Birketts, a UK Top 50 law firm, has become an official sponsor of Sevenoaks Rugby Club.

MAMMA MIA… here we go again! ????????

Join us on a mammoth 30k challenge in March.

Welcome to our January 2024 update. 2023 was once again our busy year to date, just look at what we achieved.

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A recent UK survey by Shelter has reported over 300,000 people as homeless. Bristol-based charity called BillyChip has been formed to support the homeless nationally.

London Gatwick has donated a total of £30,000 to deserving causes throughout the Sussex region.   A total of six deserving groups have been handed a lifeline, which means they can continue to build better communities, support young people and those with additional needs, and improve the health and wellbeing of thousands of people. Melanie Wrightson, stakeholder engagement manager at London Gatwick, said: “We are so happy to be in a position to help such worthy causes in Sussex.   “The past few years have been especially difficult for so many of the charities and support organisations that work incredibly hard to help people in need.   “These financial awards will go a long way to making sure that the essential services they provide remain accessible to those that benefit from them the most.”   The organisations that are set to receive these life-changing payouts include Relate West Sussex in Crawley which has benefited from £4,700 to provide counselling for couples, individuals, families and children and young people, aged 11 to 19. Funding will go towards staff training and counselling sessions.   Crawley Jumma Group now has £555 towards the cost of a new support group for Asian women and Broadfield Community Centre in Crawley has received £5,000 to help pay for staff and core costs.   The Springboard Project in Horsham has benefited from £8,486 to support its work with children, young people and families by offering support, inclusive play and leisure opportunities. Funding will enable it to increase the capacity of sessions delivered for children and young people (CYP), aged 6-18 years, with special educational needs and disabilities in Horsham.   Vickie Harvey, fundraising and communications manager at the Springboard Project said: “The funding will make such a difference to the children, young people and families that we support. It will enable us to increase the capacity at sessions, taking more children that require 1:1 or 2:1 support, giving them a more regular break.”   Engage has received £4,764 which it will use to provide socialisation opportunities for rural older and vulnerable people through the TN22 club and TN22 dementia Plus club, offering carers' respite in the Wealden Area. Funding will be used to cover staff, volunteer, venue hire and activities costs.   People Matter Trust benefited from £6,494 to support its work in offering career information, advice and guidance to jobseekers alongside practical support to help them progress into sustained work or accredited training. Money will be used for its jobseekers’ programme in Heathfield.   Ann Gillard, CEO at People Matter Trust, said: "Unemployment is a major life event which can have a devastating impact on people’s lives, affecting not just the individual but also family members and the wider community. The impact of unemployment can be long-lasting and far reaching, often affecting living standards in retirement and having a negative impact on physical health and mental well-being.”   To find out more about the Gatwick Foundation Fund, which is administered by the Sussex Community Foundation visit: https://sussexgiving.org.uk/

Kingsway Care organised a Boccia coaching session for people with disabilities so that Louis could share his Boccia skills.   Boccia is pronounced ‘Bot-cha’ is a Paralympic sport introduced in 1984, It has no Olympic counterpart. Athletes throw, kick, or use a ramp to propel a ball onto the court with the aim of getting closest to a 'jack' ball. It is designed specifically for athletes with a disability affecting locomotor function, it is played indoors on a court similar in size to a badminton court. Find out more here   'It was fantastic to see everyone really enjoying playing Boccia. I was so impressed with the way experienced Boccia players and complete newbies came together and just enjoyed the game. A couple of attendees hadn't played since the pandemic so it was fantastic to witness them playing again too. Boccia has a reputation for being the Paralympic sport for everyone and I think today upheld that. It was unbelievable to see how people of all different ages and abilities/disabilities could participate and have fun. I'm so thankful to everyone who came along today and grateful for the support of those who made the event possible. It is time to be very excited and optimistic about Boccia in Brighton.' -  Louis   Thank you so much to Olly, Vicky, Arthur, and Disability Champion - Katy - for coming along to support the session. Behind the scenes, Kingsway Care has been absolutely instrumental in making this event happen by helping to forge connections with and between other local organisations. For me, this again proves that Kingsway Care is more than your typical care company. Today shows Kingsway Care's commitment to the ethos that creating community events is a key part of providing great care.   – Kingsway Care

County Council) and Dave Jackson (Contracts Manager, Landbuild). The second phase of a £3.5m programme of improvements at Crawley’s Manor Royal industrial estate has now been completed. The second phase of the scheme, started in February 2023 and completed in September 2023, delivered substantial improvements to Manor Royal Road, including to the public realm on Manor Royal/Gatwick Road Roundabout, a brand-new eastbound bus lane along Manor Royal Road and carriageway resurfacing along Manor Royal Road.   The improvement scheme is a partnership between West Sussex County Council, Crawley Borough Council and Manor Royal BID and is part of the Crawley Growth Programme.   The Crawley Growth programme is a £60m investment package of improvements across Crawley to support business investment, employment growth and the delivery of housing. As part of this, over £3.5m has been invested in Manor Royal to improve key junctions, cycling, and walking facilities, traffic signals, a new eastbound bus lane on Manor Royal Road, improved bus waiting areas and options to improve parking.    The first phase of Manor Royal highways improvements was completed in July 2022 and successfully delivered improvements to the operation of the junction and signals at County Oak Way and Martyrs Avenue, new crossings on London Road, Crompton Way and Manor Royal were installed and associated public realm and walking and cycling routes upgraded.   Councillor Paul Marshall, Leader of West Sussex County Council said: “I’m proud of this successful partnership and the regeneration we have brought and will continue to bring to Crawley which will bring extensive benefits to residents, visitors and businesses.   “The addition of the new bus lane will help to make the bus service more reliable and speed up the journeys as buses will be able to bypass queues that can occur at peak periods. We hope that this will encourage more people out of their cars and to travel by sustainable transport.   “The Crawley Growth Programme works are also in line with our Council Plan aim of supporting a sustainable and prosperous economy through providing a safer, more efficient and overall resilient transport network.”   The programme of improvements has been informed by a transport study that was commissioned by the Manor Royal BID with the support of West Sussex County Council, Crawley Borough Council, Gatwick Airport Limited and Metrobus. The scheme was delivered by Landbuild and was successfully managed by WSP, West Sussex County Council’s highways design and consultancy partners.   Steve Sawyer, Executive Director of the Manor Royal BID said: “The success of the Crawley Growth Programme is testimony to the strong partnership the BID has with both councils. This has delivered millions of pounds of new investment and much improved infrastructure for the Business District. We look forward to more to come.” Councillor Nawaz Atif, Deputy Leader of Crawley Borough Council & Cabinet member for Planning and Economic Development said: “Successful completion of this second phase gives me great confidence that the third phase will help bring the economic benefits and transport improvements that we seek for Crawley.”   A further demonstration of the ambitions of the Crawley Growth Programme is the planned delivery of the third phase of the Manor Royal highways works. This will involve the extension of the new eastbound bus lane from Gatwick Road to London Road. Continuing the strong partnership between the members of the Crawley Growth Board and more importantly delivering concrete and tremendous benefits to the residents and businesses of Crawley.     More information about the Crawley Growth Programme can be found at Manor Royal Highways Improvements, Crawley | Your Voice West Sussex.