EESI News

The Social Enterprise Bulletin is now ready for viewing at: www.wssen.org.uk  
Social Enterprise of the Month: Bike for Life
Book your place on the annual WSSEN event: "Social enterprise: businesses making a difference"
A free event to be held on the 23rd February 2012 at Billingshurst Village. Click on the links to download the full programme and complete the booking form.
Completed booking forms to be returned to esg@westsussex.gov.uk by 16th February 2012

Jobcentre plus - Changes to the Employment Support Allowance

Head Forward News

January Creative Future Newsletter

We encourage you to responde to a letter from Mrs Christine Field HOSC (Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee) Chairman, regarding the HOSC Task Force on mental health service change, which is due to hold its final meeting in late February. We look forward to hearing your views.

Salvia Fundraising Newsletter February 2012

Action in rural Sussex January 2012 Newsletter

Adults Social Care Newsletter January 2012

Community Matters

Community Resources

Community Resusciatation Programme - The programme teaches members of the community how to deal with an emergency situation by carrying out its basic life support.

WSCVYS Newsletter January 2012

Cupp International Seminar Series

Active Sussex Happy 2012

The latest Learning Curve newsletter which is packed full of news and resources can be accessed at http://www.learningcurve.org.uk/document/learning-curve-newsletter-12-february-2012

Community Resources

SCIP News January 2012

People in West Sussex will be able to continue buying and selling second hand disability equipment thanks to ICIS. The service, called AskDES, was previously run by the charity Voice for Disability which has sadly had to close. AskDES enables people to sell or give away disability equipment that is no longer needed and to buy second hand equipment such as a walker, mobility scooter and many aids for daily living. The cost of advertising equipment is free for anything under £100 and only £10 for items that cost more. The advertisements are published on the AskDES website for one year. To advertise your item go to the website www.icis-info4life.org.uk and click on the AskDES button. For help with buying or selling and for more information ring ICIS on 01903 859929.

Promotion

Women's Resource Centre latest report:
Hidden Value: Demonstrating the extraordinary impact of women's voluntary and community organisations, which reveals that women's organisations can generate between £5 and £11 for every pound invested.

Based on two years of research using Social Return On Investment (SROI) techniques, the report recommends that government offices and commissioners who contract women's organisations develop a much better understanding of the incredible value of such specialist services.

If you would like to know more about the report or to receive a copy please contact myself or our policy team on 0207 324 3030 or email policy@wrc.org.uk

Please find attached the programme and booking form for the WSSEN annual event 'Social enterprise: businesses making a difference', which will take place on the 23rd February 2012 at Billingshurst Village Hall. You can download these documents from www.wssen.org.uk. This is a free event with limited places to be allocated on a first come first served basis, so book early to avoid disappointment.

Also please note that the First General Meeting of Sussex Town and Rural Transport CIC (ST@RT) will take place after the WSSEN event starting at 15.30 hours for about 45 minutes.

ST@RT has been formed to co-ordinate and help in transportation issues of any charitable organisations or 'not for profit' groups involved in, or with a transport need, in West Sussex. The governance of ST@RT has been arranged so that it can act as an agent for members and obtain business through tendering for all its members as well as providing members with access to a wide range of policy and CT related documentation. ST@RT is constituted as a CIC and has an asset lock to ensure that any furpluses from trading or funds left over after cessation of trading must be reinvested in community transport in West Sussex.

ST@RT founder members have developed the charity to this stage and now need to hold its First General Meeting. The Founder Directors will resign at the meeting and new Director/Trustees elected. Charities will be able to become members (£10 p.a. fee)

Booking Form

Programme 

As part of its continuing commitment to engaging the public in planning fo local health services, the Coastal West Sussex Clinical Commissioning Group is recruiting lay members to help develop two important areas of work, ie; Musculoskeletal Services & Planned Care Services. Further descriptions are given in the attached role descriptions.

MSK application
MSK TF group role description

Planned Care application

Planned Care group role description

Pat's Petition is the people's petition for everyone who wants to tell the government how they feel about the perfect storm of cuts and changes affecting disabled people and carers. Pat Onions submitted the e-petition to the government website.

Pat is blind and also a carer. When we asked her why she submitted this petition she said:

'We were determined to attend the Hardes Hit rally in Edinburgh. Determined, in spite of disability, to stand with the others who had made the long and difficult journey. Determined to show we were united as one voice against the vicious cuts we are all enduring. We knew there were many thousands who couldn't make it. Disability, ill health, providing care, or cost would prevent them coming. We made it.

To the many there and those who came in spirit..............this petition is for us all.'

Pat's Petition reads - Stop and review the cuts to benefits and services which are falling disproportionately on disabled people, their carers and families.

Please sign the petition - even more - can you find other people to sign and support us and ways of reaching out to more people. We must get this petition to 100,000 signatures for the government to hear it.

Sign Pat's Petition at -
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/20968

More details about the petition and the supporters are at -
http://carerwatch.com/reform/

See Pat's Petition on FaceBook
http://www.facebook.com/patsepetition

and on Twitter at
http://www.twitter.com/PatsPetition

Sussex Wildlife Trust, on behalf on Sussex Biodiveristy Partnership is undertaking the first stages of establishing a countywide Local Nature Partnership.

Please find attached details of two workshops we will be holding during January and February to bring together a wide range of organisations to discuss issues and ideas about engaging communities in nature conservation, and potential for work to be taken forward. Light refreshments will be provided - vegetarians will be catered for, but please note any other requirements in your response. Information about the location of venues follows at the end. These are FREE events but booking is essential - please book via Melanie Sims, 01273 497552 or melaniesims@sussexwt.org.uk

Please note - this is the same workshop being run on two occasions to hopefully ensure those who wish to attend will be able to. If you are not able to attend either date, please contact us to discuss alternative ways in which you can become involved with the Local Nature Partnership establishment. Further workshops will be taking place on working with nature and health, and biodiversity delivery, please let us know if you are also interested in these.

The purpose of a Local Nature Partnership is to bring together a wide range of organisations that can work together to improve the range of benefits and services provided by a healthy natural environment. This is your opportunity to influence the role of a Local Nature Partnership for Sussex and I hope you will take this opportunity to be involved.

Workshops

Workshop venues

• The Shoreham Centre is a short distance from Shoreham-by-Sea train station. There is limited car parking, so please list share where possible if you plan to travel by car.
• The Kings Centre is a short distance from Hampden Park train station. Please lift share where possible if you plan to travel by car.

sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk

Laurie Jackson
Conservation Officer - Biodiversity
01273 497551

West Sussex 4 Community Newsletter can be viewed at http://www.open4community.info/westsussex

West Sussex Social Enterprise Network's annual event will take place on the 23rd February at Billingshurst Village Hall. Further details will follow shortly.

Crawley CVS Newsletter can be viewed at http://www.crawleycvs.org/news/index.php

Arun & Chichester Voice Newsletter

Latest issue of NEWS for Surrey & Sussex Jobcentre plus

Action in Rural Sussex has undergone a good deal of change in 2011, so attached is some information about their new shape and key contacts.

The management structure has been slimmed down in order to focus maximum effort on frontline support to rural communities.

As Chief Executive, Jeremy Leggett continues to have overall responsibility for the staff side of the organisation, for supporting theTrustees and for their stance on rural policy issues. In addition Jeremy is working closely with the Rural Partnerships in both West Sussex and East Sussex to ensure that they maximise the rural voice in key County partnerships such as the LEPs, the West Sussex Co-operative and the East Strategic Partnership.

AiRS