The Worthing and Adur Fund - Applications Now Open

The fund that keeps on giving! 

Worthing & Adur Chamber of Commerce has a charitable fund called the ‘Worthing & Adur Fund’, in partnership with Sussex Community Foundation, a charity that develops and supports local giving.

A number of local Worthing people and businesses were founder donors, each giving a minimum of £1,000. These donations established a core endowment fund, the income from which, as it has grown, has enabled the Fund to make grants to many charities and community groups. Thanks to the Grassroots Endowment Challenge, every initial donation to the fund was matched pound for pound by the government. This means that the contributions have twice the impact in supporting local charities and community projects.

The fund was set up in 2009 to support small charities and community groups working in Worthing & Adur area. The Chamber spearheaded the fund through various fundraising events including quizzes, golf days and encouraged the donations from many local businesses and individuals to support the fund over the past decade. The fund gave out its first grants in November 2011.

The Chamber works with the Sussex Community Foundation to promote this permanent fund which provides grants to small charities and community groups working in Worthing and Adur. Each year there are three rounds of applications with grants of up to £1000 which can see over 200 applicants from a variety of groups.

Applying to the fund

Are you involved in a small local Charity, voluntary organisation or Community group? If so you can apply for a grant of up to £1000 to support your project. Grants of up to £1,000 are paid out three times a year.

We are particularly keen to support grassroots community groups and small-to-medium sized voluntary organisations. All applicants must be not-for-profit community organisations and be working for the benefit of the people in Sussex. You do not have to be a charity but you will need to have your own bank account and be able to provide a signed copy of your constitution and accounts, a copy of a recent bank statement, estimates for proposed purchases (if applicable) and copies of relevant policies.

How to Apply: 

The awards are open to applications. There are three main rounds of grant-giving each year. Upcoming deadlines for applications (unless specified otherwise) is 5:00pm (1700 hours) as follows:

• Friday 5th May 2023 (Decisions July 2023)
• Friday 8th September 2023 (Decisions November 2023)
• Friday 5th January 2024 (Decisions March 2024)

Please note the general funds cannot support small contributions to large capital appeals or campaigns. General round grants are available to cover a range of core and project costs

Please read the general guidance notes before applying.

We’re pleased to announce that the online application form for the next General Round of grants (closing on Friday 5^th May) is now available to access here https://ukcommunityfoundation.my.salesforce-sites.com/forms/SussexCommunityFoundation/ApplicationForm/2022

If you are unsure what to do or have questions about the grants please contact Sussex Community Foundation on 01273 409 440.

On receipt of your application Sussex Community Foundation will contact you to advise when you are likely to hear the outcome.

Donating to the Fund

The Worthing & Adur Fund is still open to ongoing donations, and we hope to build this resource for the community even further. By contributing, you can help ensure that our community continues to thrive and support those who need it most.

Join us today in making a positive impact on our community - donate to the Worthing & Adur Fund and help create lasting change for years to come.

Business Awards Sponsorship Opportunities!

Interested in sponsorship? Becoming a sponsor of the Adur & Worthing Business Awards is a great opportunity to raise the profile of your business and is an effective way of engaging with your peers and the wider business community

Exclusive Table Wine Sponsorship - £900 + VAT 
Your branding/advert on all bottled table wine and water (250+ bottle neck tags)
2 tickets to the Awards night on 4^th November at The Pavilion, Worthing
½ page colour advert included in the A5 awards programme
Regular promotion/acknowledgement via AWBA social media channels
On-stage acknowledgement
Company profile, logo and link on the official AWBA website
Post awards marketing coverage
 
Exclusive Welcome Drinks Sponsorship - £850 + VAT 
 2 x tickets to awards night on 4^th November at The Pavilion, Worthing
1 pull-up banner (provided and paid for by AWBA)  
On stage acknowledge 
 Regular promotion/acknowledgement via AWBA social media channels
½ page colour advert included in the A5 awards programme 
Company profile, logo, and link on the official AWBA website
Post awards marketing coverage 

Although most of our sponsors are in place for 2023, we do still have opportunities available so please get in touch as we’d love to get you involved.

Please email nicky.dumbleton@awbawards.com for more information

Digital Futures Information Hub! 

Are you considering a career change? Do you want to find out more about digital skills and job opportunities in our area? Join the Digital Futures West Sussex information hub on Monday 17^th April at Worthing library any time between 10am and 3pm.

Jobseekers, those considering a new career path and anyone with an interest in digital skills are invited to come and find out more about local career opportunities and pathways into digital roles, useful courses available and the salaries and benefits associated with a digital career.

Find out more at www.digitalfuturesws.co.uk

Electric Vehicle Charging Installation - A Small Business Guide

By 2030, the UK Government is ending the sale of new petrol and diesel cars. The UK Government expects EVs to represent 20% of total cars and vans by 2025, and 100% by 2050.

This electric vehicle charging guide is intended to provide businesses across the South Downs National Park with information on how to start their EV charging roll-out. The guide aims to provide a basic overview of different technologies and outlines the steps to install charge points.

• The installation of EV charging infrastructure provides EV drivers with a solution to charging, giving them confidence in the ability to charge throughout the South Downs National Park.
• Introducing EVs and associated charging infrastructure could have significant financial savings, but also impact the way in which a business operates in the future.
• The EV charging market is a quickly changing landscape and can be confusing, but this guide is here to help you navigate the market by taking you through the journey.

You can read and download the guide here

Worthing Sustainable Transport Corridors - Have Your Say!

West Sussex County Council Transport Planning and Policy Team are working to improve walking and cycling networks in Worthing and are seeking your views on the initial ideas for improvements on two corridors.

By encouraging more walking and cycling, particularly for shorter journeys such as trips to school, we can help to create safer, more pleasant places in which to live, work and do business.

The proposals

Two potential improvement schemes in Worthing are being developed as part of our Strategic Transport Investment Programme (STIP). The proposed improvements that we are considering include the creation of safe, dedicated space for cycling, new crossings and improved footways. The schemes are:

• Worthing Town Centre to Grove Lodge (Corridor 1)
• Goring to Durrington (Corridor 2)

Have your say

You can find out more about these suggested improvements by visiting yourvoice.westsussex.gov.uk/worthing-corridors where you can also have your say by completing our questionnaire and commenting on interactive maps. This initial engagement period will close at 23:59 on Sunday 30 April 2023.

Our proposals are at an early stage, so we would like to hear from people and organisations who may be affected by the schemes to help us to develop the designs. If we decide to progress the schemes, these designs would then be presented as part of a further consultation period, which we would expect to take place later this year.

We want to gain as many responses as possible, so please share details of these proposals with your networks.

If you would like any of the materials in alternative formats, or have any questions, please email us at LTP@westsussex.gov.uk or contact us by telephone on 01243 642105 and we will do our best to assist you. If you are deaf or hard of hearing and have an NGT texting app installed on your computer, laptop or smartphone, you can contact us on 18001 01243 642105.

Shoreham Port's Apprenticeship Vacancies are now live!

Did you know that 95% of the UK’s trade imports and exports move through UK ports, keeping our economy moving and keeping Britain supplied? In the UK, the maritime industry is bigger than rail and aviation combined.

Found between Worthing and Hove, Shoreham Port is a thriving, diverse and modern port with a heritage that can be traced back to 1760. As a Trust Port, we operate at the heart of the community, with a purpose to improve the Port for everyone. Certified as an EcoPort for the last 10 years, our Port is amongst the most environmentally proactive ports in the UK, and we continually challenge ourselves to improve.

Our Port doesn’t just handle cargo; we offer a full range of services for commercial shipping, fishing, and our leisure marinas, alongside an extensive commercial property portfolio, with over 170 organisations basing their businesses at Shoreham Port. We also run our sustainable café, Port Kitchen, a community focused café with locally sourced ingredients.

We look after our people and live by a strong set of award-winning values; we were recently named Maritime UK’s 2023 Diversity and Inclusion Champion after impressing industry judges with our ongoing commitment to building an inclusive culture for our 200 colleagues, as well as contributing to wider industry efforts. Being part of our team means you will enjoy a diverse and dynamic working environment. Our promise to you is that no two days will be the same!

We offer a wide variety of exciting career opportunities, including our new Apprenticeships. Our Apprenticeships are designed to offer a mix of on-the-job training and classroom instruction, allowing Apprentices to learn from experienced professionals while also developing their knowledge and expertise in their chosen field. As an apprentice at our Port, you will have the opportunity to work alongside talented and passionate individuals, gaining real-world experience that will set you up for success in your career. With a focus on professional development, our apprenticeships offer a fantastic pathway for anyone looking to build a rewarding and fulfilling career. Learn more about our current Apprenticeship vacancies via our Careers page: www.shoreham-port.co.uk/careers.

THE FUTURE IS NOW! How virtual staging impacts the property market!

What is virtual staging and why do we need it? A case study conducted by Rightmove has shown that home staged properties sell 3 times faster and 8% higher than non-staged houses. However, the downside of traditional home staging is that there are a lot of logistics involved.

So, why not take advantage of new technology and use virtual staging to achieve the same effects?

Victoria Rumens, the business owner of Valley House Interiors & Landscape Design, based in Worthing, has found that with the help of new technology, AI and VR, virtual staging can be a cost effective, time-efficient, and faster way to stage a property.

It benefits homeowners, landlords, developers, and estate agents. Virtual staging shows the property in the best possible light and discovers its full potential.

Find out more at www.valleyhouseinteriors.com 

Help Safe in Sussex buy a Shed!

Our refuges provide safe living space for families who have fled from domestic abuse. There a several people living in refuge and there's an increasing need to be able to store pushchairs, buggies, scooters etc in a separate space. Doing this will free up communal areas inside, meaning more useable space for everyone staying with us.

We want to raise at least £500 by 30th April to help with this.

How to donate:

1️⃣ ➡ Text SISSHED followed by your donation amount to 70450 to give that amount. E.g. text SISSHED10 to donate £10.

2️⃣ ➡ Go here to donate any amount from £2: https://safe_in_sussex.donr.com/shed

Please share our appeal as even a couple of ££s helps!

[Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message, and you’ll be opting into hearing more from us. If you would like to donate but don't wish to hear more from us, please text SISSHEDNOINFO instead.]

Andy's Angels Family Beano Race Night 22nd April 2023

Tickets available here https://buytickets.at/andysangels/839789

We have some Race Night sponsorship opportunities and offers to buy a Beano Character for each race. 

Thank you to Safe Hands Funeral Services for Sponsoring the whole event

1, There are 6 race sponsorships up for grabs for £30 each (If a business would like some advertising in our race night brochure) 

2, If you are interested in being an owner of a character for the evening £5 each (There will be a prize for the winning character owner for each race)

 If you would like to get involved with sponsorship or owning a character, Please email info@andysangels.org.uk by 31st March 2023. Race sponsorship artwork to be submitted by 2nd April 2023

There will be a bar and 50p each bet. 

Looking forward to seeing you, tickets only £10 a ticket includes a grazing Ploughman's platter 

Get the resources to support your employee's Mental Health

At the risk of stating the obvious, a new report has once more demonstrated that your manager has the same impact on your mental health as our partners and more than our doctors or therapists.

While we shouldn’t confuse the roles(!) it looks as if the workplace is often still struggling to get it right, with 43% of employees “often” or “always” exhausted, and 78% of employees reporting workplace stress – which then impacts on their homelife, wellbeing and relationships, creating a vicious and debilitating circle. With poor work-life balance reported by many, there are clear indicators of what managers need to be looking at.

Sadly, there seems to be a mis-match between perception of how well employers are looking after their staff and staff experience. With no sign of the ‘perma-crisis’ letting up, we need to be aware of the toll that permanent background worry takes on energy and motivation for all staff, including managers at all levels.

West Sussex Mind offer a free workplace culture guide, advice on how to support staff, workshops and resources, as well as support for individuals across West Sussex. If you would like to talk to us about any aspect of mental health in the workplace, contact us at training@westsussexmind.org