Category: Eastbourne

  • Eastbourne Food Partnership welcomes national food strategy

    Eastbourne Food Partnership welcomes national food strategy

    Published on 16 July, Part Two of the National Food Strategy is the first comprehensive review of the food system in 75 years. It calls for historic reform to the food system to protect the NHS, improve the health of the nation and save the environment. The Strategy’s author Henry Dimbleby calls on the Government to commit to a package of reforms in order to build a better food system for a healthier nation.

    The document paints a bleak picture of the UK food system, highlighting how diets contribute to approximately 64,000 deaths every year in England alone costing the economy an estimated £74 billion. Unhealthy food is now cheaper per calorie than healthy food and the vast majority of money spent on food advertising promotes unhealthy ‘junk’ food. There is also a clear correlation between poverty and the density of fast-food outlets with double the number in the poorest neighbourhoods.

    The Strategy also warns us that our eating habits are destroying the environment, which in turn threatens our food security. The food we eat accounts for around a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions, and is the leading cause of biodiversity destruction, and yet over a quarter of the food grown in the UK is never eaten!

    Following in the footsteps of Brighton and Hove, the first place to establish a food partnership and the first UK city to win the prestigious Gold Sustainable Food Places award in November 2020, food partnerships have also been set
    up in Adur & Worthing, Lewes District, Wealden, Mid Sussex, Eastbourne and Hastings.

    As well as having their own local focus, the Sussex food partnerships work together on common food issues across the county and share information and good practice. The partnerships welcome the National Food Strategy particularly as it takes a whole systems approach, something they have long advocated for. Issues such as food poverty, obesity, ill health, food security and climate change are all interwoven.

    The local partnerships call on Government and food businesses to implement the Strategy’s 14 recommendations which include a landmark Sugar and Salt Reformulation Tax, expansion of Free School Meals and a major overhaul of food education.

    Caroline Tradewell, Eastbourne Food Partnership steering group member and development officer at 3VA, said:

    “We are delighted that whole-systems approaches and collaborative, partnership working are being clearly recognised as crucial to improving our broken food system. The national strategy sets out clearly the risks to health and the environment from current practices, and clear recommendations to change this, from national to local policy. The Eastbourne Food Partnership brings together the network of food-related organisations, individuals and policy makers, and we are currently collaborating on a town-wide food strategy document. So, we particularly welcome the recommendation for all local authorities to put in place a food strategy, developed with reference to the National Food Strategy’s goals and metrics and in partnership with the communities they serve.”

  • Free training opportunities for local physical activity providers

    Free training opportunities for local physical activity providers

    A Workforce to get Sussex active’ is a project focused on supporting physical activity providers in Newhaven Valley, Devonshire and Hailsham East to get more local residents physically active. One of the ways in which this project aims to support local physical activity providers is by connecting them with possible training opportunities for coaches and volunteers.

    We are excited to announce our online training programme. All of three of these training workshops are free. To secure a place we are asking participants to work towards setting up, or continuing with an activity aimed at helping local residents in the project target areas to become more physically active.

    To find out more about the workshops and how to register, please click the links below:

    If you have any questions, please contact Lee Shepherd at lee.shepherd@3VA.org.uk or on 07535 992 638.

  • Managing Anxiety: Supporting families to deal with mental health issues

    Managing Anxiety: Supporting families to deal with mental health issues

    The Sussex Learning Network has launched a two-pronged initiative to help families across the region cope with anxiety. Developed in partnership with 3VA and community mental health charity, Holding Space, the project offers parental skills training as well as counselling for young people.

    A free six-week programme led by an experienced trainer/therapist aims to teach parents of seven- to 13-year olds skills and strategies to manage their and their children’s anxiety.

    Debra Vice-Holt, SLN:Uni Connect Programme Manager (Mentoring & Innovation Fund) explained:

    “Our research during the first national lockdown with schools and colleges demonstrated the increased level of anxiety among young people. Working with local community organisations able to deliver support and resources to families directly means we can respond to immediate need in local communities and provide additional resources during the pandemic.”

    Families can self-refer, or referrals to the programme can be made through schools, colleges or other organisations.

    Alongside this parental training programme, SLN has commissioned Holding Space to deliver a low-cost, confidential counselling service for young people aged seven to 16 across Sussex, as well as one-to-one phone support with a trained counsellor.

    Find out more

  • Creative kit bags with Towner

    Creative kit bags with Towner

    In response to COVID-19, we have partnered with Towner, Art Fund Museum of the Year 2020, on an exciting new project supporting families struggling to access provision from schools. Over the course of eight weeks, we delivered four activity sheets and two materials kits to 200 households in Eastbourne and Seaford.

    Towner commissioned artist and graphic novelist Daniel Locke to design activities themed around the elements: air, earth, water and light. Dan’s activity sheets feature himself with his children Polly and Felix, leading activities for children to join in – taking on the character of an Art Alchemist.

    Click here to download your own copies of the Art Alchemist activity sheets.

    This offer is part of a wider project funded through Sussex Learning Network and managed by 3VA to respond to immediate needs in the community. As a collaboration we have worked with community partners Willingdon Trees, Shinewater Primary School, Make Lunch club and Waves in Seaford to provide counselling support through Holding Space, refurbished computers through Tubbs Computer Supplies, as well as these creative kit bags developed by Towner.

    Towner was also successful in applying for additional funding through Children’s Art Week for this project.

  • The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the voluntary & community sector

    The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the voluntary & community sector

    3VA has undertaken local research on the impact of Covid-19 and the role of our local voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in responding in each of the 3 districts we cover – Wealden, Lewes and Eastbourne.

    We spoke to dozens of grassroots VCSE groups and organisations in each of the 3 districts to capture more local, community feedback to inform our work as a Voluntary Action supporting our local sector and also to provide intelligence for our local VCSE and other key stakeholders.

    We found that demand has increased for foodbanks, support for debt, employment, housing, relationship breakdown. The greatest impact has been on those already made vulnerable by circumstances, for example carers, those with existing mental health issues, people with disabilities, members of BAME communities and children and families with extra support needs.

    Highlights for the voluntary & community sector

    We found that:

    1. The sector has delivered an amazing response, including a rapid response in the early stages to deliver essentials and provide phone and online support.
    2. There are challenges around vulnerable service users, governance, funding, reopening, volunteers, training and IT.
    3. The first six months of the pandemic has taken a huge toll on staff and volunteers.

    We continue to be here to help – get in touch if you need support, information, training, or simply someone with whom you can talk through your plans.

    Highlights for funders

    We found that:

    1. Funders of many groups have been very understanding about the need to divert activities towards relief and support.
    2. Those groups unable to open due to the pandemic are facing real difficulties around delivering any kind of service.
    3. There has been a lot of funding diverted to Covid-19 relief, leaving those groups not delivering Covid-19 services in some difficulty in finding sources of funding.
    4. Groups are asking for simple funding application processes.

    Highlights for statutory partners

    We found that:

    1. VCSE groups made a huge contribution towards the pandemic response using their local knowledge and contacts to rapidly start deliveries of essentials and telephone/online support.
    2. The first six months of the pandemic has taken a huge toll on staff and volunteers, particularly on small to medium sized organisations.
    3. Funding and changes needed to adapt to working in a pandemic are huge challenges being faced by organisations already stretched and stressed by the emergency.
    4. New volunteers need to be recruited and all volunteers need to be trained to work in new circumstances (e.g. safeguarding and supporting people with mental health needs).
    5. Groups need extensive support around planning for reopening services.

    In short, we learnt a lot about the crucial role of the local VCSE and lots that is valuable for the further challenges to come and for the long-term recovery and rebuilding we all wish to see.

    Read the reports in full

    The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the voluntary and community sector in Eastbourne
    The Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the voluntary and community sector in Lewes District
    The Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the voluntary and community sector in Wealden District
  • Eastbourne Borough Council’s Small Grants Programme  – delayed

    Eastbourne Borough Council’s Small Grants Programme – delayed

    Given the challenging financial situation being experienced by the council as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and resultant economic downturn, it has been decided to delay the start of this year’s small grants to voluntary organisations programme.

    The uncertainty of the financial climate means that the council has decided to take time to review its position before any grant applications are requested.

    During this pause, the council will continue to provide its ongoing grant support to key organisations in the town such as CAB, Age Concern, Brighton Housing Trust, but will not be requesting any new applications.

    Further information will be issued in due course.

     

     

  • The popular physical activity game Beat the Street returns to Eastbourne

    The popular physical activity game Beat the Street returns to Eastbourne

    People of all ages are invited to ditch the car and get active as Beat the Street Eastbourne gets underway in the town on Wednesday 16 September.

    Beat the Street is a free, interactive game that encourages people of all ages to incorporate physical activity into their daily lives.

    The seven-week physical activity game will launch the Eastbourne Walking Festival (Friday, 18 September to Sunday 27 September).

    The game was previously played across the whole of East Sussex where players travelled more than 230,000 miles for each competition, but this is the first time that Eastbourne has exclusively enjoyed the game.

    Once again, beeping and flashing sensors called Beat Boxes will be placed on lampposts around the area for the duration of the game which will take place until Wednesday, 4 November.

    Primary school pupils will be provided with fobs while parents and teachers will receive a card from the school so they can accompany children.

    The wider community can pick up a contactless card from one of 10 distribution points which will be decided closer to the game’s launch.

    Players then walk, roll, scoot, cycle or run between the 72 Beat Boxes which are spaced half a mile apart, scoring points with their fobs or cards as they go. The further players travel, the more points they score for their community or school team. Each week is themed with different activities to help participants get the most out of their Beat the Street experience.

    As well as the chance to win prizes for your school or community team, the game has been adapted to reward players for their personal achievements. The Eastbourne game is also the first to enjoy the new sustainable and non-plastic Beat the Street cards.

    With lockdown being eased after the outbreak of Covid-19, communities are understandably cautious about getting out and about for physical activity and exercise. The game has been approved by Public Health England and adjusted to ensure that it is completely safe to play and so it complies with social distancing restrictions.

    The changes to the game mean that you do not need to touch a Beat Box, players can simply hover their card or fob near the sensor and it will register the swipe. Further measures such as frequent sanitisation of Beat Boxes and temporary pavement markings to help will also be put in place.

    Beat the Street is being delivered by Intelligent Health and funded by Sport England, Eastbourne Borough Council, East Sussex County Council Public Health, Eastbourne Chamber of Commerce and South Downs National Park.

    Antonia Lucas from Eastbourne Walking Festival said:

    “We are delighted Beat the Street is opening this year’s Walking Festival. Hugely popular, it playfully instils the timely message that the simple act of walking is beneficial to our mental and physical health and wellbeing. This year’s festival and Beat the Street provides a wonderful excuse for locals and visitors to explore areas of Eastbourne they don’t usually frequent – to discover its varied green environments be it our coastline, downs, marshes, local parks, gardens and allotments.”

    Miriam Wilkinson, Head of Development at 3VA, added:

    “We really want to engage the whole town – kids, families, schools, as well as adults and older residents, plus local groups, organisations and charities so everyone can enjoy walking, exploring local area and playing the game. The return of Beat the Street couldn’t be more timely – the act of walking has been widely endorsed as the most appropriate form of exercise by the government, public health and people and celebrities of influence.”

    David Tutt, Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council added:

    “We are incredibly excited to be bringing Beat the Street to Eastbourne. We think that the game is a really positive way to encourage people to get active in a safe, socially-distanced way, plus it helps us to achieve our sustainability and carbon neutral goals. It’s open to everyone of all ages, so please keep an eye out for more information including where you can pick up a free card. The first week of Beat the Street coincides with the Eastbourne Walking Festival so please keep an eye out for announcements on the walks and events we’ll be running.”

    Darrell Gale, Director of Public Health at East Sussex County Council, said:

    “It’s great that Eastbourne Walking Festival have been able to bring Beat the Street back to Eastbourne and I can’t wait to see how far everyone is able to walk, run, cycle and scoot as part of their daily exercise during the Beat the Street challenge. We know that some people will feel a little uneasy about getting back outside again while we are still living with Coronavirus. However, the-pandemic has shown us that now, more than ever, it is vitally important to ensure that we adopt healthy lifestyle habits around incorporating physical activity into our days and trying to travel in more active ways by walking or cycling.”

    Beat the Street was devised by GP Dr William Bird MBE in 2010 to get communities active and to make physical activity accessible to everyone. This year’s Beat the Street games are more important than ever as it’s vital that communities are fit, active and healthy to face the possibility of a second wave of Covid-19.

    More information will be available at www.beatthestreet.me/eastbourne and on social media @BTSEastbourne
    The Eastbourne Walking Festival takes place from Friday, 18th September to Sunday, 27th September and more information can be found here: www.visiteastbourne.com/walking-festival.

  • Launching the Older People’s Service Provider Network

    Launching the Older People’s Service Provider Network

    At the end of July, we held an online networking meeting for voluntary & community sector groups and organisations working with older people across Wealden. Due to its success, we would like extend an invitation to all those delivering services for older people throughout the 3VA area, including Lewes District and Eastbourne to join the network as well.

    The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 18 August 2020 at 11:00 am. It will explore the issue of reopening and things to keep in mind for your team and clients. The aim of the session is to help allay your fears as to how to risk assess so that you can confidently reopen.

    Jenny Watson, Head of Development at 3VA said:

    “It will come as no surprise that the topic for discussion at our first meeting was the challenges around reopening services during the pandemic. Having listened to the questions and concerns that participants had, we have asked Creative Force to develop a short course on reopening safely to try and help groups navigate the rules. We will be running the course at the next meeting.”

    The course, Don’t pass it on! Your step by step guide to risk assessing for safe opening of your services, will demystify current Covid-19 guidance and help you determine how it applies to your organisation, ultimately preparing you to reopen your services. Participants will go step-by-step through the process of risk assessing and learn how to create an environment that is as safe as possible for your team and your clients.

    We welcome as many groups as possible to attend the network, but because we will be doing training at the next meeting, places are limited to 12. This 90-minute course is delivered by Creative Force in association with 3VA and it is open to any community and voluntary group or organisation.

    Please contact us to find out more about the network.

    The risk assessment training course itself will also be offered again on 25 August and 8 September – book now.

     

  • Supporting young learners and their families through a partnership of local organisations

    Supporting young learners and their families through a partnership of local organisations

    Young people and their families have been affected heavily during the coronavirus outbreak and in its aftermath – with many families juggling home school, working from home, stresses of everyday life amplified by the health, job and finances worries. Those living in areas of low income have been affected particularly hard.

    3VA is working with six local organisations and number of schools in Eastbourne, Lewes and Wealden to deliver emergency support in June and July. This programme is funded by the Office for Students through the Sussex Learning Network as part of the Uni Connect programme.

    Our partner, Tubbs Computer Supplies, provided 36 refurbished computers to families in Shinewater and Willingdon Trees in Eastbourne in a space of just over 4 weeks. Machines which otherwise would go to landfill have been refurbished and delivered to families who don’t have suitable IT to help their kids access online learning and resources.

    Towner and CraftyAnnies made nearly 300 activity learning packs for young people distributed across Eastbourne and Seaford and across Wealden District with the help of amazing local volunteers. Packs provided an attractive alternative – something to break the boredom and engage with quality educational content away from the formal school’s resources, helping young learners stay motivated.

    Holding Space in Eastbourne is offering free support to parents and children and young people who struggle with mental health and wellbeing as a result of all the challenges related to

    the coronavirus outbreak, helping everyone cope with the situation and supporting children’s learning and development. Four families are already receiving professional help.

    3VA is proud to have brokered this partnership of amazing local organisations and to have helped secure almost £25,000 of funding to deliver the work this summer.

  • Recovery & Rejuvenation Recap

    Recovery & Rejuvenation Recap

    Thank you to all Eastbourne groups who attended our first large event on Zoom!

    Recovery & Rejuvenation. What are the challenges and opportunities for local charities and voluntary and community sector in Eastbourne post Covid-19 brought together 53 attendees. Most of these were from the local voluntary & community sector, including many of the smaller organisations. We were joined by Caroline Ansell, MP for Eastbourne & Willingdon, and representatives from Eastbourne Borough Council, health, business and elsewhere – a good mixed group with the focus on community responses and hopes for the future.

    Faiza Shafeek representing local event company and Rotary Club said:

    “Really enjoyed the Recovery and Rejuvenation Event Zoom meeting. Bravo. It was very well run and covered some really important post C-19 recovery issues.”

    Adam Chugg, 3VA CEO, chaired the event. He opened the event saying:

    “As we all know, there has been an amazing local response to this national emergency, and small local grassroots groups have led the way. Three months in, and with the initial emergency phase coming to an end, it’s a great time to reflect on what has been achieved, what we learn from this, and consider how we move forward.”

    The message from four speakers focused on local business, the economy returning and reviving and the people of Eastbourne showing a strong local sense of community. Key areas for the recovery phase include continuing mental health support, encouraging people to use existing support and growing more, tackling the rise of loneliness and overcoming digital exclusion. Building on local social capital to create local digital connectivity to support and enable our communities has been a common theme.

    A small group discussion explored what do we as a sector want to keep doing because it’s been working well and any new ideas that will help when it comes to rebuilding. Key issues included:

    Supporting rise in digital, both for the organisations and the service users & residents
    Training in safeguarding, especially in the new ways we deliver services and for organisations returning to providing some services and opening facilities has been requested.
    Developing joint understanding and responses to ways in which BAME communities are affected by the outbreak and its fallout.
    Many attendees expressed how blown away they were with the level of joint working shown during the crises. There has been a strong message coming saying keep collaboration going, create spaces to make it happen.

    Notes and videos from the event will be available on this page shortly.