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Newsletter 18/07/2024

18 July 2024

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

Planning

Download the PDF file .

Mid Sussex draft District Plan 2021-2039 – Regulation 19 Consultation

Dear Town and Parish Councils,

Following Regulation 19 consultation, I am writing to inform you that the draft District Plan 2021-2039 has been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate (PINs) for Examination in Public.

We are anticipating the Examination to take place around late October / early November 2024.  We will of course update you when we hear more from PINs.

Kind regards,

Judy Holmes

Deputy Chief Executive

judy.holmes@midsussex.gov.uk   www.midsussex.gov.uk

Mid Sussex District Council – Notice of Proposals Off Street Parking Spaces

Please find attached a copy of the Notice of Proposals, Statement of Reasons and the draft Amendment Order, relating to the proposed changes to the charging hours for off street parking in the District. The Notice of Proposals will appear in the Mid Sussex Times on 11 July 2024 and will be displayed within the relevant car parks. We will make the necessary documents available for public inspection at our offices.

Any objections to the proposals must be made via email to parkingconsultation@midsussex.gov.uk or in writing specifying the grounds of objection to the Monitoring Officer, Mid Sussex District Council, Oaklands, Oaklands Road, Heath RH16 1SS.  Any objections must be received no later than 12 noon on 2 August 2024.

Signed Notice of Proposals – Off Street Parking Places – Order 2006 – Amendment No. 1 2024 dated 11.7.24

Statement of Reasons July 2024

DRAFT – Amendment Order 2024

WSCC Traffic Regulation Order

West Sussex County Council proposes to make a permanent Traffic Regulation Order that will prohibit waiting at any time (introduce double yellow lines) on both sides of De La Warr Road in East Grinstead from a point 25m east of its junction with Church Lane, westwards for appx 95m.

In addition to these new restrictions the Order also enacts a scheme of revised waiting restrictions in the Lowdells Lane area of East Grinstead advertised in March 2021.  These restrictions were approved following public consultation but could not be installed before the proposed order timed out.  The proposed restrictions have all been installed and this part of the Order has no effect other than to make restrictions already present on site legally enforceable.

Notice is also hereby given that West Sussex County Council, under the provisions of the Highways Act 1980 (Traffic calming) Regulations intends to install two raised traffic calming features on De La Warr Road in East Grinstead.

These features will be full width speed tables, with one located immediately east of its junction with Church Lane, and the other located on the bend in the road, west of its junction with Church Lane.  Both features will be appx 65mm high and constructed in black McAdam.

Below is a link to the TRO Team’s consultation web page, containing plans showing the new parking restriction, the public notice, statement of reasons for proposing the Order, and the draft Order itself.  I should be grateful if you could accept this message as the formal consultation on the proposed new Order.  If you wish to make any comments or objections to the scheme, please make them to me by e-mail before 1 August 2024.

https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/traffic-regulation-orders/

I hope this is all in order but if you have any queries about this matter please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours faithfully

Martin Moore

Legal Officer: Adur, Arun, Mid Sussex & Worthing – TRO Team External: +44 03302 226335 | E-mail: martin.moore@westsussex.gov.uk

The Rural Bulletin

The Rural Bulletin 9 July 2024

Gatcom News

The next meeting of GATCOM will be held on Tuesday 16 July 2024 commencing at 10.00am. The agenda papers for the meeting are attached.  The agenda papers are also available on GATCOM’s website.

Please note the meeting will be held virtually, via MS Teams.  Members of the public are welcome to observe the meeting. To register your interest to observe the meeting please contact the GATCOM Secretariat by reply to this email by no later than close of business on Monday 15 July.

Download the PDF file .

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NALC News

Chief executive’s bulletin

11 July 2024

General Election 2024 and new government

The Labour Party won a large majority in last week’s General Election and now form the new government, with Sir Keir Starmer MP becoming prime minister. Here’s a summary of the results and some key developments:

  • Labour won 411 seats, up 209 on their total from the 2019 election. The Conservatives won 121 seats, down 244 from their 2019 total of 365 seats. The Liberal Democrats gained 61 seats for a total of 72, while Reform won 5 seats and the Green Party won 4.
  • 335 successful candidates are becoming Members of Parliament for the first time, and among them are some current or former parish and town councillors!
  • In his first address to the nation outside Number 10 Downing Street, the prime minister said his government will be one of “service”. He emphasised his mandate stating “…we will use it to deliver change, to restore service and respect for politics, end the era of noisy performance, tread more lightly on your lives and unite our country”. He concluded by saying “So, with respect and humility, I invite you all to join this Government of service in the mission of national renewal”.
  • In the new Cabinet, Angela Rayner MP was appointed deputy prime minister and secretary of state in the renamed Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Jim McMahon MP and Matthew Pennycook MP have become ministers of state, with Alex Norris MP, Rushanara Ali MP, Lord Khan of Burnley and Baroness Taylor of Stevenage were each appointed as a parliamentary under secretary of state. Specific responsibilities are yet to be announced.
  • Other cabinet appointments include Rachel Reeves MP as the chancellor of the exchequer, Steve Reed MP as the secretary of state for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Yvette Cooper MP as the Home Secretary and Lisa Nandy MP as the secretary of state for Culture, Media and Sport.
  • Our chair, Cllr Keith Stevens, has already commenced our engagement with new ministers, including congratulating Angela Rayner MP and Jim McMahon MP (who is likely to be the minister for local government).
  • And our advocacy with the new government and Parliament, as well as the political parties, will continue over the coming days and weeks, building on my call for the new government to think local by writing to and seeking meetings with ministers and briefing Parliamentarians ahead of the King’s Speech on 17 July.

National Assembly

Councillors from across our network of 43 county associations met in London at the meeting of our National Assembly on 9 July at NALC’s office in London, here are a few highlights:

  • The focus of the day was a workshop to help define NALC’s new big theme on community safety and to identify how councils and county associations could help. Also, the Assembly took initial stock of the recent General Election results. With so many new MPs, often with no experience of local (parish and town) councils, it will be vital that councils and county associations get to know their MPs and impress upon them the importance of our sector.
  • Councillors supported actions identified by county officers at one of our recent fortnightly meetings including encouraging councils to write congratulating their MPs on their election, invite them to events and publicise MP details in newsletters, and for county associations to put engaging with MPs on the agenda for their upcoming executive or board meetings.
  • The Assembly also received an extensive report on NALC’s finances from Cllr Peter Davey, vice-chair of finance. The report included confirmation from our external auditors that last year’s accounts were good and would be unqualified and that “adequate systems, appropriate for the size of the Association, appear to be in place for all major aspects of the Association’s business and that they are working well.” Assembly members were encouraged to discuss emerging proposals for next year’s affiliation fees, which are up from 7.94p per elector to 8.34p per elector, capped at £2,139 for the very largest councils, with their county association colleagues to enable a final decision to be made in the Autumn.
  • Proposals to increase diversity on our committees and were also agreed and the Assembly is urging councils and county associations to encourage people from all backgrounds to get involved in their work.

Star Council Awards 2024

Don’t forget to consider nominations to our Star Council Awards 2024! These awards recognise the positive impact of the parish and town council sector on communities across England. We want the awards to be even bigger and better than before. And we want more nominations to provide even more opportunities for all councils, councillors, county associations and clerks to shine. Entrants can apply for six award categories: Council of the Year, Councillor of the Year, Young Councillor of the Year, County Association of the Year, Clerk of the Year, and Climate Response of the Year. These categories recognise excellence in different areas of council operations and highlight the varied contributions of councils. The nomination period ends on 6 September 2024. We’ll announce the winners at our parliamentary reception in the House of Lords on 25 February 2025. I also want to thank our award sponsors, Clear Councils Insurance (formerly BHIB Councils Insurance), Blachere Illumination, CCLA, Cloudy IT, Facilitating the Future and Utility Aid, whose support is invaluable in making these awards possible.

Online event recordings 

Our suite of 45 online event recordings allows members to access content conveniently. These recordings serve as valuable resources for those unable to attend live sessions, ensuring they get all the essential information and discussions. Additionally, members can revisit the content for clarification, further study, or professional development. This asynchronous access supports diverse schedules and enhances the overall accessibility and value of the event. They cover topics from climate change and planning to youth engagement and finance. Our online recordings are published one month after the event and can be found on our website, so do check them out!

On the blog: Net Zero Week

This week’s blog published during Net Zero Week urges local councils to reflect on their critical role in achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Net zero involves balancing greenhouse gas emissions with their removal through methods like tree planting and technology. Local councils, due to their close community ties, can drive significant changes in areas such as energy, transportation, waste management, and community engagement. Steps include developing a net zero action plan, promoting energy efficiency, encouraging sustainable transportation, enhancing green spaces, raising climate awareness, and using neighbourhood planning to achieve net zero. Read the blog to find out more!

Updates to Legal Topic Note on staff pensions

Our member services team has updated Legal Topic Note 79 on staff pensions (auto-enrolment) to make the content more readable and relevant and link to useful guidance. You will need to login to the member’s area of our website to access the advice note.

NALC speaks at Lawyers in Local Government Work Experience Week

Jane Moore, NALC’s legal services manager, was invited to speak to law students as part of the Lawyers in Local Government Work Experience Week 2024 on 5 July 2024. Jane took part in a panel discussion, which included colleagues from Lawyers in Local Government and the Association of Democratic Services Officers. Jane spoke about increasing diversity in the local council sector and the initiatives NALC has taken, such as the national networks and Make a Change campaign. She also spoke about the barriers to improved diversity, including the inability for councils to hold remote meetings.

Fortnightly meeting with county officers

This week’s online meeting between NALC and county association officers was used as a workshop on the taskforces set up by the Improvement and Development Board (IDB). This was an opportunity for county officers to have early input into the three themes for the taskforces which are civility and respect, intervention and workforce. Each group was led by a different county officer, and the discussions will now be fed into the work of the IDB.

Next week’s Policy Committee meeting 

The agenda for our Policy Committee meeting on 16 July 2024 is now available in the Committees section of the NALC website. The agenda includes the committee work plan, motions from county associations, the creation of new local councils in metropolitan district council areas, and the results of the General Election. Additionally, there will be a guest speaker from the Local Government Association’s Special Interest Group for Municipal Areas.

English Rural Housing Association launch event for a new guide on affordable rural housing

Last week, during Rural Housing Week, NALC’s chair, Cllr Keith Stevens, attended the launch of the English Rural Housing Association’s groundbreaking Design Guide, which aims to transform the perception of affordable rural housing. The guide is endorsed by HRH The Princess Royal and is structured into five comprehensive sections, each addressing an essential aspect of rural housing, such as the future of communities, the layout of houses, the landscape of villages, designing new homes in rural areas, and building sustainably and responsibly. The guide includes a practical toolkit for villages looking to inform the design of new homes in their community. This toolkit is a powerful resource that empowers local communities to take an active role in shaping the future of their built environment. You can learn more about the guide on our website.

And finally…

The Joint Panel on Accountability and Governance (JPAG) held its latest meeting last week. The panel is responsible for the Practitioners’ Guide, which is published to help smaller authorities (those with a turnover of less than £6.5 million) prepare the Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR).  Each year, JPAG reviews the Practitioners’ Guide, and this year is asking clerks and responsible finance officers to complete a short survey to give feedback on the guide and make any suggestions for improvements. These suggestions will help JPAG review the Guide for 2025. The survey deadline is 30 September.

NALC’s online event recordings are available on the website – News

NALC advocates for diversity at Lawyers in Local Government Work Experience Week – News

NALC attends the English Rural Housing Association launch event for a new guide on affordable rural housing – News

STAR COUNCIL AWARDS 2024 (nalc.gov.uk)

A Royal Garden Party come rain or sunshine – News (nalc.gov.uk)

CAGNE Aviation Town and Parish Council Forum
The Gatwick Noise Management Board is heading towards its third term. Anyone can now apply to attend online the morning of 14th August email nmb@gatwickairport.com.

Reduced Noise Night Trial. This report provides information on 4 weeks of data (17 May – 13 June) report here

Modernisation of airspace – see the Civil Aviation Authority letter here
Assurances had been obtained by Jeremy Quin, the then MP for Horsham, that the mapping would be better from Gatwick at the next stage of the CAA CAP 1616 consultation process.  Obviously we do not know how this will stand now post election.

Many of the local Members of Parliament have changed   Please see attached the Labour manifesto on aviation and the list of Gatwick area MPs.  We are presuming their email addresses will become the standard – name.surname.mp@parliament.uk

Louise Haigh is the new Transport Secretary and Steve Reed the Environment Secretary.

Night movement at Gatwick Airport report by Cllr M Filmore here

New report on ultra fine particles from aviation – here

Update on the DCO planning process for a new runway –
New environmental hearing on 30th July at 2pm and possibly 31st/1st August – register here

PINS specifically are asking questions of Gatwick concerning the Supreme Court hearing relating to the production of fossil fuel and the burning thereof.

Gatwick announced at DCO hearing they had conducted a survey of residents to find out if they knew of any community groups. The survey asked residents of Horley, Ashford, Croydon, Brighton if they were concerned about aircraft noise.  Policy and Gatwick do not recognise noise above 7,000ft so asking these areas makes the survey unbalanced. CAGNE was the community group most known by those asked.  Air quality and carbon emissions were the top two concerns.

page 25 of this document: TR020005-002747-10.49.4 The Applicant’s Written Summary of Oral Submissions – ISH8 – Noise.pdf (planninginspectorate.gov.uk)

GATCOM (Gatwick statutory body) and the NMB are seeking to ban photography, recording or filming of meetings. As elected members are present this would seem to go against their code of council to be accountable. GATCOM agenda for this month here

Gatwick Airport newsletters The latest offers Rapid Taxiway as an improvement. This potentially adds 11 extra aircraft movements a day for residents of Sussex, Surrey, and Kent to endure the noise of.

 

www.cagnepcforum.org.uk
Created by councillors for councils
cagnegatwick@gmail.com

 

 

Chief executive’s bulletin

18 July 2024

NALC quarterly activity report 

This week, we published our quarterly activity report covering April to June 2024. The quarterly activity report details progress in delivering NALC’s strategic plan, including information on internal issues, parliamentary and government affairs work, events, finances, media coverage, publications and legal advice. This quarter’s report summarises the organisation’s strategic direction and significant milestones during the reporting period. Key highlights include NALC chair Cllr Keith Stevens’ letter to the main political party leaders ahead of the general election outlining our manifesto for building stronger communities across England, we made history by attending our first-ever Pride event at Corby Pride with the support of the LGBT+ councillors network, we moved to use an automated phone menu system for the main telephone number that aims to provide clearer options to all callers and direct them appropriately, NALC’s Management Board and Policy Committee backed the Mumsnet campaign for public bodies to publish their parental leave policies and we’ll be publishing ours shortly, and updated versions of The Good Councillor’s Guide and the Model Financial Regulations. The subsequent report covers July to September 2024 and will be published on 16 October 2024.

Meeting with Reach Foundation

Last week, colleagues in the policy and communications team attended a meeting with the Reach Foundation, a charity based in Feltham which is supporting residents to explore the possibility of setting up a local (parish and town) council in the town. Justin Griggs, head of policy and communications, highlighted NALC’s experience supporting other communities to establish local councils such as Queen’s Park Community Council. During discussions we also emphasised the need to communicate the benefits of having a local council to residents and Hounslow Council and to garner support from other community groups in the area. We’ll be providing further support and sharing useful information, including case studies outlining the work of existing local councils, and keeping in touch with the Reach Foundation as the campaign progresses.

Policy Committee

The NALC Policy Committee held its latest online meeting on 16 July 2024. Here are a few highlights:

  • The committee supported a motion from the East Riding and Northern Lincolnshire Local Councils Association regarding principal authority engagement with local councils. The committee reiterated our encouragement for county associations and local councils to frame charters with their principal authorities to help forge effective working relationships.
  • The committee also supported a motion from the Warwickshire and West Midlands Association of Local Councils regarding the reuse of graves. Our next steps on taking this forward will include engaging with the Ministry of Justice, Church of England and Local Government Association (LGA).
  • The external speaker was Zoe Adams, assistant research and communications officer at the LGA Special Interest Group for Municipal Areas (SIGOMA) who gave an excellent presentation on their work, challenges facing their members and local government finance lobbying priorities of certainty, fairer funding and sustainability. The committee supported ongoing collaboration with SIGOMA particularly around the creation of new local councils in metropolitan urban areas, noting the list we’ve developed of local councils in those areas, as well as unparished areas.

National Network: Climate emergency

The NALC Climate Emergency Network met online on 12 July 2024. Abby Charlesworth, local authorities coordinator at the Carbon Literacy Project, updated the network on the carbon literacy toolkits for local councils. She introduced them and the learning methodology as the main focus and delved into the issues specific to local councils. Andrew Maliphant, environment and sustainability advisor at the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC), provided updates on the place-based initiative in the most recent pre-election session of the Local Net Zero Forum Task and Finish Group hosted by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and development of sector specific biodiversity net gain guidance. NALC’s response to the previous government’s consultation on barriers to community energy projects was briefly considered. The consultation response can be viewed here – you will need to log into the members’ area of NALC’s site to access this response.  A helpful summary of WhatsApp group links and posts made since the previous meeting on 9 May 2024 was provided by Cllr Katharine Keats-Rohan. All attendees were also encouraged to promote and consider applying for the new Climate Response of the Year category in the NALC Star Council Awards by the 6 September 2024 deadline.

National Network: LGBT+ councillors 

Our national network for LGBT+ councillors held its latest online meeting on 15 July 2024. Cllr Callum Reilly from Corby Town Council in Northamptonshire delivered a presentation to the network that reflected on their recent Pride event and parade in Corby. He highlighted the importance of effective communication, community engagement, and sponsorship support. He emphasised the significance of community involvement and making the event inclusive and reflective of the local community. The primary focus of this session was discussing the emerging LGBT+ toolkit the network is designing for local councils. The toolkit will serve as a model of best practice, celebrate the community, and share experiences and challenges faced by LGBT+ local councillors. The network will be focusing on the completion of the toolkit over the next few months. The next network meeting is on 3 September 2024. Find out more about the LGBT+ national network and how to join on our website.

On the blog: RECOUP

This week’s blog stresses the crucial role local councils can play in addressing climate change and promoting sustainability by partnering with RECOUP, a leading charity focused on plastic resource efficiency and recycling. Overconsumption of natural resources threatens future generations and contributes significantly to climate change and habitat loss. RECOUP advocates for a “buy less” mindset, encouraging communities to extend the life of their purchases through reuse, repair, and sharing. For example, the charity has collaborated with East Hunsbury Parish Council to organise a coat exchange, promoting eco-friendly wardrobe updates. RECOUP invites other councils to engage in similar initiatives, such as reducing plastic packaging, establishing toy libraries, and setting up recycling bins in parks. They offer practical project support, including toolkits and funding advice. Councils interested in collaborating can contact RECOUP at enquiry@recoup.org. Read the blog to find out more!

Out and about

The leader of Oxfordshire County Council, Cllr Liz Leffman, launched the Oxfordshire Council’s Charter at the Oxford Association of Local Councils (OALC) Annual General Meeting on 15 July which I was pleased to attend. Recognising the importance of local councils, the Charter aims to enhance partnership working across the three tiers of local government in Oxfordshire to empower a vibrant local democracy. I spoke on the importance of partnerships in tackling many of the challenges the country faces and the work of NALC. OALC’s annual report describes an impressive training programme and range of services and initiatives, including this Charter, which the county association provides to its member councils, 97% of which are in membership.

Improvement and Development Board

The latest meeting of the Improvement and Development Board (IDB) welcomed the new Board members of John Austin, chair of Association of Democratic Services Officers (ADSO), Deborah Evans, chief executive officer of Lawyers in Local Government (LLG), and Annie Child, chief executive of the Smaller Authorities Audit Appointments (SAAA).  Anders Hanson, NALC’s member services manager, gave a presentation on our review of the criteria for the Local Council Award Scheme. He explained the extensive consultation process which included using focus groups that informed the review. The Board approved the proposed changes and recognised that NALC would be undertaking further consultation on the reviewed criteria. They also endorsed the importance of the LCAS to improvement and development and encouraged all local councils to consider applying. Also, the Board agreed to develop an additional Taskforce to examine qualitative and quantitative data, discussing how data was critical for evaluating and guiding improvement and development along with providing an evidence base for lobbying, decision making, and most importantly, improving local communities. The Board also gave early consideration on what the new government might mean for the sector, agreeing to encourage the renamed Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to send a representative to the board.

And finally…

NALC’s young councillors network is meeting on 23 July 2024 between 18.00 to 19.15. Yate Town Council will be joining the meeting to discuss youth engagement in their council. The group will also discuss the youth engagement summit event and a young councillors guidance toolkit. Find out more about the network and how to join!

 

 

MSVA Updates and News

Spotlight on Trustees

Gathering your feedback

At MSVA we have been focussed on gathering your feedback about what the priority needs are for your organisations. We know that recruiting and retaining volunteers is an essential part of ensuring that you can deliver your services and support in order for our communities to thrive. We have noticed an increase in the number of Trustee roles needed across Mid Sussex and we thought we would focus on this important volunteering role in this E-Bulletin. Please share this information within your networks and newsletters to help share and support our community to find more Trustees!

Why do we need Trustees?
Charity trustees play a very important role in making sure that the charity is run in the interests of the people it is there to support. They strategically oversee the management and administration of the organisation.

Who can be a Trustee?
Everyone! Anyone can volunteer to be a trustee, regardless of how junior or senior you are in your career, whether you are in paid employment or not, regardless of your ethnicity, class, gender orientation, sexuality or any other difference.  Boards thrive on diversity and need a mix of all the different groups within society to deliver robust governance and fulfill a charity’s mission.

Why become a Trustee?
Trustees often say that being a board member has been one the richest sources of learning in their professional lives. It is estimated that almost half of all charities are looking for trustees at any time, so you will be filling a vital role in the voluntary sector.

As a trustee you have the chance to be involved with a charity focused on a cause you are passionate about. It is also a great way to get involved in a community and support and shape the work and strategic direction of an organisation, and you can make a significant difference to a cause that matters to you. This can be very rewarding.
Being a trustee offers the opportunity for professional development.

An opportunity to apply your unique skills and experience, be part of a team and learn from others. Working closely with a passionate team of people who have different perspectives is often one of the most enjoyable aspects of the role. Gain experience of strategy and leadership, and boost your CV.

How much time does being a trustee take?
Each organisation will have different requirements. The charity’s needs are likely to be made up of a range of activities that may occur at different times of the day and vary across the year. Questions you should ask include:

  • How many trustee meetings are there each year?
  • How long are the meetings, where and at what time of day?
  • Are trustees expected to serve on committees?
  • What opportunities are there to spend time with the organisation observing its work, both when joining and on an ongoing basis?
  • What contact is there in between trustee meetings and how does this usually take place?
  • Are there any one-off events or annual occasions that trustees are expected, or will have the opportunity, to attend?
  • What induction and training will the organisation provide, and how much time will that take?

Why not start the conversation and find out today!
Date for the diary! 4-8 November 2024 – Trustees’ Week 2024

Trustees’ Week is a time for us to come together to celebrate the achievements of nearly one million trustees across the UK and thank all of our Trustees for their time, commitment and effort they bring to to charities to help them thrive.

More information here: Trustees Week – Showcasing the work of charity trustees
Resources and Roles for Aspiring Trustees

For more information on becoming a charity trustee, have a look at Getting On Board’s excellent free resources.In addition to a large bank of trustee vacancies, they have how to guides for aspiring trustees, guidance for charities, lots of related further reading and this helpful 1-minute video:
Read below for our current Trustee Role vacancies from our MSVA members and more information about Getting On Board’s Summer Trustee Learning Programme.
Cherry Tree Centre Updates

Our community hub at the Cherry Tree Centre is a busy venue these days, with lots on offer for the community.From July 25th, we’ll be trialling Stay & Play on Thursdays from 10am – 12:15pm leading into our Messy Lunch in the Cherry Tree Cafe.

Stay & Play is a chance for little ones to meet and play and caregivers to connect and enjoy a beverage.

  • £1 per child
  • Toys, games & activities for early years, but older children welcome too
  • Entry via café
  • Low cost refreshments available
  • Dates – 25th July, 1st August, 8th August (possibly more coming)

Other interesting news:

  • We’ve recently added a new fitness class called Bounce on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings for men and women of all ages.
  • We look forward to welcoming CSL Behring for a day of corporate volunteering at the Cherry Tree Centre again this month. They will be helping to spruce up our community hub with donated paints from Crown Decorating Centre in Burgess Hill and plants from B&Q

Don’t worry, room hire is still available at the Cherry Tree! For more information, have a look on our website or contact one of our centre managers, Ali & Dawn via email: enquiries@msva.org.uk
MSVA FORUMS
East Grinstead Networking

We are delighted to announce that our next East Grinstead networking event for community groups and charities takes place at on Thursday 12th September from 9.30 to 11.30 AM at The Apron Café, Chequer Mead community theatre.

The networking event provides an informal drop-in environment and an opportunity to connect with other local community groups, and speak to the MSVA team.

Please sign up through the Eventbrite link here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/east-grinstead-networking-registration-910301655757

*Representatives from East Grinstead Town Council and the East Grinstead Common Good Trust will be in attendance to discuss their upcoming grant offers and can answer any questions you may have.*

Please drop in, grab a hot drink and piece of cake or fruit and say hello! All MSVA members are very welcome to attend.

There is paid parking opposite Chequer Mead theatre, buses run to the high street and it is located a 15 min walk from the train station.

This networking group is part of our regular series of events and is aimed primarily for groups in East Grinstead and surrounding villages, but all members are welcome to attend. For further information please ask by return of email.

Thank you, we look forward to welcoming you!
FUNDING

GSK IMPACT Awards and Community Health Programme

GSK Impact Awards
For charities with income between £150,000 and £3 million

The GSK IMPACT Awards provide funding, training and development. They are judged by a prestigious panel of judges and give national recognition for the winning charities. Up to 15 awards will be made, ranging from £4,000 to £50,000. In addition, the training and development is valued at a further £13,500. Organisations will also receive help with press and publicity, be given a set of promotional materials and receive pro bono offers from GSK.

View the guidelines and access the application form.

Deadline for stage one applications is 5.00pm on Friday 30 August 2024.

GSK Community Health programme

Supporting small charities tackling health inequalities

For charities with income between £20,000 and £150,000

Running alongside the GSK IMPACT Awards, the programme supports small charities tackling health inequalities in their communities. It is open to registered charities that are at least a year old, located and working in the UK. Up to 15 charities will receive up to £10,000 plus access to training and development valued at £3,500.

Deadline for applications is 5.00pm on Monday 12 August.

Learn more about our GSK Community Health programme.
Capital Funding Sources with upcoming deadlines
Asda Foundation – Investing in Spaces and Places Grant
Opens on 9th July 2024 and closes on 28th July 2024. Not-for-profit organisations with an income below £100,000 can apply for a capital grant of between £10,000 and £25,000 to transform spaces at the heart of their local community. Match funding of at least 50% of the total cost is required.B&Q Foundation Grants, deadlines: 6pm on 9th August 2024 and 15th November 2024. Registered charities can apply for a capital grant of up to £10,000 for building or indoor projects or £5,000 for garden projects. Funding is for projects that improve homes and community spaces for those who are experiencing homelessness, in financial hardship, impacted by health, disability or other disadvantage or distress.Screwfix Foundation, deadlines: 12 noon on 10th August 2024 and 10th November 2024. Registered charities and not-for-profit organisations can apply for a capital grant of up to £5,000 to improve, fix, and repair a physical building (or land attached to it) that is used by people in need.Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust – Impact Fund, deadline: 1st August 2024. Registered charities and constituted community organisations can apply for a project grant of up to £10,000 to enhance the environment and support communities (fuel poverty), encouraging a just transition to clean energy.
Bespoke Fundraising Webinar with Lucy Stone

18th of September (11-12pm)

The Sussex VCSE Mental Health Network are running a bespoke fundraising webinar with guest speaker Lucy Stone from No Stone Unturned.

The webinar will provide the opportunity for network members to raise challenges they experience around fundraising and funding applications.
The webinar will also help you to:

  • Learn how to make your funding applications stand out
  • Guidance on fundraising challenges
  • Suggestions for evidencing service impact in funding applications
  • There will time for a Q&A with Lucy Stone

Please sign up and send suggestions of particular fundraising challenges you would like guidance on from Lucy during the webinar by 11th July at: MHNetwork@VCSE-MHTransformation.org

About Lucy Stone
Lucy is an award winning fundraiser. She has 20 years’ experience in the charity sector. Her key skills lie in strategy, fundraising and impact measurement. Lucy has helped to raise £97 million for a wide range of causes.
250 free online fundraising packs available

easyfundraising is offering 250 free fundraising toolkits to help local organisations raise money online.

Through easyfundraising, when your supporters shop with any of 8,000 retailers, including Tesco, trainline, eBay, Argos, Sainsbury’s, John Lewis, Asda and Booking.com, a donation is made to your organisation.

All you need to do is use the free packs to tell your supporters about it

To get your complimentary pack, register with easyfundraising and when prompted, schedule a call with a member of the easyfundraising team who will arrange your toolkit and explain the process.

With only 250 packs available, claim yours today here: www.easyfundraising.org.uk/msva/
VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
Current Trustee Opportunities

Treasurer – Haywards Heath Food Bank
Trustee/Director – East Grinstead Memorial Estate Ltd
Trustee – Jigsaw South East
Trustee – Relate North & South West Sussex
Trustee – Mid Sussex Counselling Centre
Treasurer – Kangaroos – Mid Sussex
Treasurer – Mid Sussex District Scouts
Here is a flavour of some of the new volunteer roles added to Volunteer Plus in June!
Sunday Lunch date… Bentswood Community Partnership
Fundraiser  Raise Your Voice
One Off/ Introductory Community Event Volunteer Role Kangaroos
Men’s Group Facilitator Age UK, West Sussex, Brighton & Hove
Online Dementia Carers Group Co-Facilitator Carers Support West Sussex
Volunteer Mower St Peter and James’ Hospice and Continuing Care Centre
To register your volunteering roles please go to: Does your charity or group need volunteers? (msva.org.uk)

To search and apply for volunteering roles please go to: Volunteering – let us help you find your volunteering opportunity (msva.org.uk)

For all volunteering enquiries please email: volunteering@msva.org.uk
LOCAL EVENTS

Mid Sussex Play Days and Skate Fests 2024

Play Days on Tour dates

  • Free Events
  • No Need to Book
  • Click the links for information
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Job Advertising for MSVA Members

Job opportunities can be included in the E-Bulletin and advertised on our MSVA social media channels for a fee of £15 per job posting.

Please email: helen.crofoot@msva.org.uk for more information or to post a role.
EMPLOYEE LAW & STAFF WELLBEING UPDATES
 TRAINING

Summer Trustee Learning Programme from Getting On Board

To infinity and beyond! An introduction to charity finances for trustees

Thursday 11th July 5-6pm

This introductory webinar is for trustees without a finance background who want to make sure that they are able to engage fully with the organisation’s finances, in order to be an effective trustee. For many trustees, the finances are a bit of a mystery and we’re on a mission to change that!

Book this session

How to get rid of trustees

Wednesday 17 July, 4.30pm

Ever found yourself day-dreaming about a trustee-free utopia? Fear not, because we’ve got the event you never knew you needed: How to get rid of trustees (without breaking the law). Now that we’ve enticed you in with that naughty event title, this session will of course tackle serious issues around:

  • Why we let trustees stay past their sell by date
  • Identifying common reasons trustees may feel stuck or reluctant to leave
  • Identifying common pitfalls that can lead trustees becoming ineffective

Book this session

Beyond the trustee’s role description

Tuesday 23 July 6-7pm

Every effective trustee needs to understand charity governance and their legal responsibilities (and we have just the webinar for that). However, being an impactful trustee requires more than this. Good governance is essential but not enough.

This session is for those trustees and aspiring trustees who have a passion to take their charity forward, to grow impact, to leave a personal legacy and feel the sense of personal fulfilment from the time they volunteer.

Book this session
MSVA Lunch & Learn
Getting Started with CanvaJoin us for a 90-minute introduction to Canva and unlock your creative potential! Learn how to design stunning digital posters and images for both print and social media.Canva Basics: Master the essentials to get you started quickly.Design Tips & Tricks: Enhance your creativity with professional techniques.Accessibility: Ensure your designs are accessible to everyone.Free Canva Pro Account: Discover how to access premium features at no cost (for charities).Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your design skills and make your projects stand out!Thursday July 25th, 12:00pm – 1:30pmBook your free place hereBring your lunch and your curiosity, and let’s create together!

FREE English conversation classes for the residents of Mid Sussex

These classes are a great opportunity for individuals to improve their English, build confidence, and make new friends over a cup of tea or coffee.We are hosting these classes in three locations across Mid Sussex, and they take place from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM:

  • Burgess Hill: Cyprus Hall, Cyprus Rd, Burgess Hill RH15 8DX
  • Haywards Heath: The Yews, 55 Boltro Rd, Haywards Heath, RH16 1BJ
  • East Grinstead: East Grinstead Library, 32-40 West St, East Grinstead RH19 4SR
Attendees do not need to book in advance; they can just come along.
For more information, please visit our website: https://www.advicewestsussex.org.uk/research-and-campaigns/community-engagement-research/language-cafe/
Emergency First Aid at Work

Thursday, 5 September, 9:30am – 4:00pm

The course enables a first aider to give emergency first aid to someone who is injured or becomes ill while at work.

The workshop also gives people the confidence to know that if someone needs help, they will know what to do. The content of the course is equivalent to those provided by well-known national first aid organisations and covers topics relevant to the delegates’ workplaces. Delegates completing the course successfully will be awarded the Emergency First Aid at Work Certificate, valid for three years from the date of issue.

Cost: £65
Click here to book
RESOURCES AND INFORMATION
 Mid Sussex Housing Prevention Surgery Guidance
The aim of the surgery is to improve access to the service for vulnerable Mid Sussex residents with a particular focus on those who may be at risk of homelessness.

Prevention is better than cure so we are really keen to engage with clients who maybe struggling with their housing situation, here are some examples:

  • Service users who are in arrears with their rent
  • Their rent has increased, and they are no longer able to afford it
  • Their income has reduced, through loss of employment or change in benefits and are starting to get in arrears with their rent
  • Service users who are already in arrears with their rent and haven’t sought help
  • Service users who have been given notice to leave their current accommodation, whether that’s a tenancy or living with family and friends.
  • Service users who may be experiencing domestic abuse or other forms of violence or harassment
  • Service users who are experiencing disrepair in their property that has not been addressed.

If you are unsure whether a service user is resident in Mid Sussex you can check using the following link Find your local council – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Appointments for the surgery will need to be made by staff via the online booking form: https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/BurgessHillPantryHousingDropInCopy@midsussex.gov.uk/bookings/

In the future clients will also be able to book themselves an appointment via a QR code that will be on posters advertised in various locations.

At the appointment the housing officer will obtain information regarding their housing situation and either provide advice or, if they meet the threshold for a duty to be owed be allocated to an officer for an in depth assessment.

If you speak with clients who are already homeless then you can direct them to the council’s Homelessness and Housing Advice page Homelessness and Housing Advice – Mid Sussex District Council.

It includes an online form which service users can complete or if they are having difficulty they can contact the housing duty line (01444 477574) or email housingadvice@midsussex.gov.uk

It also contains useful information regarding rough sleeping, domestic abuse, hospital and care leavers amongst other things.
If a service user advises that they already have an open case and a caseworker then they should be advised to contact them directly or contact the advice line or housing advice mailbox.

Mental Health Support

If a service user is advising, they are feeling suicidal then suggest they contact their GP or present to their nearest Accident & Emergency department. They will be able to provide them with the support that they need at this time. I have detailed below some information as to where a person can get help immediately:

If they are experiencing a mental health crisis, phone Samaritans. Calls are free from any phone in the UK, available 24 hours, 7 days a week. Phone: 116 123.

Support from local specialist NHS services

If they need more support than their GP can provide, it is likely they will be referred to an organisation such as Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust -the major provider of specialist NHS services locally, including both community and hospital-based services. For more information visit: www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk

Other Local Support

• Time to talk therapies – offers a range of talking therapy treatments to people in West Sussex: 01273 666480. In Mid Sussex call 01444 251084. Visit Time to talk therapies website for more information and online self-help resources.

• www.pathfinderwestsussex.org.uk – is an alliance of organisations supporting people with mental health needs and their carers to improve their mental wellbeing.

• www.westsussexmind.org – mental health support for people in West Sussex

Other ways to get help

• Call NHS 111 and select option 2 for mental health
• Text the word SUSSEX to 85258
• Download the Stay Alive App: www.stayalive.app

Domestic Abuse Support

If you are in immediate danger call:
Tel: 999

If you or someone close to you is suffering from domestic violence please contact: National Domestic Violence Helpline
Tel: 0808-2000-247
Online: National Domestic Violence Helpline  

The Freedom Programme

A free 12 week rolling programme open to women who want to find out more about domestic abuse
Tel: 01903 231069
Email: info@safeinsussex.org.uk

Rise

Tel: 01273-622 822
Online: Rise 

Home Group (Stonham)

Tel: 01903-205111 Ext: 85429
Email: Westsussexstonhamoutreachservice@homegroup.org.uk
Information leaflet: Stonham Home Group Outreach Service leaflet (1 MB, PDF) 
Online: Home Group (Stonham) 

Refuge – safe houses

Online: Refuge 

Other

Women’s aid 
Hideout 

Rough Sleeper Support

What to do if you are sleeping rough
If you are sleeping rough, please contact the Housing Options Team. Information can be found on our Homelessness and Housing advice page.
You can also search the Homeless Link website  for the following:

  • Hostels
  • Day centres
  • Services
  • Advice and support

How to help a rough sleeper

You can let us know about a rough sleeper by visiting the Streetlink website. 

How we help rough sleepers

  • We aim to work closely with individuals rough sleeping in the local area to support and encourage them into sustainable accommodation.
  • We encourage residents to report rough sleepers through the central Streetlink referral system .
  • We work with Turning Tides  to provide outreach floating support to rough sleepers in the Mid Sussex area.

We are not under a legal duty to provide emergency accommodation for everyone who is sleeping rough. However, rough sleepers are encouraged to work with us and Turning Tides to access all their housing options. We may arrange short term accommodation for people sleeping rough during severe weather conditions.

Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner

Hello

This week marked the first anniversary of Immediate Justice (IJ) in Sussex – a dedicated taskforce working to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) in our communities.

Under the IJ pilot, anti-social behaviour offenders are asked to complete some form of reparative activity to make amends for the harm and damage they’ve caused to an individual or community. This can include activities such as litter-picking, graffiti cleaning, repairing damaged items or providing maintenance to public spaces.

Our IJ taskforce continues to go from strength to strength. With 174 referrals made to date, it is clear that those causing ASB in our county are being held accountable for their actions and we have many examples of offenders recognising they need to change their negative behaviours.

The IJ scheme in Sussex is seen as being one of the most successful and effective in the country and other police forces are looking at our model as they roll out their own.

I’ll be sharing more updates on some of the great work on my website and social media channels soon.
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Sussex rollout national programme providing support for women in custody

 
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Last year, my Independent Custody Visitor (ICV) scheme established a new referral pathway to provide support for those experiencing menopause whilst in custody.

The referral pathway provides women in custody who are over the age of 40 with the opportunity to speak to a healthcare professional about perimenopause and menopausal symptoms and includes producing an individualised care plan for those who may need support.

Following the success of the recommendations and toolkit created by Sussex’s ICVs and partners, the Authorised Professional Practice (APP) for policing, issued by The College of Policing, now states all forces across England and Wales should have the menopause referral pathway in their custody centres. The College’s APP must be adhered to by all police forces and it also sets out mandatory policies.

When someone gets placed in custody, it is important to remember that they are a detainee at this point, not a convicted prisoner and their human rights (including dignity) must be recognised and protected at all times. They should have access to age and gender-specific health care provisions which can allow detainees to be better engaged with the custody process, including during interviews.

The announcement of the changes to the APP comes in the same month that Sussex’s ICV scheme was selected out of 43 ICV schemes to launch a new toolkit developed by the National Preventive Mechanism on the ‘prevention of ill treatment in places where people are deprived of their liberty’.

I’m delighted that our ICV scheme in Sussex continues to lead the way in identifying any gaps in provision or vulnerabilities that may occur during the criminal justice process. The work carried out by my team of volunteers is crucial in helping me to hold the police force to account on behalf of the public and I commend them for their dedication and commitment.

You can read more about their work on my website.

Katy

 

Katy Bourne OBE