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. 

Employers in East Sussex have until Monday 12th April to register to receive free coronavirus home testing kits for their staff. The offer is open to any business with 10 or more employees.

As many as one in three people with Covid-19 do not have any symptoms. Rapid tests like these can help people isolate when they are infectious and avoid passing on the virus.

Following a lengthy recruitment process, we are delighted to announce that John Williams has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of 3VA. John is looking forward to meeting all 3VA’s partners across East Sussex and working collaboratively to deliver support and resources to our communities.

The Eastbourne Festival of Accessible Sport now has a confirmed date! The festival will be on Summer Bank Holiday weekend, 28-29 August 2021, in and around Princes Park. This festival is the first of its kind in Eastbourne and has been organised by Defiant sports and Eastbourne Access Group. We can't wait to showcase all things accessible sport in Eastbourne this summer!

If you represent a local sports organisation or charity that provides accessible and inclusive sport, or helps people with disabilities and barriers to participation to get active, then get involved! Get in touch with Defiant Sports on Facebook, by calling 07887 755 856 or emailing info@defiantsports.org.uk. 

The Village Halls Domesday Book is still open and over 700 halls are featured. Don't miss out - make sure your village hall is featured for the good work it does

2021 is the 60th anniversary of Sussex Wildlife Trust. To celebrate this important milestone, the Trust wants to create an anthology of works, written by you. Whether you write poetry, or fiction, or something in between, you are invited to contribute to this community project and help to create a unique collection of work.

All being well, Forest Row Repair Care is planning to reopen from May. They will be moving from their usual 3rd Saturday date for May and June to comply with Government regulations. Then from July they will be back in their usual slot.

Upcoming online meetings of Wealden Dementia Action Alliance forums include:

Hailsham Dementia Forum: 15 April 2021 at 10:00 am

Polegate Dementia Forum: 14 May 2021 at 10:00 am

Uckfield Dementia Forum: 27 May 2021 at 2:00 pm (contact Holly at Uckfield Town Council to join -townclerk@uckfieldtc.gov.uk)

Crowborough Dementia Forum: 10 June 2021 at 2:00 pm

Wealden Dementia Action Alliance Meeting: 8 July 2021 at 10:00 am (location to be confirmed)

Please contact communitydevelopment@wealden.gov.uk if you would like to attend any of the above forums.

Online | 22 April 2021 from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm

A space for Eastbourne-based charities, community groups and leaders from all sectors to meet monthly to discuss key issues, share practice, help each other and access information. It’s a great place to hear directly from Eastbourne Borough Council leaders and elected representatives, too. No topic is off limits, no question is too small or too big to raise.

The meeting takes place every fourth Thursday of the month from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm on Zoom.

Online | 23 April 2021 from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm

We all need a laugh after an incredibly challenging year, so join Amaze for an incredible evening of online comedy, featuring some of the best names currently on the scene. All proceeds will go to Amaze, a charity working with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their families. 

Eastbourne and online | 28 July 2021 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Guest speakers representing retail and hospitality providers (including online services) will be in attendance with the aim of identifying and addressing some of the main barriers that are experienced by disabled people when using Eastbourne’s facilities and those encountered when shopping online. There will also be the opportunity to ask questions and make comments on the presentations given in order to include the widest range of experiences possible in our discussions.

Deadline for responses: 30 April 2021

Healthwatch is the public watchdog for those using health and social care services in East Sussex. It is keen to hear about the experiences of anyone in East Sussex who has been discharged [as an inpatient] from hospital between December 2020 and April 2021.

Did you know that adult courses happen at colleges and community venues all around here with ACRES - Adult College for Rural East Sussex? ACRES wants to know what courses you think should be happening nearby in your own community! To say thank for completing the short survey, ACRES is offering a £5.00 voucher code towards any ACRES course until July 2022.

The latest Funding News is now available. Funding News shares success stories, information on training courses and details of forthcoming funding opportunities for East Sussex organisations.

The Arts and Culture Impact Fund is calling for applicants for its second round of support funding! This is the world’s largest creative arts impact investment fund and it’s providing further support loans for heritage, arts and cultural organisations. The funding will provide flexible finance to help create new revenue streams, grow programmes and services.

Deadline for applications: There are no deadlines. Applications can be made at any time from now until the end of 2021.

Charities with an income of between £25,000 and £1 million that are tackling complex social issues such as mental health, homelessness, trafficking and domestic abuse, addiction and dependency can apply. Applicants will need to have a proven track record of helping people achieve positive change in their local communities. At least 25% of all funding this year will be allocated to charities led by and for Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities.

Deadline for applications: 9 April 2021

The Covid Winter Support Fund continues to be open for applications from East and West Sussex. This has been operating on a rolling basis, with applications assessed weekly and decisions made each fortnight. However, to meet the spending deadline set by the government, the final deadline for applications is 9 April. Please submit your application as early as possible, as funding will need to be spent by the end of May.

Deadline for applications: 12 April 2021 at noon

A further three rounds of the Force for Change programme have been announced for projects that reduce social isolation and promote integration of Forces communities.

Deadline for expressions of interest: 23 April 2021

The government recently announced that the HAF programme has been expanded across the whole of England in 2021. Following the success of the Easter provision, East Sussex County Council is inviting expressions of interest (EOI) proposals from any providers or schools who can deliver holiday activities and a nutritional meal for at least 4 hours a day over a 4-day period during the summer and/or Christmas holidays for children who are in receipt of free school meals.

Deadline for applications: 7 May 2021 at 5:00 pm

The next general awards deadline is 7 May. Sussex Community Foundation's grants programme is made up of a range of funds which help to address disadvantage and deprivation and build resilience in Sussex communities. This includes for core organisation and staff costs. Sussex Community Foundation is particularly keen to support grassroots community groups and small-to-medium sized voluntary organisations.

Deadline for applications: 7 May 2021

The Blagrave Trust has launched an exciting new funding stream called Restart Youth. Restart Youth will support youth organisations through the Covid-19 crisis to give decision making power to young people who are currently being overlooked by mainstream services.

Deadline for applications: 7 May 2021

Applications are welcome from any voluntary or community organisation that is based, or works in, the Hall & Woodhouse trading area across the south of England. Grants or funds raised could be used to support the following: youth work and activities, pre-schools and extracurricular school activities, elderly and people with disabilities, health and social care, local arts and culture and conservation and the environment. Groups can apply for grants or fundraising support ranging from £400 and £4,000 to help achieve their aims.

Deadline for applications: 30 June 2021

Community organisations, charities, private companies and social enterprises are encouraged to apply for grants of up to £5,000 from the England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) for projects to help tackle loan sharks. Collaborative bids between multiple agencies are also welcome.

The funding comes from money seized from convicted loan sharks under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA). Projects must raise awareness of the dangers of loan sharks, reduce crime and disorder and have a positive impact on communities.

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

Online | 13 April 2021 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

This online workshop is an overview of the steps required to establish and develop successful projects. It will outline what key areas need to be considered at the beginning, from testing the idea, choosing the most suitable legal structure, to building in evaluation systems, developing resilience and future development. You will be provided with resources, knowledge and positive choices to achieve your aims.

Online | 22 April 2021 from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm

This online course has been designed as a follow-up course to the Setting up a Community group or project course, which we are running on 13 April 2021. We advise that you attend that course prior to booking onto this one.

Choosing the Right Structure for Your Organisation is designed for those who are planning to set up a group to deliver activities and need to be informed about the choice of legal structure or are reviewing their existing structure to ensure that they have the most appropriate type to meet their aims and objectives.

This short video is designed for you if you have already made an informed choice about the type of legal structure you wish to set up for the delivery of your service and activities and need some guidance on the application process.

This video is supported by an online CIO Q&A session on 27 April 2021.

This video is designed for you if you have already made an informed choice about the type of legal structure you wish to set up for the delivery of your service and activities.

This video is supported by an online CIC Q&A session on 29 April 2021.

Online | 11 May 2021 from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm

This online workshop will take you through the steps to writing a successful funding application, whether it is one for £1,000 or £50,000.

Online | 20 May 2021 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

This 3-hour online workshop will take an easy-to-follow, step by step guide to developing the most effective messages and best practice techniques for recruiting and retaining volunteers for your organisation.

More learning opportunities for voluntary and community groups and organisations.

Online | April to August 2021

Care for the Carers provides a free Think Carer programme of Carer Awareness Training as part of its Building Carer Friendly Communities initiative. The training sessions are for businesses, health and social care organisations and professionals and volunteers working with carers. Training content includes unpaid carers and the impact of caring, the importance of identifying and supporting carers, carers rights, support available – signposting – making a referral
and ‘Carer Friendly Community’ approach – why this is important and the role we can all play.

Worthing | 1 and 8 May 2021 from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm

The Introduction to Youth Work Course is a 2-day course that offers participants an opportunity to explore key principles, themes and models related to youth work practice.

Deadline for applications: 9 April 2021

Deadline for applications: 9 April 2021

Deadline for applications: 12 April 2021 at 9:00 am

Deadline for applications: 12 April 2021 at 5:00 pm

Deadline for applications: 23 April 2021

Deadline for applications: 29 April 2021 at 9:00 am

Deadline for applications: 30 April 2021

Deadline for applications: 30 April 2021

Association of Carers is seeking new trustees to help ensure it is effectively managed, and to help develop and grow the charity, enabling it to reach even more carers and support them at a time when they often need it most.

Deadline for applications: 30 April 2021

Compass Community Arts, an Eastbourne-based charity, is seeking interest from people who may wish to become a trustee and help guide the organisation to grow the scope and breadth of its activities.

Deadline for applications: 31 May 2021

FRow Friends is looking to work with an organised and methodical person who will play a supportive role to the committee (of which the treasurer is a member), ensuring financial processes are maintained and developed and assisting the committee to have a clear understanding of the financial status of the organisation.

Deadline for applications: 2 July 2021

The Trees Community Association (TCA) in Willingdon is currently looking for effective people to join its Board of Trustees in realising an ambitious goal to make a difference in our community. TCA Trustees are key to helping make this happen.

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?