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  • Clean Air Day (17 June) resources

    Clean Air Day (17 June) resources

    Clean Air Day is the UK’s largest air pollution campaign, engaging thousands of people at hundreds of events, and reaching millions more through the media. This year Clean Air Day is taking place on 17 June 2021.

    Led by Global Action Plan, Clean Air Day brings together communities, businesses, schools and the health sector to:

    • Improve public understanding of air pollution.
    • Build awareness of how air pollution affects our health.
    • Explain the easy actions we can all do to tackle air pollution, helping to protect the environment and our health.

    Events

    Air pollution is our biggest environmental health risk. Poor air quality affects many aspects of our health and well-being. We want to build awareness on the impact of air pollution, understand some of the key issues and talk about what we can all do to tackle them.

    Join Cycle Lewes and Lewes Living Streets in collaboration with the Lewes Climate Hub and Seaford Environmental Alliance for Air Pollution and Health and how to tackle it in Lewes District on 10 June 2021 from 7:30 pm on Zoom.

    View the poster

    Resources

    Online

    What will you do and say this Clean Air Day? Browse through the resources, choose how you will play your part in keeping our air clean and then let us know what you get up to.

    Posters and postcards

  • Four new training courses for volunteers

    Four new training courses for volunteers

    We are pleased to announce four new online training courses for volunteers this summer: Emotional Resilience, Professional Boundaries, Communication Awareness and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

    The courses are aimed at volunteers or members of VCSE staff who provide support to people in the community. Priority will be given to the groups working across 3VA areas (Eastbourne, Lewes District and Wealden).

    Emotional Resilience

    Thursday 24 June 2021
    10:00 am – 11:30 am

    Emotional resilience is our ability to adapt to, manage, and even flourish in stressful situations throughout life. The greater the resilience, the more we can adapt to adversity without lasting issues. Those with lower emotional resilience will have a more challenging time with stress and life changes.

    This bite-sized 90 minute online session is designed to explore our own resilience to emotional ‘stress’ triggers and methods of minimising the impact of emotional responses.

    Find out more and book: https://3va.org.uk/events/event/emotional-resilience/

    Professional Boundaries

    Thursday 8 July 2021
    10:00 am – 11:30 am

    Everyone needs to understand and implement professional boundaries to keep both themselves and those they work with safe. This short 90 minute online course is designed to give guidance to understand professional boundaries and duty of care.

    Find out more and book: https://3va.org.uk/events/event/professional-boundaries/

    Communication Awareness

    Thursday 22 July 2021
    10:00 am – 11:30 am

    This bite-sized 90 minute online course is designed to give you practical tools for developing communication skills.

    Find out more and book: https://3va.org.uk/events/event/communication-awareness/

    Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

    Thursday 29 July 2021
    10:00 am – 11:30 am

    This bite-sized 90 minute online session is an introduction to legislation regarding equality and diversity and explores the concept of inclusion.

    Find out more and book: https://3va.org.uk/events/event/equality-diversity-inclusion/

    If you have any questions, please contact Martina Taylor, 3VA’s Training Officer, at martina.taylor@3va.org.uk or on 01323 639 373 ext 210.

  • Feedback needed on remote consultations

    Feedback needed on remote consultations

    The Sussex NHS Commissioners are developing a new remote consultation service to support patients to access their GP Practice by using digital technology including text message, video calls, and online websites.

    They want to hear about your experiences of using remote consultations through a survey. The survey should take approximately 5 minutes to complete.

    Complete the survey online

    If you need this survey in an alternative format or other language, or if you have any queries, please contact the Public Involvement Team at Sussex NHS Commissioners on the following:

    • Email: sxccg.involvement@nhs.net
    • Call: 01903 708 411
    • Post: FREEPOST – RTUZ-ECYG-ERRK, Attn: Public Involvement Team, NHS Brighton & Hove Clinical Commissioning Group, Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Brighton BN3 4AH

    Deaf British Sign Language (BSL) users can contact between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday – Friday through the Video Relay Service (VRS) ‘SignLive’. Simply download the SignLive app, register your details, and search for NHS Brighton and Hove in the Community Directory. If the call goes to answerphone please leave a message, with your name and SignLive ID code and the team will call you back as soon as possible.

  • NHS App

    NHS App

    The NHS App is now available to use as a vaccine passport.

    A paper version will also be available by calling 119.

    You do not need to telephone your GP Practice to ask about the vaccine passport as they are unable to provide vaccine passports and it’s essential we leave phone lines free for people who need medical assistance.

    The NHS App is separate to the NHS COVID-19 App, which is used for contact tracing.

    You can already use the NHS App to book appointments, repeat prescriptions and see your full medical records.

    Your vaccine passport will only show when you have had both doses.

    If you don’t have the NHS App, download the NHS App now. It will record when you have had both doses of the vaccine and automatically create a vaccine passport which will be available from Monday 17 May 2021.

    If you already have the NHS App, it will record when you have had both doses of the vaccine and automatically create a vaccine passport which has been available from Monday 17 May 2021. You do not need to do anything.

    If you have the NHS App and get a message to say you need to contact your GP Practice, this is an extra option to get full access to your medical records in the NHS App. To get access to your full medical records in the NHS App, you need to contact your GP Practice and request access to your detailed coded record. Please avoid calling your GP practice at peak hours when people are trying to book appointments, and if possible email the team. The GP Practice will take appropriate time to action your request. This is completely separate from the vaccination information and will not affect your access to the vaccine passport.

    If you are planning to travel, please register to use the NHS App at least two weeks before travelling.

    The paper letter should be requested at least five days after a second vaccine, and can take up to five days to arrive so make sure to leave plenty of time if you need it to travel.

    You can read more:

  • Funding available! Expressions of Interest being accepted for HAF summer provision

    Funding available! Expressions of Interest being accepted for HAF summer provision

    Organisations and schools invited to submit Expressions of Interest to participate in the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme

    The government recently announced that funding has been made available to expand the holiday activities and food (HAF) across England in 2021. As a result of this funding, a wide range of local providers and schools have been delivering exciting and engaging new holiday projects for children across East Sussex.

    East Sussex County Council (ESCC) worked in partnership with 34 providers over the Easter holidays and already have more than 50 local organisations lined up to take part in the programme over the summer.

    However, ESCC is still looking for additional provision and is inviting Expression of Interest (EOI) proposals from any providers or schools who would be interested in bidding for funding. Any provider who can deliver holiday activities and a nutritional meal for at least 4 hours a day over a 4-day period during the summer holidays for children who are in receipt of Free School Meals are eligible to apply.

    EOIs can be submitted by any appropriate provider, including schools, private companies, and voluntary organisations, whether or not they have already been involved with the HAF scheme over the Easter holiday. If schools are aware of providers in their area who might be interested in submitting a proposal, please do alert them to this opportunity.

    Click here to submit an EOI for summer provision

    The deadline for proposals for summer provision is Friday 11 June 2021 at noon.

    If you have any questions, would like to discuss a proposal or would simply like to find out more about the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme, please email haf@eastsussex.gov.uk.

    You can find more information about the government provision online.

  • Thank you for helping to make Census 2021 a success

    Thank you for helping to make Census 2021 a success

    Now that the Census 2021 collection operation is coming to a close, the Office for National Statistics (ONS), who run the census in England and Wales, would like to take this opportunity to thank 3VA and the local voluntary & community sector for our contribution to its success.

    The response to Census 2021 has exceeded all expectations with households across England and Wales making sure they count when it comes to local services like school places, GP surgeries and hospital beds.

    As Jason Zawadzki, Deputy Director of 2021 Census Operations, acknowledged:

    “I would like to thank you for your support over the last few months; it has been invaluable to us and contributed to the high response rates we have achieved. Your support in the lead-up to Census 2021 and in the period around Census Day has helped boost return rates. We’re committed to making sure that the census includes everybody, and your work with us has been a crucial part of the picture.”

    What happens next?

    ONS call the anonymised information it releases, census outputs. It plans to release the first set of census outputs to the public in spring 2022. More detailed outputs will be published over the following year. All of the information and analysis will be made available on a specially designed website.  Click this link to learn more about the progress and development of the Census 2021 outputs.

    Thanks again for your invaluable support of Census 2021. Your efforts will help us produce outputs about your community and local area.

  • Help uptake of physical health checks for those registered with a severe mental illness

    Help uptake of physical health checks for those registered with a severe mental illness

    East Sussex County Council and People in Partnership are working together to explore how to improve the uptake of physical health checks for those registered with a severe mental illness.

    Did you know that all GPs are expected to provide an annual physical health check for patients who are registered as having a severe or serious mental illness (SMI)? This is because people with SMI are more likely to experience poor health compared to the general population. The physical health check is important as it includes screening for common health issues as well as directing people towards different kinds of wellbeing support.

    Join the Virtual Focus Group!

    Monday 17 May 2021 from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm (via Google Meet)

    The group will briefly discuss an invite letter (which we will send you upon confirmation of attendance). You will also be asked about what might prevent or encourage you to go to your annual physical health check.

    Findings will be fed back to GP practices in Sussex, to help improve how they communicate with you and offer these health checks. Click here to check out the Padlet for further information!

    The organisers would like this session to be as engaging and accessible as possible so please feel free to ask questions and take part in discussions! Notes will be taken through the session and participants will be asked to complete a brief consent form before taking part. The session may be recorded.

    If you would like to take part or would like to know more, please contact Sara Candler at Sara.Candler@eastsussex.gov.uk.

  • Covid-19 vaccination programme – East Sussex update

    Covid-19 vaccination programme – East Sussex update

    Work to make sure everyone receives their recommended vaccine

    Last week, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation set out new guidance that people under the age of 40 should be offered the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

    The national programme then set out that everyone under the age of 40 will be offered an alternative to the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine when they become eligible.

    Currently this will apply to any carers or health and care workers who have not come forward to date. It also applies to anyone who is going to turn 40 between now and 1 July 2021 as these people are currently eligible in the same group as those aged 40-49, but are now recommended to have an alternative vaccine.

    If you are eligible and are recommended to receive an alternative vaccine, you will be able to book an appointment through the national booking system very soon following an update that will identify appointments for you based on the type of vaccine being used.

    > Read more about the latest guidance

    Vaccination bus in Peacehaven this week

    Following last week’s successful visit to Peacehaven, our vaccination bus will again be visiting the town to offer first dose vaccines to anyone eligible who has not yet had their jab.

    The bus will be outside the Meridian Centre, Peacehaven BN10 8BB this Thursday (13 May) from 11am-4pm.

    People over the age of 40, those who have a serious long-term health issue, and unpaid carers are all currently eligible to receive the vaccine.

    You can either book an appointment by calling 0300 303 8060, or drop in on the day. Please bring along one form of ID (photo ID is not required) and your NHS number, if you know it.

    The COVID vaccine is coming to even more communities in Hastings

    The COVID vaccine is being offered closer to home for people across Hastings with a range of pop-up clinics at central locations starting this weekend and carrying on throughout May.

    People over the age of 40, those who have a serious long-term health issue, and unpaid carers are all currently eligible to receive the vaccine.

    These community sessions are for first vaccinations only. If you have already had your first jab at another service elsewhere please wait for them to let you know your second appointment time and go back to them for your second jab.

    The first clinics are taking place on:

    • Saturday 15 May 10am-2pm
      Warrior Square Surgery, Marlborough House, Warrior Square, St Leonards-on-Sea TN37 6BG
      10am-11am booked appointments. 11am-2pm walk-in.
    • Monday 17 May 12pm-4pm
      Mobile vaccination service, outside the Four Courts Community Centre, Sydney Close, St Leonards-on-Sea TN38 9DD
      12pm-1pm booked appointments. 1pm-4pm walk-in.

    Read this update for the full list of dates and venues, and more information on the sessions.

    New pharmacy vaccination service to go live in Rye

    A new vaccination service is set to start offering vaccinations in Rye this month.

    The service run by Ticehurst Pharmacy, which has been running the pharmacy led service in Ticehurst as part of the programme, is currently setting up at Rye Partnership’s Tiling Green Centre.

    This pharmacy run service is designed to work closely with the local community and is committed to do all possible to engage with local people to deliver the best possible service.

    Currently they are looking for volunteers to help support the service – to be marshals, to greet people and show them through the service, and to help keep everyone attending socially distanced and safe. They are also looking for retired or current clinicians to support as vaccinators at the service. If you are interested please contact claritychemist@gmail.com

    Bookings for this service will be through the national booking system – the website and by calling 119. Appointments will show when vaccination supply has been confirmed.

    Need confirmation of your Covid vaccinations?

    From Monday, 17 May, the NHS app will be available to use as a vaccine passport.

    The NHS app that already enables people to book appointments, repeat prescriptions and see their full medical records, from next week will also provide evidence of your vaccination status.

    Your status will only show when you have had both doses.
    The NHS app is separate to the NHS Covid-19 app, which is used for contact tracing.

    If people are planning to travel, they are encouraged to register to use the app at least two weeks before travelling.

    A paper version will also be available – by calling 119 – not through your GP practice. Please don’t call your GP.

    The paper letter should be requested at least five days after a second vaccine, and can take up to five days to arrive so make sure to leave plenty of time if you need it to travel.

    Read more: demonstrating your COVID-19 vaccination status when travelling abroad – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

    More information

    Much more information about the vaccination programme is available on our website, including details of the services available in each area, latest data, stakeholder briefings, answers to frequently asked questions and links to all the national leaflets and materials.

    Thank you for your support in helping to keep our local communities updated and informed about this fast-moving and unprecedented vaccination programme.

    > Find more information about the Sussex COVID-19 vaccination programme

    Email us: sxccg.comms@nhs.net
    Web: Sussex Covid-19 vaccination programme

  • The Secure Redoubt Journey

    The Secure Redoubt Journey

    In July 2020, the Home Office granted £419,000 towards a local acquisitive crime reduction initiative in the Redoubt area of Eastbourne.

    Secure Redoubt was a six-month partnership project set up to prevent thefts, burglaries, shoplifting and vehicle crime in this specific part of Eastbourne.

    The partners included 3VA, Eastbourne Borough Council, Eastbourne Business Crime Group, Neighbourhood Watch, Sussex Police and the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner.

    Secure Redoubt engaged with local people and made the area a safer place to live and work by:

    • Improving the security of 120 homes for free
    • Delivering 250 free home security packs
    • Cleaning-up alleyways and installing lockable gates
    • Enhancing and opening up the Pavilion Gardens to make it a safer place
    • Putting up 38 new CCTV cameras at potential crime hot spots.

    For more information about what has been achieved, please read the newsletter and watch the film:

     

    Thank you to all the residents, businesses and partners who got involved. We hope our work inspires people to love where they live and to continue looking after their neighbourhood.

  • Putting diversity and inclusion at the heart of service delivery

    Putting diversity and inclusion at the heart of service delivery

    On 29 April 2021, we held our AGM online. Aside from the normal AGM business, we were delighted to host a lunchtime talk by Josh Babarinde OBE, patron of Diversity Resource International (DRI).

    DRI was set up in 2004 and is a social enterprise based in Sussex which aims to develop human capital. They offer a range of short and long programmes for effective leadership, high performance at work, success in business and a better life. They make their programmes inclusive, supportive, empowering and long lasting.

    Josh is an Eastbourne community campaigner who is founder and CEO of Cracked It, London’s smartphone repair service staffed by young ex-offenders. This won him a place on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Entrepreneur list in 2019 and the business was recognised as Social Enterprise of the Year by the Evening Standard and the Centre for Social Justice.

    In his presentation, Josh talked about how, by putting diversity and inclusion at the heart of service delivery, the voluntary sector can ensure that all sections of the community are able to access appropriate services that meet their particular needs.

    The presentation was followed by a Q&A session during which Ruqia Osman spoke. Ruqia is currently the Race Equality Development worker at DRI. She is a scientist by training and has held positions as a Governor of the University of Bath and Trustee of  University of Bath’s Students Union. Ruqia has been very involved in activism as a student, taking up several roles leading student groups, and running to be the Former Education officer at  the Student’s Union. She has taken part in many local and national campaigns to promote equality and opportunity for young people.

    Catch up – watch the talk and Q&A