Each year I take on a personal challenge in support of our Foundation and charity of the year. This year the RPD Foundation is supporting Home Start Crawley, Horsham and Mid-Sussex.

Saturday 6 September saw Victoria Park in Haywards Heath brimming with excitement for Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity’s (DVLCC) annual sponsored walk, ‘Walk Together’. Families, supporters, and local businesses laced up their walking boots to raise vital funds to support children with cerebral palsy, chromosome abnormalities and rare genetic disorders.

Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity (DVLCC) hosted their annual sponsored walk, Walk Together, on Saturday 6 September. Families, supporters, and local businesses laced up their walking boots to raise vital funds for children with cerebral palsy, chromosome abnormalities, and rare genetic disorders.   Over 100 walkers enjoyed the 5k and 15k routes around Haywards Heath and Bolnore Village. Families supported by the charity, past and present, walked alongside supporters of all ages. One of the highlights was seeing some of the children joining the route using their walkers and wheelchairs - such powerful moments that reminded everyone taking part what they were walking for.     The Town Mayor of Haywards Heath, Cllr Duncan Pascoe, officially opened the event, alongside Richard Taylor-Johnson, who shared how the charity has transformed his family’s life.   The walk was supported by employees from local businesses, including GDB members David Mindham and Holly Ward from Carnegie Group, Warrick Francis from Newman Thompson, Mark Newey from Bespoke Law Services, and Steve Powell from Fresh Display. Together with over 100 walkers, they helped raise an incredible £20,000 (with donations still coming in) to support the charity’s life-changing work.   Sophie Barriball said: “It has been amazing to receive so much support from GDB members with our recent sponsored walk, and it was incredibly special for them to join many of our families and see how their support directly makes an impact. We are so grateful to all the members who joined us, and to others who continue to support our work.”   The funds raised will help DVLCC continue supporting more children and their families across the Southeast, helping children with cerebral palsy unlock their full potential.   You can view pictures from the event here. 

Metrobus, which runs buses across Sussex, Surrey and Kent, has generously gifted a unique branding opportunity for St Catherine’s Hospice. A double-decker bus wrapped in St Catherine’s signature orange and featuring the charity’s iconography will be travelling on their routes for a year.

Tilgate Park reverberated with the beat of Dragon Boat drummers this weekend as corporate teams paddled hard to raise vital funds for St Catherine’s Hospice at the charity’s annual Dragon Boats event.

Susan Fleet MBE invites you to sponsor a very special two-night concert celebrating 55 years of charity performances. This joyful celebration of music and friendship will raise funds for three charities close to her heart.

Sussex Wildlife Trust is challenging the decision by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to allow Brighton Marina to keep dumping dredged sediment in Beachy Head West Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ), an activity that should not be allowed in a protected area.   Our legal action exposes the current inadequate protection given to marine protected areas. If 100,000 tonnes of dredged spoil can be dumped annually in a designated Marine Conservation Zone, it's clear these areas are protected in name only.   Beachy Head West MCZ is a nationally important wildlife hotspot, home to Short-snouted Seahorse, Blue Mussel beds and a unique chalk reef. Dumping dredged sediment in this protected area is impacting the sensitive chalk reef and harming its wildlife.   Brighton Marina’s application for a renewed licence to continue dumping dredged spoil into Beachy Head West MCZ was approved by the MMO in May this year. The licence was originally granted before the MCZ was designated, but now that the area is protected, this harmful activity should not be allowed to continue.   Sussex Wildlife Trust, alongside other environmental charities and hundreds of individuals, responded to the consultation to object to the renewal of the Marina’s licence. Over 1,500 emails were also sent to Secretary of State, Steve Reed MP, sharing concerns about continued dumping in a protected area.   Despite strong objections, the MMO granted permission for the continued dumping of 100,000 tonnes of dredged spoil into Beachy Head West every year, for the next ten years. As an environmental charity we do not take the decision to make a legal challenge lightly, but we believe we must act as a voice for nature and continue to fight for this protected area. Therefore, Sussex Wildlife Trust has applied for a judicial review of the decision.   What is a judicial review? A judicial review is a legal process by which a court examines the lawfulness of a decision made by a public body (in this case the Marine Management Organisation). It is not about whether the decision is right or wrong, but the process by which the decision was reached.   Henri Brocklebank, Director of Conservation, Sussex Wildlife Trust said: “Bold action is the only way to continue to fight for this protected area. By applying for judicial review, we are following our own values of being the strongest advocate for nature in Sussex. Inaction will see the continued dumping of 100,000 tonnes of dredged sediment in our MCZ every year for the next 10 years – this is not acceptable in a protected area and is a terrible precedent to set for the future management of all 91 Marine Conservation Zones around the English coast.” Rowan Smith, Senior Associate Solicitor, Leigh Day said: “Our client’s legal action seeks to rescue the Beachy Head West Marine Conservation Zone from further pollution. We are arguing on our client’s behalf that significant harm to this protected area resulting from the disposal could not be lawfully ruled out, because the Marine Management Organisation had failed to properly assess the impact. Our client is rightly concerned about the steps that led to the new licence, and we hope the Court will grant permission for a hearing to fully scrutinise that decision-making process.” In the midst of a nature and climate crisis, it’s vital we take every step possible to secure nature’s recovery. We need to make sure Beachy Head West, and all marine protected areas are properly protected.   Our legal costs have partially been covered by a generous donation, but we expect that proceedings will cost thousands of pounds more. If you are able to support this action and our work to protect the precious marine habitats off our coast every donation makes a difference. Donate here

Humanimal Trust would like you to share your views and invite you to take part in a short survey that will only take 10 minutes to complete.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to join us for an evening of trivia, teamwork, and top-tier fun.

On 12 September, Martin Searle Solicitors are holding their second annual sponsored walk to raise funds and awareness for Grassroots Suicide Prevention.

Cripps has raised more than £30,000 over the past year to support Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (AAKSS).

Help make hospital better for children Surrey & Sussex Healthcare Charity, the charity for East Surrey Hospital in Redhill / Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, has launched an urgent appeal to transform the children's services at East Surrey Hospital. The Children's Appeal is inspired by local parents, and aims to raise £156,000 to create a more comfortable and welcoming environment for young patients and their families.

At nTrust, we’re proud to support our local community and this year we’re excited to be backing the amazing work of Stripey Stork, a local charity that provides essential items to families in need.

Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity is calling on the local community to lace up their walking shoes and step forward for children with cerebral palsy, chromosome abnormalities and rare genetic disorders that cause physical impairment.

The charity for East Surrey Hospital, which serves people across much of the Gatwick Diamond has unveiled its new name, a new look, and launched a major appeal to transform the local childrens ward. The charity has also launched a dedicated Cancer Fund, to enhance diagnosis, treatment, and support for people with cancer right here in the Gatwick Diamond.

Humanimal Trust Launches first-ever Virtual Pet Show to celebrate companion animals and support ground breaking research

For the first time, the UK’s largest rail company, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), has hosted yoga classes on London Blackfriars station balcony to raise vital funds for the mental health charity, Mind.

ILG & newly acquired GFS are set to take on the infamous Three Peaks Challenge in aid of Together for Short Lives. The iconic Three Peaks trek is the ultimate test of endurance which will see colleagues conquer Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, whilst raising vital funds for seriously ill children and their families.

We’re excited to invite you to one of The Lucy Rayner Foundation’s accredited Adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training courses this August in Redhill, Surrey. This 2-day certified course is designed to give you the skills, tools, and confidence to support adults experiencing mental health challenges — at work, in your community, or in everyday life.

Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) has just revealed over 2,200 dedications now proudly displayed on its lifesaving helicopter, KSST, in an exclusive online event thanking everyone who donated at least £100 to have a dedication featured as part of last year’s urgent Buy it for Life campaign.