News and Events
Summer holiday fun in the sun, preventing falls, advice on care funding, and more
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Welcome to the July 2024 edition of our Residents’ eNewsletter, featuring the latest news and updates from your county council.
Carbon footprint of buildings slashed thanks to improvements
The first phase of an ambitious project to reduce the carbon footprint of our buildings has been completed.
The £8.2m programme has introduced a range of measures to make seven libraries, six fire stations, and a day centre more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
It’s estimated the work will prevent almost 200 tonnes of carbon being released into the atmosphere each year, the equivalent of travelling nearly 600,000 miles in a petrol car.
Councillors visited Storrington Library last week to view the improvements made there.
The library is now capable of running entirely on renewable energy thanks to its solar panels and two air source heat pumps. This saves more than 12 tonnes of carbon from being released into the atmosphere each year, the equivalent of driving from Chichester to Horsham 1,200 times in an average petrol car.
Pictured left to right: Russell Allen, Head of Libraries and Heritage, Paul Marshall, Leader of West Sussex County Council, Sharon Sadler, Storrington and Sullington Parish Council, Deborah Urquhart, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, and Duncan Crow, Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue.
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Make the most of summer in West Sussex
School’s out for summer next week and whether you have kids or not, there are plenty of activities and events to enjoy right across the county.
Rain or shine, inside or out, Experience West Sussex has inspiration and ideas for days out including heritage trails, watersports, walking and cycling routes, wellbeing experiences, garden visits, and much more.
You can tailor your search to choose where you want to go, what facilities you need and what your budget is. There are also dozens of activities listed that are free.
We’ve also put together key information to ensure you have a safe summer, as well as a fun one!
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Reduce your risk of having a fall
Falls are not an inevitable part of getting older.
There are simple steps you can take to stay steady, reduce your chance of falling, prevent serious injury if you do fall, and keep up and about.
Find helpful information and advice via West Sussex Wellbeing on the link below.
You can also access support through our free dedicated falls prevention exercise service for West Sussex available in venues across the county, which is open to all adults who are worried about or at risk of falls.
Visit the Everyone Health website for more information or phone 0333 005 0095 or email Everyone Health. If you live in the Crawley area please email Crawley Wellbeing or call 01293 585317 instead.
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Support needed for young people in custody
We're looking for volunteers to support young people aged 10 to 17 when they have been arrested and held in police custody.
Volunteers should be over 19 years old, willing to commit for at least a year, able to build a good rapport with young people, be non-judgemental and good at listening.
Training dates are scheduled in September.
For more information contact volunteerunit@westsussex.gov.uk or call 03302 228686.
Love reading whatever your age!
The Summer Reading Challenge for children is underway, but our libraries have plenty of book inspiration for adults too.
If you are not already a member, it's free and easy to join the library.
Reading ideas for adults include picking up a book from the Long Lazy Days of Summer display in our libraries.
Or you can order a title from The Big Sporting Read collection. These have been selected by the Reading Agency and BBC Arts to inspire reading through the power of sport.
Alternatively, browse the just added titles found on the Love Reading page, or the wide range of eBooks available via Libby.
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Look after your sexual health this summer
Whether at home or on holiday, remember to take care of your sexual health, as there's been a rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) across the UK, including West Sussex, and in Europe.
STIs can be serious, even if you have no symptoms. Protect yourself and others by ordering free, easy-to-use home testing kits for common STIs.
If you're 24 or under, you can order free condoms online.
PrEP, a highly effective HIV prevention method, is available for free at our sexual health clinics. Learn more about PrEP.
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Need advice on care funding?
If you are arranging long-term care for a relative or want expert advice on care funding then Carewise can help.
The care funding scheme supports people to find the most cost-effective way of paying for their long-term care whether in a residential or nursing home, or for care in their own home.
The scheme provides information, advice and access to a panel of independent care fee specialists, who are all members of the Society of Later Life Advisers, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checked, and trained in adult safeguarding.
The aim is to ensure people know all their options to allow them to choose what’s best for their individual situation.
To find out more and arrange a free consultation with a care fees specialist, click on the button below.
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Head to our Newsroom to find all the latest news.
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Complete our survey and let us know your views on proposed new Electric Vehicle (EV) chargepoints in Chichester. Survey closes: 24 July.
- Get stuck into the Summer of Sport in a sustainable way! Check out waste prevention and recycling tips here.
- The amazing achievements of children and young people in care, care leavers and children in kinship care, across West Sussex have been celebrated at the annual Exceptional People in Care (EPIC) awards.
- Firefighters at Chichester Fire Station are offering their services free of charge to support one lucky community group in need this summer.
- Our West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service’s new training centre and fire station for Horsham, Platinum House, has been named the Building Project of the Year over £20m at the SECBE Constructing Excellence awards ceremony.
Take a summer stroll along the King Charles III England coast path.
The 44 mile section from West Wittering beach to Shoreham-by-Sea is now open.
Along this coastal stretch you’ll walk beside the sea, taking in long stretches of beach, seaside resorts and nature reserves teeming with birds.
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Our West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service has a range of free digital resources aimed at children aged four to 11 to learn about fire safety.
Visit the Learning Zone for fun activities where you can watch a day in the life of a firefighter, cut out and build your own fire engine, spot the fire hazards, or use the discussion cards to prompt a conversation about keeping safe.
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