The Weekly Surveillance report collates published national data to describe COVID-19 cases in East Sussex, how they change over time, and how this compares to other areas. It is available online together with the East Sussex COVID-19 Outbreak Control Plan. 

Eden Project Communities are hosting a FREE virtual Community Camp – a short, immersive and inspiring learning experience with a mix of interactive sessions and networking opportunities for people from across the UK.

This camp is specifically designed for people at the beginning of their volunteering journey, who want to take their first steps into community involvement, develop ideas or activities, and help improve their neighbourhood and community. The camp will introduce participants to a supportive network of positive people to help build confidence and useful connections across the UK.

Applications are open now. 

Last week we featured a request for anyone interested in helping with some participatory research to find out about people's experience of loneliness and connection. 

We are now looking for groups and organisation which can help us reach the following groups of people:

• black and ethic minority (e.g Links project and Hope-G)
• LGBT
• homeless
• veterans
• 14 - 24

If you can help, please contact jenni@collaboratecic.com.

Online | 24 August 2021 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

People in East Sussex are invited to take part in a public consultation about proposals to improve the quality and safety of mental health inpatient services for adults and older people.

Eastbourne | 28 August 2021 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

To celebrate diversity and bring communities together, DRI hosts an annual celebration. The event will provide stalls with authentic dishes, arts and crafts, as well as stalls set up by statutory agencies and voluntary and community groups to provide information on services available for ethnically diverse communities.

Eastbourne | 28-29 August 2021

Defiant Sports and Eastbourne Access Group will be holding the first ever Eastbourne Festival of Accessible Sport! They are planning this festival with the aim to celebrate and highlight the importance of accessible sport, while also showcasing what Eastbourne and its surrounding areas have to offer to people with disabilities.

Seaford | 29 August 2021 from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm

Limited FREE kids tickets & reduced price tickets

This is a new pride and family festival born in 2021 in the Seahaven area of Peacehaven, Newhaven and Seaford. The festival will deliver a fantastic entertainment line up with a main stage full of some of the UK's top tribute acts, musicians, drag artists, dancers and walkabout performers. There will also be a variety of amazing locally sourced street food and drink available and lots of other entertainment.

Online | 8 September 2021 from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm

This workshop aims to strengthen the opportunities for closer working between public health and spatial planning. It is the first of a series of workshops focused on getting ‘health into place’ and strengthening collaboration between planners and wider partners to improve our local spaces. Presentations will be given by Public Health England, Iceni Projects and Redrow. For more information please contact Lourdes.Madigasekera-Elliott@eastsussex.gov.uk.

Online | 9 September 2021 at 4:00 pm

In this second Sussex Uncovered webinar, uncover the ways in which good advice and support helped people and communities during the pandemic (and why it is still needed) in three areas:

• General advice including financial and benefits advice
• Advice for people fleeing domestic violence, levels of which raised dramatically during the lockdowns
• Advice for refugees and asylum seekers, many of whom were left hungry and with little or no support during the early days of Covid-19.

Online | 23 September 2021 from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm

You can now register for the Active Sussex Conference 2021. This free event will give you the opportunity to get the latest local and national updates, and to catch up with colleagues from across the county.

Peacehaven | 25 September 2021 from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm

Take a gentle wander around the green spaces of Greenhavens, starting at the incredible Peacehaven Community Garden and ending up at Peacehaven Community Orchard. The wonderful walk leader will share all about the community efforts to date and plans for the future and how you can get involved. Please email greenhavens@yahoo.com for more information and to book a place.

The Office of the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner has launched a public survey on behalf of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex County Councils, to capture the views of survivors of domestic abuse regarding specialist safe accommodation. This consultation is part of a wider assessment of needs, required as part of new measures introduced by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

Wealden District Council is proposing to build a new community sports hub on the outskirts of Hailsham that would provide much needed and desired facilities for the local community. Plans may include a range of recreational opportunities for organised formal sports programs and informal sports and community spaces.

THT has launched a survey to help it better meet the needs of those growing older with HIV. Taking the time to complete this survey will help inform Terrence Higgins Trust on how it can best support people growing older with HIV to live healthier, happier independent lives. Your answers will inform THT as to particular preferences, needs and requirements and enable THT to refine services, information and advice it provides to best meet the needs of people growing older with HIV.

Do you want a better Eastbourne bus service? Eastbourne ECO Action Network is investigating the quality of the Eastbourne bus service. They want to hear your honest opinions about Eastbourne's bus service. The results of this survey will help identify how the local transport authority (ESCC) and Stagecoach could improve your local bus system.

Peacehaven Town Council (PTC) does not control bus services but it does want to get a better deal for our community and to be your voice. To do this PTC needs help from you to understand where bus services are working well and where they are falling short. Please complete a short survey - it will only take a few minutes and will help PTC to lobby Lewes District Council, East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove Buses.

Lewes District Council is following the government’s process for developing a new Local Plan for Lewes district. The plan will cover everywhere in the district outside of the boundaries of the South Downs National Park which has its own Local Plan.

The Issues and Options consultation seeks to gather information and views from local communities and other stakeholders that will assist in the development of the next stages of the local plan. It does not contain any proposals on policies or development sites, but seeks views on how issues could be addressed.

Deadline for responses: 30 August 2021

The Sussex Health and Care Partnership is developing a new Dermatology service to care for and treat patients with skin conditions. It wants to hear about your experiences of using Dermatology services within Sussex to help improve these services for patients in the future.

Deadline for responses: 31 August 2021 at 9:00 am

Are you a survivor living in South East England? Would you like to have your voice heard by the NHS? The NHS is carrying out a consultation with adults, young people and children survivors of sexual violence and abuse, who live in Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire and the Thames Valley. The aim of this consultation is to better understand survivors’ experiences of accessing specialist support services. 

Deadline for responses: 6 September 2021

Sussex Partnership and East Sussex CCG are running a 12-week consultation about mental health inpatient beds in East Sussex.

There are many ways to get involved, including stakeholder focus groups and inviting a member of the programme team to existing support groups or community meetings.

Deadline for responses: 16 September 2021

This consultation is on draft proposals for a development to expand the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm. Explore the current proposals with maps and videos, sign up to attend an online public forum with the project team, and complete the consultation response form to share your feedback.

Deadline for responses: 20 September 2021 at 5:00 pm

Lewes District Council has launched a six week public consultation on two key policies that cover licensing and gambling. The council is proposing various changes to its current licensing policy, including permissions for outside drinking areas and the hours of sale of alcohol by shops, stores and supermarkets. The authority is also asking for views about the procedure for obtaining a permit for three or more gaming machines in licensed premises.

Deadline for responses: 20 September 2021 at 5:00 pm

Eastbourne Borough Council is looking to amend two of its current licensing policies: the Statement of Licensing Policy and the Gambling Statement of Principles.

Deadline for responses: 11 October 2021 at 11:45 pm

DWP has published a new Green Paper, Shaping Future Support: The Health and Disability Green Paper. This Green Paper explores how the benefits system can better meet the needs of disabled people and those with health conditions. It was informed by extensive engagement with disabled people, people with health conditions, and their representatives, to hear about people’s experiences of DWP services and priorities for future change.

DWP is now consulting on aspects of its support for disabled people and people with health conditions.

Deadline for responses: 31 October 2021 at 5:00 pm

People across Lewes District are being asked their views on a proposal to increase financial support for low-income families and people in financial difficulty. This is about a proposed new Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2022/23.

Calling all local sports clubs! The Made By Sport #ClubsInCrisis Fund deadline has been extended. 

The fund will make unrestricted grants of up to £2,021 to clubs and community organisations with an annual turnover of up to £75,000, using sport to improve young people’s lives and who match the criteria.

Deadline for applications: 27 August 2021 at noon

Grants between £75,000 and £300,000 are available for both local and national VCSE organisations who are already delivering existing services that can be expanded to provide additional support for children, families and children’s respiratory and acute services during autumn/winter 2021 and raise awareness of management of respiratory infections within communities that experience the greatest health inequalities.

Deadline for applications: 27 August 2021

Grants up to £500 per financial year are available to voluntary/community groups or registered charities which provide a service or activity for the benefit of the residents of Telscombe Town.

Deadline for applications: 10 September 2021 at 5:00 pm

A range of funds are available which help to address disadvantage and deprivation and build resilience in Sussex communities. Sussex Community Foundation is particularly keen to support grassroots community groups and small-to-medium sized voluntary organisations. Maximum award £5,000 (average £3,000).

Deadline for applications: Rolling, but apply by 10 September 2021 to receive a decision by the end of 2021

Support for charities with an annual income of between £25,000 and £1 million with a strong track record of helping people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities overcome complex social issues. On offer is a two-year unrestricted grant of £50,000 alongside development support to help your charity navigate change.

Deadline for applications: 20 September 2021 at 5:00 pm

GSK IMPACT Awards provide core funding and free training for charities doing excellent work to improve people’s health and wellbeing. Organisations must be at least three years old, working in a health-related field in the UK, with income between £120,000 and £3 million. Up to 20 awards will be made, ranging from £4,000 to £50,000, plus free training and development valued at a further £9,500. Organisations will also have a film made, receive help with press and publicity, and be given a set of promotional materials.

Deadline for applications: 20 September 2021 at 5:00 pm

The new GSK Grow Programme supports small charities with total annual income between £20,000 and £120,000. Up to 10 charities will receive £10,000 in unrestricted funding plus training and development valued at £3,200.

Deadline for applications: 30 September 2021

The fund is open to UK registered charities, not for profit constituted community groups and other charitable institutions (CICs, social enterprises) showing a set of rules or formal organisation, based and working in Sussex.

Deadline for applications: 1 October 2021

Lewes District Council has launched a brand new Community Grants Programme. Grants will be awarded in three-year cycles to charities or constituted groups operating in the district which successfully demonstrate how they will deliver vital services that fulfill the application criteria.

Find out more about 3VA's high-quality, evidence-based free and low-cost learning opportunities. 

Online | 20 September 2021 from 10:30 am to 12:00 noon

What every organisation and staff member must know about cyber-crime and how to remain vigilant.

This online workshop will be delivered by Southern IT, your local Cyber Essentials Certification Body and trusted partner of the South East Cyber Resilience Center. If you only spend 90 minutes this year protecting the future of your organisation, make it these – every member of staff should attend where possible, now is more important than ever to know about this and learn what can be done to protect yourselves and your data. This workshop is free to attend, but you do need to register your interest.

Online | 23 September 2021 from 10:00 am to 11:30 am

This bite-sized 90-minute online course is designed to give you practical tools for developing communication skills. By the end of the session you will have gained a better understanding of how and why we communicate and receive tips on overcoming barriers to communication and other key skills.

Online | 30 September 2021 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

The workshop is suitable for anyone involved in community sport with an active interest in ‘engaging women and girls in doorstep sport – sport in the right time, for the right price, to the right place and in the right style’.

More learning opportunities for voluntary and community groups and organisations.

East Sussex Public Health recommends the following free training opportunities:

• Infection Prevention Winter Preparedness Training
• Covid-19 Psychological First Aid
• Fuel Poverty and Health: Identification and Support Services
• Reducing Antimicrobial Resistance: An Introduction
• Online Sepsis Training
• NHS Health Check Mentor e-Learning course
• Free Suicide Prevention Training - Zero Suicide Alliance (ZSA)
• Planning for Health in East Sussex
  

The new Child & Adolescent Mental Health Training programme for professionals for has been published for the upcoming 2021-2022 academic year. 

Online | 24 August 2021 from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm

This set of workshops is aimed at all organisations who would like to find out how to co-produce with people with lived experience of multiple complex needs in a meaningful way.

Deadline for applications: 31 August 2021

Deadline for applications: 5 September 2021

Deadline for applications: 6 September 2021 at 10:00 am

Deadline for applications: 31 August 2021

Eastbourne Seniors Forum is seeking a Publicity Officer to regularly update the Eastbourne Seniors Forum website content, including advertising future events in liaison with ESF webmaster.

Deadline for applications: 31 August 2021

Eastbourne Seniors Forum is seeking a Newsletter Editor to prepare, in liaison with Chair, the quarterly newsletter.

Deadline for applications: 31 December 2021

Could you spare a few hours each month helping East Sussex Hearing deliver vital countywide services to the deaf and hearing impaired?