April 2012

AirS Focus for 2012-17: Young People

Welcome to the first AirS newsletter of the new financial year. Like lots of you, we have been up to our ears in budgeting and planning for the future, and are pleased to confirm that we will be maintaining our key programmes supporting individuals of all ages and communities across rural Sussex.

Our priority theme for the next five years will be young people, including young adults and families: we recognise that the times are particularly challenging for people in these groups. The future wellbeing of our communities depends on young people being resilient and able to achieve and adapt to change, so we are making a commitment to build our work with partners and directly with communities where young people and families need support.

Please watch this space for future developments!  

Contents 

1. Portas Review    

2. Hidden Britain    

3. Wealden Business Survey   

4. Free Safeguarding Training in East Sussex 

5. Deaf Awareness Event    

6. Digital Switchover Update  

7. Silent Voices: Free conference 

The Portas Review

 Many of you will be familiar with Mary Portas from her TV show The Bottom Line, in which she seeks to revive the British economy by way of a new underwear factory – but she’s not all about knickers!  

In response to her review for government on market towns, we are aware of a number of towns and large villages across Sussex that have submitted bids for ‘Portas Pilot’ funding to regenerate their high streets. We know the scheme will be very competitive, and had the opportunity, courtesy of the National Association of Local Councils, to put the case for Sussex to an All Party Parliamentary Group on local democracy at the House of Commons on 19th March – we have our fingers crossed. We very much hope to see further development of joined-up working with our Local economic Partnerships and others working for the economic health of our towns and villages.

Hidden Britain – Welcome Aboard!

From the beginning of April, AirS will take on contract management for the Hidden Britain programme. Their high-quality training, marketing advice and consultancy have benefited people and organisations from as far afield as Cumbria and Brecon, as well as very recently in Southwater in West Sussex, where they delivered a Social Media Marketing workshop in the lovely refurbished parish hall. A warm welcome to James Turner and his colleagues.

Hidden Britain supports groups and businesses across the country to develop sustainable tourism programmes to generate social and financial benefits by helping to: 

 * attract more visitors  

* develop the tourism ‘product’  

* find funding    

* use social media and other tools to market destinations  

* create and maintain community tourism groups  

* get volunteers to help  

Across Sussex, Hidden Britain has already worked with communities including Steyning, Winchelsea, Hassocks and Henfield – you can find cases studies on their website. They also help to promote the areas to visitors on their new visitor-facing website.  

If you want to know how Hidden Britain could help your community and businesses attract more visitors, check out the website or get in touch via: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Wealden Business Survey

The Wealden Business Survey on the needs of local businesses is about to close. Your views are invited - for your chance to respond go to:

www.wealdenbusinesshelp.org.uk/News_and_Opportunities/News/

Free Safeguarding Training in East Sussex

Safeguarding training for the voluntary and community sector

The Child Protection Awareness for Voluntary and Community Groups training takes place on 24 April from 9.30 to 4.30 at the East Sussex Training and Development Centre, Eastbourne. The aim of this course is:

* to raise awareness of child protection issues, procedures and signs and indicators of child abuse

* to enable staff to identify and respond to child protection concerns and to become aware of child protection procedures

* to encourage and develop effective inter-agency communication

Training costs are £70 for smaller VCS organizations. For a booking form please click here

Deaf Awareness Event

A new initiative to encourage more volunteers to take up Deaf Awareness is now available in Hastings.

Signs4Life have set up an introductory workshop in Deaf Awareness to help staff to communicate and engage with their deaf & hard of hearing colleagues, service users, students, patients and clients in Hastings. The Deaf Awareness event will be taking place on Tuesday 24 April 2012 at Hastings Voluntary Action, Jackson Hall, Portland Place, Hastings, East Sussex (TN34 1QN) from 9:30am-12:30pm.  This local initiative is to help identify barriers that deaf people face and explore their culture and community but also to encourage inclusion of all people with sensory, physical or learning disabilities in Hastings. Attendance is strictly by booking only (limited places).

For further information please contact Fozia on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Digital Switchover Update

So far AirS has provided advice and support to over 350 people needing help with the switchover to digital TV. We are holding more advice points in Haywards Heath, Uckfield, Heathfield and Battle on 30 and 31 May and again on 13 and 14 June – for more information email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Silent Voices

 West Sussex Recovery Partnership have passed us information about a free conference being held for people from across East and West Sussex and Brighton and Hove who are affected by someone else’s drug and/or alcohol use.

Friday 15 June 2012, 9.30am to 4.30pm at the Clarendon Centre, New England Road, Brighton, BN1 4GQ  

Book online at www.silentvoices.info   

If you want to find out more about the work we do with young people and families, and how you can work with us, please email:

  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (young people) or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (families)

 For general enquiries about partnering with us please email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 Tell us your news! Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it