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Free training opportunities available at HFS for March and April.
 

These courses are available to anyone who is

• unemployed,
• people who are volunteering
• and to anyone who is particpating in the Future Job Fund.

They must also live in Hastings and Rother. If you have anyone interested in the courses please contact us for a booking form, so they can be registered onto the course.

19th February
First Aid at work.
Sidley Community Centre,
121 Ninfield Road,
Bexhill
TN30 5BD
9.30-4pm

1st  March
Fire Safety
Hastings Furniture Service,
Dorset Place
Hastings,
9.30-2pm

9th  March
Decorative Painting on canvas. Learning some basic painting techniques and then applying them onto canvas.
HFS Bexhill,
London Road,
Bexhill
9.30-2.30pm

23rd March
Repair don’t Despair! Learning how to fix small items of furniture.
HFS Bexhill,
London Road,
Bexhill
9.30-3.30pm

30th March
Health and Safety at Work
HFS Bexhill,
London Road,
Bexhill
9.30-4pm

31st March
First Aid at work.
Hastings Voluntary Action
31a Priory Street
Hastings.
9.30-3.30

7th April
First Aid at work.
HFS Bexhill,
London Road,
Bexhill
9.30-3.30pm

13th April
Decorative Painting on canvas. Learning some basic painting techniques and then applying them onto canvas.
Hastings Furniture Service,
Dorset Place
Hastings,
9.30-2.30pm

20th April
Repair don’t Despair! Learning how to fix small items of furniture.
HFS Bexhill,
London Road,
Bexhill
9.30-3.30pm

27th April
Decorative Painting on canvas. Learning some basic painting techniques and then applying them onto canvas.
HFS Bexhill,
London Road,
Bexhill
9.30-2.30pm

If you have anybody interested in any of these courses or you have any questions, please contact Sarah or Simone on 01424 441112.

NEW SERVICES AVAILABLE AT ROTHER VOLUNTARY ACTION

RVA is working with Hastings organisation In2play, to be able to facilitate CRB checking locally. In2play will be at an RVA office on the third Wednesday of each month where they are able to help people fill in the application form and check their identity documents.

In order to use this service an organisation has to register with In2play by completing the CRB agreement and registration contact detail forms.

The CRB also requires all organisations to have policies that show the correct procedures for the storage and retention of Disclosure information and a policy for the recruitment of people with a criminal record. Specimen policies are made available by In2play.

Once an organisation is registered with In2play they are able to receive a Disclosure Application form which can be filled in and checked by In2Play

The costs for these checks are:

• Enhanced check: £36 plus £8 admin fee = £44
• Standard check: £31 plus £8 admin fee = £39
• Volunteers: The CRB is free, and the admin fee is £3.

In2play is at Rother Voluntary Action at the following times:

• Wednesday 17th February Bexhill office 2-3.30pm
• Wednesday 17th March Bexhill office 2-3.30pm
• Wednesday 21st April Rye office 2-3.30pm
• Wednesday 19th May Bexhill office 2-3.30pm
• Wednesday 16th June Bexhill office 2-3.30pm
• Wednesday 21st July Rye office 2-3.30pm

RVA can email you the paperwork, drop in to collect it or download it from the website

Please download the February E Bulletin from RVA below

East Sussex Healthy Homes is a partnership programme working with local councils across East Sussex to help local residents stay warmer and healthier in their own homes. The project aims to raise awareness of fuel poverty, the connection between a warmer home and better health, and provide energy efficiency solutions and
advice to fuel poor, vulnerable groups living in deprived areas within Eastbourne, Lewes, Hastings, Wealden and Rother.

Vulnerable groups, which can benefit are those over 60; long term ill, disabled, with families under 16 and on income related
benefits.

For further information on the scheme contact Sara Winnington on 0798 3707729 or sara.winnington@ecsc.uk.com.

Dave McDevitt has just started working as
the Migrant Communities Support Officer
for Hastings, Rother and Eastbourne. His
brief is to gain an understanding of the
housing issues faced by migrant workers in
the area. This will initially involve collating
information on the sorts of housing
occupied by migrant workers and gain an
understanding of the problems migrant
communities face in accessing services.
The long term aim is to improve links
between migrant communities and the
council.

His first task is to make links with
individuals, groups or organisations that
might be able to help in building up an
understanding of these communities. If you
have any information on this subject and
would like to contribute it, please contact
Dave on 01424 45 1342 or
dmcdevitt@hastings.gov.uk.

East Sussex County Council is running a project to encourage the growth and expansion of community transport schemes in the county and offering once-off grants to groups and organisations who want to either expand an existing CT operation or start a new CT operation which serves the area/s below.

Community transport (CT) is the term used to describe a range of non-profit passenger transport services which have been developed within local communities to provide transport for people who, for a variety of reasons, find it difficult or impossible to use conventional public transport.

The County Council is offering once-off grants to groups and organisations who want to either expand an existing CT operation or start a new CT operation which serves the area/s below. These are the core areas where the County Council is interested in developing CT and will be the initial priority areas for funding.

Ashburnham Dallington Westfield Warbleton Maresfield
Brightling Iden Ewhurst-Staplecross Heathfield Glynde
East Guldeford Etchingham Hooe Withyham Chailey
Penhurst Camber Chalvington/Ripe Forest Row Newick

All submissions will need to show a solid transport need and evidence base for the proposed scheme. Ensuring the long term financial sustainability is also important as the grant funding provided by the Council is not intended to subsidise the CT scheme, but rather assist in the start-up of the project. Groups are also encouraged to, wherever possible, use existing vehicles rather than proposing the purchase of new vehicles – this will help to ensure better value for money.

We would encourage groups to work in partnership with other community groups and also existing CT service operators wherever appropriate as this pooled knowledge may assist the development of a robust scheme and ensure effective implementation and operation of a transport scheme which best serves the community.

A copy of the application form is downloadable below
Contact Gillian Laughlin on 01273 482584 / gillian.laughlin@eastsussex.gov.uk or Siân Wardhaugh on 01273 335788 / sian.wardhaugh@eastsussex.gov.uk.

Please download the January 2010 edition below

If you wish to set up a charity, using one of the Charity Commissions model governing documents will help save time. Each of these contains the basic provisions which many charities use. Indeed, existing charities wishing to update their governing document may also find these a useful source for model provisions, with the exception of the trustee benefit clauses.

Click on the link below:

http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/registration/mgds.asp

Grants of up to £5000 are available from the Little Cheyne Court Wind Farm.

Community groups operating within 7km of the wind farm can apply through Sussex Community Foundation for grants to help with projects benefiting the community. Panels meet twice a year and the next deadline is 26 February 2010. For more details please visit SCF’s website at www.sussexgiving.org.uk or call 01273 409440

Background

The handbook ‘Forward from 50, a guide to later life in East Sussex’ is designed to provide sound advice on how to prevent or deal with a variety of issues that may affect people as they grow older.

The Joint Commissioning Strategy for Older People through the Time of Our Lives work programme set clear objectives for working with people from the age of fifty and onwards to promote a healthy old age, prevent the onset of ill-health and decline and support overall quality of life and wellbeing in later life.  In order to support this, it was agreed that Adult Social Care and the East Sussex Primary Care Trusts would work with local older people and fund the production of a guide to ageing positively.

The Forward from 50 handbook was formally launched in June 2008 and approximately 30,000 copies have been distributed to a wide range of sites, including GP surgeries and libraries.

Copies of Forward from 50 are available from http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/socialcare/adults/olderpeople/download.htm
or by calling Social Care Direct on 0345 60 80 191

Tell us what you think
Now the Forward from 50 handbook has been available for over a year we would like to hear from you on how useful and relevant you have found the content.

A questionnaire for you to download and complete is available below.

Closing date for receipt of completed questionnaires is 19th February 2010.

We will use all of the feedback we receive to help determine whether we will print an updated version in the future and what topics we might cover.

Further information
If you would like further information, please contact:
Beja Morrison
Service Development Manager (Older People)
County Hall
St Anne's Crescent
Lewes
East Sussex, BN7 1SW.
Email: beja.morrison@eastsussex.gov.uk