Sussex.org.uk Sussex Guide

Because of the government’s adjustments to working tax credits, it is estimated that around 3000 homes in Sussex are going to be over £70 a week down on the previous benefit amount. This news has recently come after figures were released by the office of the Treasury and it is expected that several residents of the county are going to be put into poverty because of these cuts.

Currently, estimates say that around 6000 children are going to be affected by the changes, and these are mostly the children of people who work on a part-time basis. If couples want to keep receiving the benefit that they get for their children, they are going to have to increase the number of hours they are working.

Tax credits can be worth up to nearly £4000 a year and if parents want to receive their full entitlement, they are going to have to increase the amount of hours they are working to a minimum of 24 a week.

The government has said that the changes to the system are going to be overall beneficial for the people as they are going to be encouraged to work more hours. However, because of the bad situation of the economy, many of the people that the government thought they would benefit, have been unable to find jobs that will offer additional hours, so they are stuck with much less money and an increased risk of poverty.

A parents group from Brighton is headed by Georgie Kennedy and the organisation have recently completed research which estimates that around 1400 children will be permanently put into poverty, that they won’t be able to get out of, because of the changes to the system. She has commented, “This is disastrous news for worse off people in the county.”

The Taser weapon is going to be coming to Sussex as police in the area are currently undergoing training in the use of the device. It is expected that over the next few months several specialist officers are going to be equipped with a device which is going to allow them to respond to criminal incidents more effectively. While the initial rollout of the device is going to be small, it is expected that if it is successful, the device is going to be rolled out on a larger scale later this year.

The device has been already used by the police force for some time, however previously it has been heavily restricted and only firearms officers have been able to use the device. Now however, the Taser is going to be made available to some specialist officers.

Interestingly, the device has been shown elsewhere in the country and internationally, to reduce the amount of force that it is necessary for officers to use when dealing with a threatening or violent situation. It often means that the police don’t have to use the physical weapon of the baton or captor spray. The electronic weapon also means that conventional armed officers have to respond to situations less, as the Taser is often enough of a deterrent.

Paul Morrison, the chief superintendent of Sussex police has commented, “We’ve previously restricted the use of this weapon heavily, but we think that our experience has been positive with it so we want to expand its use to other officers who don’t have to have the specialist firearms training. That said we are going to be putting them through a training programme in how to use the device effectively and responsibly. Despite the increased number of Tasers, you will not be seeing most police officers carrying the device.”

Wealden Iron Research Group welcome visitors to its Ashdown Forest facility

The Wealden Iron Research Group have recently welcomed visitors to view an experimental iron smelting facility which is located in Ashdown Forest.

The visitors to the event were parents and children and the idea was that iron working methods that were taking place in the area on a historical basis were going to be recreated.

In ancient times the process of iron smelting in the area was very profitable and it is a process that the company have been keen to understand further, and involve young people in the educational process. It is something that takes place over many stages from mining to roasting as well is putting the raw materials in an oven which reaches over 1000 degrees Celsius.

The fully working replica furnace, which the WIRG group has constructed from clay, sand and straw using ancient techniques as understood from historical local records, was shown to the SEHE group. The method of smelting was briefly outlined before the children were allowed to get hands on and have a go at using the hand bellows to pump oxygen into the furnace to keep the furnace functioning at its optimum level.

Once Dr. Tim Smith, a metallurgist who was leading the smelt declared the charcoal and iron ore had burnt down sufficiently, the front of the furnace was removed and the molten embers pulled out and carefully sifted through looking for any iron yielded by the smelt. Anything produced from the furnace still needs to be hammered into ‘billets’ while still hot before it is a saleable product.

Sonny 15, a visitor from SEHE who has an interest in history and wants to be an archaeologist in the future said: “My favourite part of the day was pumping the bellows to keep the furnace working. I found the experiment interesting as I like to find out how things were done and how people lived in the past.”

Lily 7, was “amazed” when the furnace was opened up and she saw how hot it was inside.

Genevieve 9, found the day enjoyable: “I had more fun than I was expecting to, the best part of the day was using the mirror to look inside the furnace and realising how hot it was. It kept me warm, too!”

If you are interested in joining WIRG for one of their smelts, details can be found at www.wealdeniron.org.uk

Generally speaking, Sussex is an area of the UK which has worked hard to provide wide levels of accessibility. Much of Sussex’s public transport and many of its most popular local attractions now offer unrivalled disabled access. However, the mobility issues of the elderly and those with physical disabilities are not limited to the public sphere, but often extend to the home.

As the size of the elderly population grows, so does the number of people who find it hard to be fully independent at home. Whether it is taking care of basic domestic duties or simply getting around the home, there are a number of issues which people face that could be easily eliminated with a small amount of care.

The amount of care that most need is relatively small. Often, people require help with just a few aspects in order to be able to continue with their general daily activities. Understandably, those who are independent in most respects but who struggle with mobility can be reluctant to pay for care. A wide number of these obstacles could be overcome by the installation of some basic and inexpensive products.

Instead of forking out for care where it is not necessary, what can be of great help to those in Sussex who struggle with moving around their home is the installation of some simple features. While a lot of elderly and disabled people are forced to move home due to difficulties in getting around, many others have combated this problem by installing a chairlift to help them with the stairs in their home. Improving home life is easier than it seems thanks to the latest mobility devices.

Other simple solutions such as fixing handrails and easily accessible baths can go a long way to ensuring that people are able to stay in their homes for longer. Local authorities can advise you on the changes which you can make to your home that require no planning permission. Often, people could also be entitled to receive council grants which can help contribute towards the cost of making such improvements.

The great news for those who struggle with mobility is that there are a lot of options out there.

Downing Street announced this morning that the next Bishop of Chichester will be the Right Reverend Dr. Martin Warner, who is currently the Suffragon Bishop of Whitby in the York Diocese. He will be taking the place of The Right Reverend John Hind who retired in April.

Founded in 1070, the Diocese of Chichester includes the City of Brighton and Hove and covers the areas of both West and East Sussex. All together there is a population of around 1.5m in the included area, and more than 500 churches spread out throughout the region.

Bishop Warner stated that it is exciting and daunting to have been asked to be the Bishop of Chichester and he is looking forward to becoming familiar with the mission that the people will be working on with him in the area although it will be quite hard to leave the North East after so little time in the area.

Acting Bishop of Chichester, the Right Reverend Mark Sowerby stated that he is delighted to hear that Dr. Martin Warner will be taking over the position as he has known him for years and believes that he will bring clarity and a contagious energy to the area.

Dr. Warner completed his theological training in Oxford at St. Stephen’s House and previously studied at the Durham St. Chad’s College. In 1984 he was ordained as a deacon and then the following year as a priest at the Exeter Cathedral while he was employed as the Curate of St. Peter’s Plymouth.

In 1998 he went to the Midlands to take on the position of Team Vicar at the Parish of the Resurrection, Leicester. A few years later in 1993 he was elected to the position of the Walsingham Priest Administrator of the Shrine of Our Lady where he remained until 2002.

At the same time,, during the years of 1998 and 2000 he was also the lead priest in charge of Hempton and Pudding Norton in Norfolk. In addition, he also became the Honorary Canon of Norwich for two years in 2000.

From here he was then appointed to take on the position of residentiary Canon of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, eventually taking over as Treasurer where he helped contribute to the art world. In 2010 he was elected to the Diocese of York suffragan Bishop of Whitby position which he will now be leaving to take on his new position as Bishop of Chichester.

After being found behind the counter of Sussex businesses, illegal workers face deportation. Nineteen people have been detained following raids by officials from the UK Border agency on 11 companies. The firms involved could face fines of thousands of pounds if it is found that they have not being carrying out the correct checks on employees.

Border Agency staff acted on information and visited businesses in Chichester, Crawley, East Grinstead, Eastbourne, Horsham, Hove and Worthing between Thursday and Saturday, finding 18 people working illegally. The 19th person arrested was a 42-year-old man from Bangladesh, and officials detained the man in Worthing’s Teville Road.

Officials from the Border Agency also checked that other employees at the addresses had permission to work in the UK. The maximum fine that companies can face for knowingly employing illegal workers is £10,000. Sixteen people are currently still in jail whilst awaiting deportation, the other three were granted bail.

Information can be found on the home office internet site for employers to make sure that they are not employing illegal workers. You can also telephone the Border Agency Helpline, which is 0300 1234699, for further help and advice.

On land and on water, lovers of the great outdoors can enjoy a huge number of thrilling, healthy and fun activities in Rye Bay in 2012.

Ancient Archway in Rye, East Sussex

With the medieval East Sussex town of Rye at its hub, Rye Bay is developing a reputation as one of the South East’s hottest destinations for outdoor sports and activities. Away from the hilltop town’s cobbled streets and old world charms, you can spend your days cycling, kitesurfing, sailing, canoeing, horse riding, golfing, fishing, rambling and even powerboating.

Speedboats can be chartered from Rye Harbour. Great for stag and hen parties or for groups of up to 20 people. Honda Powerboat Race experiences even allow customers to drive a race-prepared 150 HP boat around a ‘racetrack’ at sea.

At Rye Watersports, windsurfing and sailing is available from March to November on a safe inland lake, while the more adventurous can try their hand at kitesurfing on nearby Camber Sands, a glorious expanse of white sandy beach. The family-run centre is offering a totally new experience for 2012 – stand up paddleboarding!

Stand up paddleboarding derives from the early days of surfing in Hawaii. SUP-ing is taught on the lake or go one step further and try stand up paddlesurfing out on the sea, where even small waves can be caught to give you an amazing adrenalin rush. Learning to SUP is easy, whether you want a gentle paddle on a lake or fun in the surf.Rye Bay offers excellent sailing throughout the year and the rivers Rother and Tillingham are both popular with canoeists. Stretching 28 miles from Seabrook in Kent to Cliff End in East Sussex, the Royal Military Canal passes through Rye offering visitors opportunities for boating and fishing. The canal was originally designed as a defensive structure for keeping out invaders and is now a popular waterway.

Rye Harbour Boats

For landlubbers, there’s a huge choice of outdoor activities on the coast or in the countryside across Rye Bay. Ramblers are spoilt for choice when it comes to exploring the region on foot – away from the coast there are glorious woodlands and forests and wide open spaces to enjoy.

Across the River Rother estuary lies the 805-acre Rye Harbour Nature Reserve that stretches along the shoreline. There are many walking paths, including one that loops the entire reserve. Local audio walking tours are also offered.

From two wheels to four legs, visitors can also enjoy cycling tours and horse riding breaks. Go hacking in lovely countryside from several riding stables across Rye Bay.

Cycles can be hired in the town and cyclists have a wide choice when it comes to routes along the coast or inland to discover the leafy lanes and tranquil hamlets. National Route 2 passes through Rye on its way from Dover to Brighton.

There are a number of high quality golf courses to test your skills, from challenging coastal links to beautiful parks courses.

And for those who prefer watching to participating, catch the first-ever Rye Triathlon in June. This exciting new addition to the UK’s triathlon calendar features a sea swim off Winchelsea Beach; a scenic but challenging cycle ride up through Winchelsea, Pett and Guestling before a thrilling descent down Battery Hill and along the coast road to the finish where the run section is held entirely within Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.

Or cheer on the participants in the 1066 Relay race in May, a five stage off-road team relay race. Back on the water the annual Rye raft race draws large crowds to the town every August. Visiting yachts and small craft are welcome at the Strand Quay, where facilities include toilets and showers. The River Rother is navigable upstream by sailing boats and small cruisers. The river flows peacefully through the High Weald to the 14^th century Bodiam Castle.

And for the ultimate spectator ‘sport’ visitors can get a taste of Olympic glory by joining in the fun when Rye welcomes the Olympic torch relay on 18 July.

For more information about holidays and short breaks in Rye Bay – including details on where to stay and the outstanding shopping facilities on offer when taking a break from participating in the region’s outdoor activities – check out www.visitryebay.com or email enquiries@visitryebay.com

50 year old East Sussex woman posts great time in London Marathon

Sally Lovell from Hastings is a serial marathon runner, and she completed the London Marathon last sunday in one of the fastest times for her age group; 3 hours and 34 minutes.

Sally works for Constables Mobility in Golden Cross as a staff liaison officer and was one of fastest in the ‘Good For Age’ category by finishing 38th for her age group, and was also one of the highest placed finishers from East Sussex.

This was her 18th Marathon in total, and her 11th London Marathon, and over the 26.2 mile distance she beat many runners that were half her age.

Sally, 50, who has worked for Constables Mobility for the past seven years, said: “I am happy with my time although it wasn’t my personal best. I’m very lucky that all the staff at Constables Mobility are incredibly supportive of my training and come out to cheer me on when they can.”

Constables Mobility is one of the UK’s leading reputable manufacturers and suppliers of rear access Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs) for one or two wheelchair users and have the largest range of flexible seating options in the WAV industry, offering the perfect solution for everyone searching for disabled vehicles.

Contact Constables on 0800 2229000 or visit www.constablesmobility.com

Keith Taylor, the Green MP, took some time out to visit a Ditchling organic free range egg farm and afterwards called for the end of UK usage of battery cages.

The Sussex and South East MEP went to the Fourfields Farm to meet with Susie MacMillan on her family farm and to see firsthand how she is able to supply over 70,000 organic eggs per day to shops and supermarkets. He ended up commending the family on their top notch animal welfare standards and then urged that a ban be placed on the use of battery cage hens.

The MEP explained that although it began illegal to use barren battery cages anywhere in the EU as of January 1st of the year, many people are not aware that there is another type of battery cage that is still allowed for use. Taylor explained that these cages still do not allow hens to follow their natural behaviours and that they should be outlawed since there other ways to keep animals that are much healthier.

Taylor also stated that many farms throughout the EU have not yet done anything to change the welfare conditions on their farms even though there are new animal welfare laws and he is asking the European Commission to place fines on eggs that come from EU farms that are not in compliance.

He stated that new research from the RSPCA discovered that 91% of people that live in South East England are not aware of the EU hen welfare law, and as a result believe that all hens are now free range or that all battery cages are banned, which is not the case.

Sussex Air Ambulance marks county day with pub quiz bonanza

Sussex Air ambulance, the life saving charity, are celebrating county day by holding a series of quiz nights at various pubs throughout the region.

Sussex Day on the 16th June has become a popular way for residents to celebrate the rich heritage of the country and was first launched in 2007, in the same month that the air ambulance made its maiden flight.

Sussex Air Ambulance are marking this joint anniversary by kicking off with a bumper quiz night on the eve of county day at Barcombe’s Anchor Inn. Other pubs will also be holding quizzes on Sussex day itself to raise much needed funds to help the team of pilots, doctors and critical care paramedics to continue saving lives across the county.

Head of Fundraising Bridget Pepper said: “Every year traders, schoolchildren, employers, businesses, in fact everyone in the county, have the opportunity to use the day to display everything that is good about Sussex. So why not dedicate the evening to raise funds for your local Air Ambulance by hosting a quiz night? We will send you the questions and answers and posters to advertise the evening, all you need to supply is a prize for the winning team.

We are trying to get as many public houses as possible across the county to join in so it will be a great fundraising and awareness campaign for your life-saving helicopter.”

Quiz nights will be held on Sussex Day at The Dun Horse (Mannings Heath), Inn on the Green (Haywards Heath), The Sportsman (East Grinstead and Goddards Green), Red Lion (Ashington), The Elsted Inn (Midhurst), The Kings Head (Rye), The George Hotel (Hailsham), Chambers Bar (Eastbourne), The Tudor Tavern (East Preston), The Labouring Man (Codwaltham), Rising Sun (Upper Beeding) and The Hope Inn (Newhaven).

Teams of six to eight members are needed for the first quiz night at the Anchor Inn on June 15th at 8pm.

To order tickets, which cost £5 per person, or to register your pub for a quiz, call Amy Salter on 01622 833833 or email amys@kssairambulance.org.uk