ the Game, is supporting

Advertisement 200m Individual Medley More and more of our primary school businesses to find out what and Mens’ 100m pupils are enjoying a hot Steamplicity is on offer and how to bid Breaststroke at Beijing lunch and now we need extra staff to for them. Paralympics 2008 cope with demand. For further information contact Business Link Richard Leman Compass Group is undertaking a big Sussex on 0845 600 9006, recruitment drive as it aims to provide Hockey player from East or visit Grinstead, he is Chairman of hot meals to 198 primary schools www.southeast2012 East Grinstead Sports Club. right across the county by July. events.co.uk Bronze medal at Los There are vacancies for Team Angeles 1984 Leaders for 16 ¼ hours per week and Gold medal at Seoul 1988 Customer Services Assistants for 10 hours a week, term time only. Nick Buckfield Pole Vaulter from Crawley. To find out more contact Emma www.westsussex- Shaw on 0845 6037998 or visit Competed at Athens 2004 aheadofthegame.com and Atlanta 1996 Olympic www.jobsatcompass.co.uk Games If your child’s school already has hot school meals and you would like to see the tasty, tempting and well-balanced menus on offer, then take a look at Caribbean www.mealselector.co.uk to Crawley! Lunches start at just £2.10 per day, and you will be reassured that your child is The Barbados National Team have getting a delicious dish at school – and it selected West Sussex and Crawley to be removes the ‘what do I put in their packed their base for pre-games training in the run up to the London 2012 lunch?’ headache! Olympics. The main training venue for the Barbados team will be K2 Crawley, the state-of- the-art multi-sport venue. Sports science and sports medicine support will be on offer from the University of Chichester. A range of local businesses will provide other EAT services for the team. K2 Crawley is one of 10 West Sussex venues approved as meeting the standards to host pre-Games training camps by the London 2012 organisers. LEARN The Barbados Olympic Association is the biggest nation so far to sign up to use pre-Games training venues in the South East. LIVE It is hoped more venues in West Sussex will be chosen by other national teams in the months ahead. visit our website at www.westsussex.gov.uk 7 Joining Up for a Healthy Future Making sure West Sussex residents are healthy and well is the aim of the new Health and Wellbeing Partnership Board. The Board is made up of NHS West Sussex, the County Council, district and borough Fostering councils, other health-related agencies, and voluntary organisations. It looks to tackle issues that might otherwise end up with no one taking responsibility for them. is not The Board is currently looking at health inequalities across the county and at the latest information on the changing needs of residents and their expectations for healthy living. frightening! Reducing harm from alcohol misuse, getting vulnerable adults back to work, and supporting vulnerable people to retain their independence and their homes are also key priorities. To find out more and give your feedback on these issues, contact Mike Link on 01243 382697 or [email protected] Chris Chiverton He said: “It has given me mind. We talk to them and applies to all West Sussex confesses to being a purpose in life. A typical help them sort out for County Council foster ‘A Place to Live’ ‘frightened to death’ day can involve fetching and themselves any problems. carers. All children are It’s a case of ‘Changing Rooms’ at four houses for when wife-to-be Cheryl carrying in the car, baby- This is important. It shows carefully matched with the adults with learning difficulties that have had suggested he joined her sitting and I do a lot of the they have the ability to cope, most appropriate foster significant investment and improvements. as a full-time foster cooking, which I particularly which gives them carers or carer, so everyone The ‘A Place to Live’ project aims to move adults with carer, particularly of like. It’s busy, but enjoyable.” confidence.” benefits,” said Chris. learning difficulties out of NHS in-house care homes into young single mums and Currently Chris and Particularly rewarding, Although he had initial supported housing or otherwise. their babies. Cheryl, who live near she added, is seeing the doubts, Chris now doesn’t Last year four housing schemes benefited from an Foster caring was Chichester, provide change that can come over a hesitate when it comes to upgrade - Tozer House in Chichester, Hammonds in nothing new to Cheryl. She Supported Lodgings, which is teenager in their care. encouraging people to Bognor Regis, Stanhope Lodge in Worthing and Hobbs had been fostering young aimed at young people aged “It doesn’t happen straight consider becoming foster Field in Horsham. people from a variety of age 16 or more, for two sisters away. But gradually a young carers. Changes include extended living areas, refurbished groups since 1999. However, aged 18 and 19. person who may have come He said: “There are, I am kitchens and bathrooms, additional toilets and new laundry Chris was busy pursuing a They are also foster to you as, say, a sullen, sure, many people out there facilities. career in the metal industry. carers for a 17-year-old and suspicious teenager will in West Sussex who can The upgrade improves services to our residents, He said: “Foster caring her six-month-old son, who change. make a big difference to a ensures the homes meet more of the national minimum was the last thing on my are the third mum and baby “They will respond vulnerable young person.” standards and gives residents more independence. mind … something I had to have come into their positively to your attention, This was endorsed by For further information on the project, visit our website. never, ever considered. To be care. your support, your care,” Cheryl who said: “You won’t honest, the very thought of “A young parent and she said. be on your own. You will it frightened me to death.” their baby are doubly Both Cheryl and Chris have the ongoing support of However, Cheryl’s challenging. As well as all the stressed the importance of a team of professionals as powers of persuasion confusion a vulnerable the County Council’s policy you make a difference to a prevailed - and they’ve been teenager needing care has to of placing into their care young life.” foster carers of teenagers face, there’s also the added young people and young parents since factor of the baby,” said who are To find out more about their wedding in 2006. It’s a Cheryl. likely to fostering call 0800 121 6508 move Chris doesn’t regret - “There’s no set formula respond for a free fostering information even though he’s now so for coping. Whether they’re positively to pack or visit busy he no longer finds the teenagers with or without a what the www.westsussex.gov.uk/fostering time to watch Portsmouth, a baby, each one is different, so family can Alternatively, to speak to a member team he’s supported for 40 you have to be flexible. offer. of the Fostering Recruitment Team years. “We go in with an open “This call 01403 246484. Supported housing in West Sussex Often vulnerable people or those close to them are not A landmark agreement has been signed to provide Everybody’s even aware the neglect is taking place. This can often be the accommodation for vulnerable people in West case for those who are dependent on relatives or Sussex. neighbours. The West Sussex Supported Housing Agreement has business You can help stop neglect by taking action and not been set up for an initial four year period between the Mention ‘neglect’ and assuming someone else will do or say something. most people immediately County Council and nine housing associations. People may not realise how quickly something think of children. But some The partnership will work to increase the quality and that may seem relatively unimportant can have a adults also suffer from quantity of supported housing accommodation for our serious consequence. This is particularly the case neglect. Vulnerable adults more vulnerable residents: people with a disability, adults with those who may not be able to speak can become seriously ill with learning difficulties, older people and young care out for themselves or who don’t like to very quickly if they are not leavers. bother other people. given support to keep It will also see the housing associations working with Adult abuse can be intentional or them well and healthy. the County Council to identify opportunities for unintentional, physical, emotional, The neglect is often unintentional and due supported housing across West Sussex, for example in psychological, financial, sexual or to a lack of knowledge future planned developments and by remodelling existing involve discrimination. buildings. or understanding. But it doesn’t mean the If you are worried about yourself Research is currently being done to establish what consequences are any less serious. For example, older or someone you know please say supported housing is needed and where in West Sussex. people with pressure sores eventually need surgery. Those something. If you don’t who will? The first new development will be in East Preston, who can’t move about much may develop chest or urine Contact 01243 642555 and providing eight flats for people with learning difficulties. infections because they are not drinking enough or make your concerns known. getting a poor diet. 8 visit our website at www.westsussex.gov.uk

REGAINING Regaining Independence youngsters such as young INDEPENDENCE comes in. offenders, 'Looked After' In West Sussex we have an This is being led by teams children, young people who CHANGING SERVICES ageing population and one of occupational therapists are not in education, that, rightly, expect a good providing really intensive, employment or training standard of care and support. tailor-made care packages to (NEETs), and those with That’s why our Home achieve just that. drug or alcohol problems. FOR CHANGING TIMES It is more costly in the Care service is going The aim is to join up initial stages but greatly services working with young Store loyalty cards aren’t examples of where we are through massive change and at the reduces the long term cost people to deliver better just about points and striving to make savings heart of this is a of home care, as well as value for money. discounts. They help without damaging scheme delivering what people want companies learn about services that you value: already being - independence to enjoy THE FUTURE their customers so they delivered in their life. These are three examples of can provide an even LIBRARIES some parts The scheme has already new ways of maintaining and better service. - Just like that store of West helped nearly 70 people - developing front-line It’s not that different for loyalty card, a Sussex nearly a third had no services, and reducing costs. West Sussex County Council membership card before going continuing support needs at Connections will be keeping because knowledge of our gives us a huge countywide. the end of their intensive you updated as FSR customers is the driving amount of At present Regaining develops. force behind our information about if an older Independence You can Fundamental Service Review how books are used, person has, for programme. Many also play (FSR) designed to make sure and when our Libraries example, had an others had a your part our services are cost are at their busiest and accident or illness greatly reduced by giving effective and meet changing quietest. or has been level of care need us your needs. Unlike some parts of the discharged from that could be met views. for them by the Last October the front country where libraries have hospital and needs on- The independent page of Connections was been shut, all 36 in West also going care, those needs have residents’ sector. devoted to how the County Sussex will stay open. allow us to been met by home care staff. e-panel Council was setting an Instead we have used a make the very best use of But, often, that home care runs ‘ambitious agenda for tough mass of detail about our the book purchasing fund - can continue for a few hours YOUTH regular times’ - driven by the impact customers to make sure our ensuring we stock the a day or week over a period SERVICES online One of the next of the recession, public Libraries are providing the authors and titles that meet of many years. surveys reviews will focus spending cuts nationally and services people want, at the the demand in each local All the research and our and all the on the county's Youth the need to keep council tax times they have shown they community. own in-depth knowledge of information gathered is vital Services to deliver savings down. want them. New supermarket-style our customers, tells us that to us and remains and make sure resources are Now we can update you That is one of the technology will allow what people really want is to confidential. targeted where we add most on some of the areas where reasons behind a customers to check out their get back on their own feet Visit and into their normal value and positive impact. we have looked at the way consultation on opening books without waiting in a www.westsussex.gov.uk routines as quickly as There will be a sharper focus demands on our services hours designed to get to queue - freeing up our staff and follow the front page possible and that’s where on helping vulnerable have altered radically over grips with a very varied to help people with more link Have Your Say. the years, and how they are pattern of opening times day to day enquiries. being adapted to cope with across the county. In some Libraries people harsh economic times. It does mean that in will see extra computer We’re aiming to make some areas we can make terminals and get help to use efficiency savings of £50 savings by reducing opening them to check reference million over the next two hours but, overall, our books that are free, courtesy years on top of the £40 Libraries will be open at the of the internet - again saving million already achieved. times when we know the taxpayers’ money on having Change is not always easy majority of customers want to buy hard copies, to accept, and we recognise to visit them. sometimes annually if they that. However, there really is In fact, if the proposals are are updated. no choice given the approved, every Library will We are also looking at enormous financial pressures be open six days a week making sure that the on public services, and the including lunch hours - that’s magazines and periodicals level of national debt. an improvement for some our Libraries purchase are What we can do is be which have traditionally the ones that are really smarter in the way we deliver opened only five days a week. relevant to users and current services, and here are some Reader information will interests. A DECADE OF HELP Children’s entertainer Dave Benson of disability. Phillips will host a picnic being held in “You will be given training in disability the summer to mark the 10th issues, communication, health and safety, Think Link For Business anniversary of the County Council’s child protection and first aid. You will receive In these hard times it is more important than ever that new businesses are Sitting Service, which helps the full support through the introduction encouraged to grow and survive. One of the ways the County Council is helping parents of disabled children take a process and beyond,” said Jess. to promote this is by supporting Business Link. much-needed break for a few hours. Families, children and volunteers past and The organisation provides information, advice and support needed to start, maintain and The Service has attracted some 200 present will attend the picnic, which is being grow a business. It does this via one to one advisors, seminars, workshops, a monthly e- volunteers since its launch, some of them held in June at Inglefield Manor School, newsletter and business ‘health checks’. have been sitting for families for up to six Billingshurst. Business Link can give advice about finance, employing people, training staff, paperwork years. “The picnic is the Sitting Service’s way of and taxes, IT, environmental efficiency and exporting. “They have made a big difference to marking this milestone by saying a big, big With offices in Burgess Hill, Business Link helps all kinds of businesses and individuals. hundreds of families throughout West ‘Thank You’ to our volunteers for their Roger Mallock, pictured, founder of RMC Marketing Ltd, is a good example of the kind of Sussex by giving up a small amount of their valuable contribution since the beginning of people it helps. He successfully started a Restaurant Members Club after seeking advice time every couple of weeks,” said Jess Elliott, the millennium.” from Business Link. Sitting Service Co-ordinator. For further information about becoming Roger, based in Chichester, set up the club www.restaurantmembersclub.com to “We began with only a handful of a Sitting Service volunteer in your area provide leisure and hospitality services across the south. Members pay £50 a year which volunteers. Now we have a countywide contact: entitles them to receive sizeable discounts on meals when dining at top restaurants in the network, but we are always seeking more Adur and Worthing: Jess Elliott - region. volunteers to spend a couple of hours every 01243 642318 It already has 200 members and is set to expand this year. fortnight looking after a disabled child. Chichester and Arun: Doreen Roger said: “I found the courses that Business Link offered were excellent. The “Volunteers may take a child swimming Bradbury - 01243 642462 opportunity is certainly there to receive extensive first hand professional knowledge and or to the park, to the library or for a walk. Mid Sussex, Crawley and support before deciding to set up in business.” They may spend time in the child’s home Horsham: Michelle Watts - 01403 Business Link offers a Building Business Confidence programme of workshops which while parents have a break, maybe at the 246461 cover the following subjects: Personal Empowerment, Beginners’ Market Research and An cinema or having a meal out.” You can also email Introduction to Tax. These Workshops take place at venues across West Sussex. Volunteers do not need any experience [email protected] To find out more contact www.businesslink.gov.uk or telephone 0845 600 9006. visit our website at www.westsussex.gov.uk 9

A boost for Bikeability Children can cycle with confidence in the county the rest of their lives. At the same time they can enjoy a thanks to a new improved scheme. healthier lifestyle. The future’s bright Bikeability is an up-to-date version of the old “The added benefit of this scheme is that we will A multi million pound makeover of the Cycling Proficiency Test. It is designed to give ultimately be able to offer more advanced Level 3 county’s streetlights is about to get youngsters the skills and confidence to ride their training to secondary school age children and underway. bikes on today’s roads. adults.” More than 68,000 streetlights, There are three Bikeability levels. One is the The County Council currently provides illuminated signs and bollards are to be most basic course while Three gives more advanced cycling training to nearly 9,000 children in the replaced or upgraded over the next five skills. The intermediate Level Two is initially on offer county every year. years. to all Year 6 children free of charge. Bikeability is a national accredited cycle It’s hoped the improved visibility West Sussex Road Safety Adviser Clare training scheme that has been developed by Cycling the upgrade will bring will not only Faulkner said: “Bikeability is about giving England and the Department of Transport. It is run increase road safety but will also our children the necessary skills by our Road Safety Team working jointly with make the streets feel safer and to ride a bike safely throughout the Schools Sports Partnerships.

reduce levels of crime. Advertisement The scheme will also help the environment by reducing carbon Clearer, emissions by up to 25% with equipment over 15 years old safer streets being replaced with modern, and reduced energy efficient lights. LearnLearn ttoo ddriverive The work is part of a 25-year congestion contract the County Council has signed in A new team will be partnership with Hampshire County Council and taking to the streets of Southampton City Council worth £225 million. likelike tthehe eexpertsxperts Chichester and likelike tthehe eexpertsxperts Work gets underway in April. Crawley in April to keep them safe and free from obstructions. Have your say The new Civil Parking Enforcement scheme takes Sussex Safer Roads on the parking enforcement from criminal law into civil law transport way and has already been a success in Adur, Mid Would you like to see more buses and fewer cars on onon tthehe Sussex, Worthing and the road? Could more be done to promote walking Horsham. It will be and cycling? How can traffic pollution levels be introduced in Arun later reduced in West Sussex? this year. YoungYoung DDrivers’rivers’ All these questions and many more are being considered by the County Council as the new Local Transport Civil Enforcement Plan(LTP3) is prepared. The plan will set out a blueprint for Officers will help keep traffic moving by making SkillsSkills CCourseourse transport in West Sussex from 2011- 2026. To prepare the plan over the past few months the County sure motorists park in the Council has worked with many organisations and established right place. This will help Aged between 17-25? the views and priorities for transport across the County. reduce congestion and You could benefit and A draft plan has been drawn up as a result of this work. keep roads clear for improve your driving From mid-April it will be available to view online and at everyone - including buses skills and awareness various venues around the county for a 12 week consultation and emergency services. through this on-road period. The officers will have course with Advanced the power to issue penalty Senior Transport Planner Tim Yair said: “Transport plays a Driving Instructors - run by West Sussex County Council in vital part in everyone’s life. We want to hear views from as charges of up to £70. But, instead of this money partnership with ‘Skid-Control’ on the skid pan at Goodwood many members of the community as possible. Motor Circuit. “Everyone from shopkeepers and schoolchildren through going to central government, under the Plus, you will be offered the opportunity to drive a Ferrari! The course, to businessmen and bus drivers stands to benefit from the which is subsidised by West Sussex County Council, costs just £75.00 or plan. It builds on the achievements of the current Local new scheme any surplus £150.00 when including the Ferrari drive. funds will go towards Transport Plan which runs until 2011.” Our Gift Vouchers, which are valid for a year, make a great present, especially when choosing the To find out more and view the plan online visit improvements to local exciting Ferrari drive option. This will give you the chance to drive 3 laps (app. 7 miles) of Goodwood www.westsussex.gov.uk/haveyoursay roads, transport and the Motor Circuit at the wheel of this prestigious car! The only place you can speed is on a racetrack! Comments can be made at [email protected] environment. For information call 08452 600 650 or visit www.westsussex.gov.uk 10 visit our website at www.westsussex.gov.uk TASTEFUL READING AN UNUSUAL ATTRACTION! Taste West Sussex is our award-winning magazine that promotes and supports local food producers, businesses and farmers as part of our Keep West Sussex Working campaign. The spring issue will be out in April. To guarantee you get a copy, you can subscribe to Taste for just £8.50 for three issues. You will also be sent a roomy, environmentally- friendly ‘Bags of Taste’. All subscribers to Taste West Sussex automatically become members of the The Education Centre at our flagship Ford Airfield Good Taste Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) is rapidly establishing Club. You’ll itself as a leading attraction for people keen to learn about receive how West Sussex is diverting recyclable materials from discounts and special landfill. offers for restaurants, businesses and shops, plus an Since September, it has hosted 60 visits - more than 800 people advance copy of ‘Tastemail’ - an electronic newsletter - who have seen the facility’s state-of the-art technology in action with foodie dates, competitions and recipes. and been told that the plant is now sorting over 5,000 tonnes of kerbside collected recycling a month. The recycled paper, card, glass, SIGN UP AND WIN! plastic bottles, steel and aluminium cans are sent for reprocessing. Sign up to our FREE Tastemail and if you are 73% are reprocessed in the UK, 25% in mainland Europe (like among the first 50 to reply we will send you a Germany and the Netherlands) and 2% in China and India. Bags of Taste too! Viridor has developed long term and secure markets for the Simply email [email protected] and materials sorted at Ford MRF. The sorted materials are turned give us your name, address, telephone number and email. into new products such as garden furniture, car and plane parts Use this email to enquire about subscriptions or ring and clothes. 01243 777431. To enquire about visiting the Ford MRF’s education facility call 01243 642106 or email: [email protected] Advertisement visit our website at www.westsussex.gov.uk 11

KEEP AN EYE ON DATES – A few simple changes to the way a lot of food is wasted because it is left to go past its ‘use by’ date. You can eat or freeze food right up to the we shop, cook and eat can make end of its ‘use by’ date. ‘Best before’ dates refer to quality rather than food safety, foods should be safe to eat a BIG difference to our wallets! after this date, but may no longer be Every year in the UK we throw away of food shopping - equivalent to an transportation and storage. If we all at their best. One exception is eggs; £12 billion worth of good food. annual Utility bill. That’s a lot of stopped wasting the food which could never eat eggs after the ‘best before’ Whether we are cooking too much, food! have been eaten, it would have the date. You can ignore ‘display until’ and ‘sell by’ dates as they are for letting food go past its best as we Wasted food isn’t just a waste of same CO2 impact as taking 1 in 4 money - it has a big impact on climate don’t know how to store it, or are cars off UK roads. shop staff not for shoppers. change too. Most of it ends up in unsure of what the date labels mean, The good news is that landfill sites where it rots and releases throwing away the odd bit of food is methane, a damaging green house lovefoodhatewaste.com has lots of easily done. But little by little all this gas. Throwing away food is also a helpful, quick and easy tips to help waste really adds up, over a year the huge waste of the energy, water and us make the most of the food we buy. average family throws away £680 packaging used in its production, Here are a few of our favourites…

SAVE TIME AND MONEY – FREEZE FOR LATER – A great way of saving time and money divide large packs of meat is to know what’s in our cupboards, and fish, and loaves of bread fridges and freezers and decide what into portions and freeze until meals to cook before we go shopping. needed. Toast the bread straight It means we don’t have the hassle of from frozen for breakfast on the thinking about what to cook every run. THERE REALLY IS SUCH A day and ensures we eat our food at its There’s not much that can’t be THING AS A FREE LUNCH freshest – try using the menu planner frozen including hard cheese; - simply by using the food that we at lovefoodhatewaste.com simply grate before freezing already have in the fridge, or by and use on dishes such as pasta taking last night’s leftovers to work for Did you know that half bakes. Tomatoes; just freeze lunch, we could save between £3 and of us regularly make a whole any soft ones, then use £5 a day. shopping list but half then straight from the freezer to make tasty pasta sauces. Cream; just don’t stick to it in store! whip it first.

PERFECT PORTIONS – at some DOUBLE UP ON FAMILY time or other, we’ve all ended up FAVOURITES – when you’re cooking that bit too much for dinner. cooking dishes such as bolognese, It’s easily done, especially with rice chilli, soups and and pasta. Try using a spaghetti casseroles, cook one for measurer, or for shaped pasta two now and freeze one for handfuls per adult. For rice a mug is later. That way you will just the thing, ½ a mug will feed two have a ready made meal adults. Try the portion calculator on on busy nights when lovefoodhatewaste.com there is no time to cook. lovefoodhatewaste.com 12 visit our website at www.westsussex.gov.uk TRADING STANDARDS BITE BACK The bite is being put their finances, point them on loan sharks by our towards legitimate sources of Trading Standards credit and encourage them to Service. start savings accounts,” said It has launched a West Graeme. Sussex-wide Stop Loan County Council Trading Sharks project with the Standards officers, plus members Trading Standards South of the specialist team, will also East illegal money lending provide loan shark victims with team - specialists with an help and support. impressive record of “So don’t be afraid to get in tracking down and touch if you are suffering at the prosecuting rogue moneylenders. hands of a loan shark,” said Graeme. Graeme MacPherson, Head of Regulatory To report a loan shark: Services, said: “Running a money lending ● Call the 24/7 confidential hotline 0300 555 business without the appropriate licence is a 2222. crime. Loan sharks target some of the most ● Text ‘loan shark + your message’ to vulnerable people in society and charge 60003. extortionate interest rates - the highest the ● email team has come across is a staggering [email protected] 117,000%! ● Log-on to “They rarely, if ever, provide paperwork. www.direct.gov.uk/stoploansharks And because a debt ‘owed’ to a loan shark is Nationally, the Stop Loan Sharks project not legally enforceable, they often use violence has so far helped more than 10,000 victims, Fly the and intimidation to get what they think they written off more than £30million of illegal debt are owed. and secured more than 50 years in prison “We will not tolerate these appalling sentences. practices in West Sussex - which is why we’ve It is pursuing more than £10million of Flag on linked up with the team. criminal assets through the courts. “Getting a cash loan from a shark may West Sussex Trading Standards continues seem like a quick fix. But once they’ve got you to enforce all the requirements for traders hooked they reel you in and you become who are licensed to lend money under the Sussex Day trapped in a spiral of debt.” Consumer Credit Act. This ranges from The team also has experts who work misleading advertising, enforcement of old closely with credit unions, housing associations, debts, harassment and provision of correct Don’t forget June16 is Sussex Day! voluntary organisations and health services to paperwork. Contact them via Consumer Since its launch in 2007, Sussex Day has become a popular way for residents to raise awareness and help spot the warning Direct on 08454 040506. For general debt celebrate their county’s rich heritage. signs that people may be using loan sharks. advice contact your local Citizens Advice Every year traders, schoolchildren, employers, businesses, in fact everyone in the county, “The experts also help people understand Bureau. have the opportunity to use the day to display in word and deed everything that is good about Sussex. People with ideas and thoughts about Sussex Day 2010 are welcome to email County Get the picture quickly Council Leader Henry Smith at [email protected] If you are planning an event to Don’t forget to visit our Video Page to see a celebrate please remember to add the event free of charge to our what’s on database which host of films featuring services the County you’ll find at www.westsussex.gov.uk Council is involved in. You might like to celebrate the day by flying the flag - you can buy a large West Sussex flag Go to www.westsussex.gov.uk/video or for just £36 - this price includes VAT and post and packing. click the film icon (left) at the bottom left of To order your West Sussex flags, and view other West Sussex branded the home page. goods, just visit the ‘County Council Merchandise’ section of our eshop on West Sussex Video Our videos keep you up to date on all our website. sorts of topics including schools, dance and Spirit FM is the County Council’s official media partner for Sussex Day. music, Trading Standards and the environment. Caught on Camera Did he pop Residents can view live webcasts of all full meetings the question of the County Council. Webcasts are also recorded at the top of and can be accessed via the internet for three a windmill? Or months after the meeting. You can follow the debate Romantic and see how Councillors are being held to account for were you wing WEST SUSSEX decisions about important services and how your walking on a council tax is spent flight from To view go to: www.westsussex.public-i.tv/site/ Shoreham airport? If you decided to tie the knot somewhere unusual in West Sussex write in and tell us your Stay story. We plan to present a selection of connected your more unusual marriage proposals in future editions of Ceremonies in This summer we will be making West Sussex. This free, fact-packed changes to our website. The web brochure contains all you need to addresses (URLs) for our pages will know about your special day - including be different, although our website a list of Registration Offices, legal address - www.westsussex.gov.uk - will queries about the big day, and an A-Z stay the same. If you have added any guide of local ceremony specialists. of our web pages as a favourite, or View the brochure online at bookmark, in your web browser, or www.westsussex.gov.uk/registration from your own website, you may find pick up at one of our Registration Offices or call 01243 642122. these links break. If you have any queries please email Email your romantic proposals to [email protected] [email protected] visit our website at www.westsussex.gov.uk 13

There’s loads to do in and around West Sussex - check out www.westsussex.gov.uk and view the dozens of SCHOOL events that are listed on our what’s on database. TERM DATES You can add your own event to the database and reach thousands of residents free of charge. Easter Break: Friday 2 April to Friday 16 April inclusive Summer Term: STRIDE OR STROLL THIS SPRING! Starts on Monday 19 April and Walking is a healthy pursuit, costs nothing, and here in West ends Friday 23 July Sussex we have some of the most stunning landscape in the Half Term: Monday 31 May country to enjoy. to Friday 4 June inclusive. So put a spring in your step this season by joining a free health walk in West Sussex. The walks are led by volunteers trained through the Walking for Health Scheme. They offer various landscapes from riversides to ancient woodland, by the sea or up on the Downs. There are different levels to suit everyone’s ability and the shorter walks are at an easier pace.

To get on the walks, all you have to do is turn up. Advertisement There is a simple health screening questionnaire to fill in on the first occasion. For more information and to find a walk near you visit www.wfh.naturalengland.org.uk Check out www.westsussex.gov.uk/walking for lots more super walks throughout the county. ● The annual Way walk takes place in June and has routes from Winchester through to Eastbourne over nine days. Full details and booking form on 01903 813381 or visit the website at www.southdownsway.com Advertisement CHICHESTER FESTIVAL 2010 THEATRE

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* Criteria Apply 14 visit our website at www.westsussex.gov.uk Training tomorrow’s drivers Youngsters are getting a taste of what it’s like to be behind the wheel thanks to a new scheme launched by the County Council. The ‘Pre-Driver’ training scheme for youngsters aged 14- 17 is run by road safety officers and is designed to help teenagers become responsible, safe drivers. The session includes a chance to drive a car under instruction, guidance on applying for a licence and buying car insurance as well as advice on choosing a driving instructor. The course has just started at The Forest School in Horsham. Laura Ward, from the school said: “The course is proving highly popular with our pupils. It is a valuable way of helping road safety and giving young people a good foundation before they start to drive for themselves.” Nationally, under-25s are involved in almost a quarter of all crashes causing death or injury but only make up nine per cent of the total number of licence holders. Above: Driver Trainer Dave Harris with Ashley Robinson. Dave Johnson, Driver Behavioural Training Manager said: Right: Robert Clark, Ashley Robinson and Trainer Dave Harris “The response from pupils has been very encouraging. Based on this success we hope to be able to offer it to other schools in the county so that more students can learn to be Books safe drivers.” Life saving Fire Safety Checks Our firefighters have carried out more than 36,000 home fire safety for all checks for West Sussex residents but the success of their life-saving Our libraries really do care in the scheme means they are now prioritising the visits to people who are community - they offer a range of more at risk from fire. services so disabled, vulnerable and They want to hear from you if you are over 65, a lone parent, disabled or with elderly people can still enjoy books and an impairment. Please call FREEPHONE 0800 328 6487 to arrange your free visit, or visit the music. website below. Housebound Reader Service Anyone who is able to carry out the checks themselves is urged to use the Fire If you’re unable to get to your nearest library and have no one to and Rescue Service’s free online DIY Home Fire Safety Check on go for you, we can arrange for a volunteer to deliver your www.westsussex.gov.uk/fire chosen books, audio books, or music CDs free of charge. Homes Service Two vehicles visit around 400 nursing and residential homes and sheltered housing, supplying a whole range of stock for residents to choose from and keep for up to a month. WIN an iPod Touch! Books on Prescription We want to know what you think about We work with local doctors and health practitioners West Sussex Connections. to provide self-help books and DVDs for people with The newspaper is delivered quarterly to almost every home in the county and mild to moderate mental health difficulties. tells residents about services that West Sussex County Council and its Large print and audio books partners provide for residents. All West Sussex libraries have large print and audio In a recent BBC Politics Show survey of council newspapers across the south books on cassette, or on CD in selected libraries. east, Connections came out top - for costing the least amount to produce per Audio books and music CDs can be borrowed free household. of charge by visually impaired people and those who Please answer the questions below and send back to us by 30 April to WSC Survey, are unable to handle books or read print. WSCC, County Hall, Room 140b, Chichester, PO19 1RQ or fill it out online at www.westsussex.gov.uk/wsc Clearvision One lucky person will be drawn out of the hat to win an iPod Touch worth £200! Clearvision books are children’s picture books that have braille text inserted on clear plastic sheets so 1. Is it important for the County Council 2. Does West Sussex Connections help the pictures and writing are still visible. to communicate directly with residents? to keep you informed about services? Braille Yes Yes Braille books can No No be ordered through Don’t know Don’t know your library for the 4. Are there any County Council services standard request charge, and Worthing library area office 3. Do you find it interesting to read? you would like to see better publicised? has an embosser machine, which transcribes text into Yes Yes braille. There’s a charge for this service. No No Don’t know Magnifying screen Don’t Know Worthing library has a magnifying screen, which enlarges Name If yes, which service? print up to 50 times. Address DVDs Many DVDs have subtitles and can be borrowed from any library. ✁ Te l : For more details visit our website. Competition terms and conditions are on our website visit our website at www.westsussex.gov.uk 15 Crawley New Town photos - can you help? hese fabulous old photos of Crawley are from an exhibition of nearly 300 images depicting the ‘new town’s’ history. Crawley TLibrary is the venue for the exhibition, which will draw on and celebrate the Roger Bastable Collection. Most neighbourhoods will feature, as will rare 1950s images of the earliest residents and homes, the first factories built on the Industrial Estate and views of the town centre. There will also be a large-screen digital slide show focussing on childhood, events, leisure, public services, schools, shops, High Street and transport from the 1940s to the 1970s. Born in 1950, Roger Bastable spent most of his life in Crawley. His grandparents had moved to the town in the 1920s and his family ran a fishmongers and fish & chip shop in the High Street for many years. He was a teacher for 33 years at Holy Trinity CE Comprehensive School in Gossops Green, was Chairman of the Crawley Museum Society and a member of many local societies. He was best known for his research on local history and became one of the leading experts on Crawley’s past. He wrote four books about the town, all available to borrow from the library. Roger bequeathed his local history collection to Crawley Library in 2007. It has more than 9,000 photographs, plus articles, books, ephemera, maps, newspapers, pamphlets and his unpublished PhD thesis. More than 1,200 of the photographs, including all the ones featured in this article, can be seen online on the West Sussex Past Pictures website at www.westsussexpast.org.uk The whole exhibition will also be viewable on Flickr via the Crawley Library web pages at: www.westsussex.gov.uk/libraries The free exhibition runs from 1 to 29 May 9.00-5.00pm Monday-Saturday (closed Tuesday mornings). Have you got some treasures at home? Our Library Service is looking to add more photos of Crawley in the past to the website, particularly of Bewbush. Staff will be at the exhibition every Saturday and Wednesday and will be able to scan and return your photographs. Phone Martin Hayes, County Local Studies Librarian, for more details on 01903 704811. Advertisement Clayton Wood Natural Burial Ground

New one-to-one sessions with experts from our Record Office will help you delve into your family’s history. In the sessions, which start in May, staff will discuss your family history with you, give guidance on alone. Many people have asked us if we could research and suggest ways of resolving any offer surgeries where they can pick our puzzling queries that you may have. brains and get the guidance they need to put Clayton Wood burial ground is a green alternative to a traditional cemetery. Interest in genealogy has spiralled in their research back on track. That is what we Set in 13 acres of countryside below the South Downs you can be part of a recent years owing to the coverage given in now intend to do.” new English wood that will be protected from development forever and television programmes such as the BBC’s For a six-month trial, each session will be will be within the new South Downs National Park. ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ one hour long, for a fixed fee. Staff will offer Richard Childs, County Archivist, Graves, Ashes plots and Ashes Scattering are available. Native trees are help on military and house history as well as explained how the idea originated: “Most planted around the burial areas so to create a new traditional English wood genealogy. family historians will tell you that research is in the heart of Sussex for future generations to visit, remember and enjoy. You can also visit the office in Chichester not without its frustrations. Sometimes, and carry out your own research for free, Young growing trees lock more carbon than mature ones. They are also television can make it look rather easy, as the using the original documents and electronic better able to deal with possible climate change, let this new wood be your celebrities make dramatic progress and databases held in the county archives. In the legacy, together we can make a difference. startling discoveries in the course of a one- search room visitors can also view online hour programme. The reality is often quite sources covering the whole country. different. All sorts of problems can emerge 01273 843 842 Record Office staff, with specialist to derail the research process. www.claytonwood.co.uk knowledge and expertise in the subject, also “Members of our staff are familiar with provide a research service. It is offered at an the archive sources and are experienced hourly rate and is popular with people who both in dealing with enquiries and in teaching Clayton are unable to make the visit to Chichester. people how to carry out their research. We For more information or to book an answer literally thousands of family history Wood hour with an expert contact the Record enquiries every year - more than one Clayton Wood, Brighton Road, Clayton, Office on 01243 753602, or email thousand a year on First World War soldiers [email protected] West Sussex, BN6 9PD. 16 visit our website at www.westsussex.gov.uk WEST SUSSEX MUSIC SERVICE Advertisement Music to your ears! With over 150 groups every week at every level from tots to upper teens, the West Sussex Music Service has been leading Join One Or music in the county for generations. Choose from More Today! the groups below - from only £2.50 a week. It’s easy to sign up – so do it today! Call 01243 642361 for more details Crawley Hazelwick School Monday Worthing Youth Orchestra Worthing High School Youth Jazz Band Friday Youth Concert Band Choirs Junior , Youth Saturday Elementary Guitar Ensemble Concert Bands Elementary, Beginner, Junior, Youth SymphonyOrchestra Intermediate String ensembles Beginner and Elementary Choirs Junior, Youth,Youth Chamber Violins and Violas, Chichester Early Years for 3-7 year olds Cello and Bass, Youth Guitar ensembles Junior, Intermediate Woodwind ensembles Beginner fl utes, Chichester High School for Girls Keyboard ensembles clarinets and saxophones Saturday Elementary Percussion Ensemble Saturday Brass Bands Elementary, Junior, Intermediate,Youth. Recorder lessons Concert Bands Junior, Intermediate, Choirs for 7 years old up Strings Beginner, Elementary, Junior and Youth, Youth Big Band. Concert Bands Junior, Intermediate, Youth. Intermediate Orchestras Early Years for 3-7 year olds Early Years for 3 – 7 yr olds Theory Intermediate Orchestra Guitar ensembles Elementary, Intermediate, Advanced Percussion ensembles Junior, Intermediate Percussion ensembles Elementary, Intermediate, Advanced Recorder ensembles Early Years, Recorder ensembles Beginner, Elementary, Orchestra Horsham Beginner, Rock workshops Elementary String orchestras Beginner, Junior, Intermediate. Millais School Junior String Orchestra Woodwind ensembles Elementary Clarinet & Saxophone, Monday Woodwind ensembles Beginner Flutes, Elementary Flute Oboe & Bassoon, Bands Youth Big Band, Youth Concert Band Clarinets & Saxophones Junior Woodwind, Choirs Junior, Horsham Youth Singers Aural and Theory classes Saxophone Choir, Guitar ensembles Beginner, Elementary, Junior Intermediate and Youth Clarinet Choirs, Orchestras Junior String, Intermediate, Youth Intermediate and Youth Flute Keyboard Ensemble Northbrook College Tuesday Tuesday Monday Youth Chamber and String Orchestras Concert Bands Junior, Intermediate Rock workshop Youth Swing Band Brass ensembles Junior, Intermediate Fee: £44 a term, free half term does not apply. Aural training Percussion ensembles Elementary, Youth Wednesday Shoreham Theory Elementary, Intermediate, Advanced Shoreham Academy Theory Elementary, Junior, Intermediate Thursday Woodwind ensemble Beginner & Elementary County Groups Shoreham Fiddlers The Weald School Sunday – once a month Angmering County Youth String Orchestra, Camelsdale St. Margaret’s C.E. Primary Wind Orchestra, Camelsdale First School Tuesday Big Band, Orchestra, Choir Wednesday Angmering Strings Elementary String Ensemble East Grinstead Steyning Midhurst Sackville School Midhurst Rother College Tuesday St. Andrew’s CE Primary Monday Junior String Orchestra Starting soon School Rock Workshops Junior Band Tuesday Fee: £40 a term, free Adult music Junior Choir half term does Wednesday not apply. lessons! Steyning String Starters Haywards Heath ßUVWKDOIWHUP * Heyworth Primary School Bognor Regis Monday FREE Strings Beginner Violins, Junior and Intermediate Felpham Community College String Orchestras Thursday Theory Elementary, Junior, Intermediate Samba Band, Steel Band, Rock/Jazz Band * First half term free then music centre membership from Wednesday Rock Workshops Fee: £40 a term, free half £2.50 a week; members can join any number of groups for Brass Bands Junior, Intermediate term does not apply. the one fee. Woodwind ensembles Junior, Intermediate Adult Steel Band, and Adult Samba Band Fee: £36 a term, half term free does not apply. Please note: a few groups have a separate fee structure and do not offer a free half term. For further details and an application form: email: [email protected] web: www.westsussexmusicservice.co.uk phone: 01243 642361