Finalists for the 2024 Adur & Worthing Business Awards announced!

Sleepout - Wake up to homelessness with Turning Tides

Take part in an evening powerful enough to change the course of someone’s life; wake up to homelessness.

Trade your comfy bed for a sleeping bag on October 26th, 2024, and stand with those facing homelessness in your community. You have the power to bring change.

There was a wonderful sense of camaraderie amongst everyone and most managed at least a few hours’ sleep. I would recommend anyone to try it at least once! Sam - Previous participant

For Sleepout 2024 we’re returning to Worthing Fire Station, where there will be an opportunity to tour the fire station’s engines and try on some safety equipment as well as taking photos. The event is suitable for all ages, with a secure site and activities for everyone.

Let your imagination run riot! The shelter building competition is open to all, with fabulous prizes on offer for the most creative and most practical. Later in the evening you will hear from those who have experienced homelessness, and the frontline keyworkers who support them. Refreshments including a light evening meal, are included in the ticket price. You can listen to the Ropetackle storytellers tell bedtime tales and enjoy a warming drink before settling for the night.

Increasingly local people are facing life without a safe place to call home and for every person you see rough sleeping there will be another 20 hidden away – sleeping in their car, sofa-surfing, or in tents and shelters in fields, woods and parks.

Turning Tides was my lifeline. They didn’t just give me a roof over my head; they helped me to rebuild myself, my dignity, and my life.” - Franc

Fundraising events like this one are incredibly important, not just for raising awareness and breaking the stigma of rough sleeping but for raising the vital funds that are needed to support local people. Participants are asked to raise sponsorship which will directly support local people experiencing homelessness. Your fundraising will mean that we can continue to be there for the thousands of people who need us every year.

We want to be there for people who find themselves homeless; if like us you believe everyone deserves a home put the date for this fantastic fundraising event in your diary today.

Why not invite your friends, colleagues, and family along too or share online. 

Can’t make this date? You can organise your own DIY Sleepout.

Holding a DIY Sleepout offers the opportunity to gain insight into the issues surrounding local homelessness. The inspiring event – which encourages people to sleepout for just one night – will help develop a sense of empathy and compassion across all age groups. As well as raise funds to support the work of Turning Tides, providing services to homeless people in your local community.

Organising your own means you can do it anywhere you like, at a time that suits you. Perfect for groups such as colleagues, Scouts and Guides and more, check out our website for our DIY Sleepout resources and start planning today – www.turning-tides.org.uk/DIYsleepout

Chichester College Group Skills Advisory Panel

Join us for a delightful gathering of employers and stimulating conversations for a unique opportunity to shape the future of training in your industry.

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday 16 October
• Time: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
• Venue: Worthing College, ICC Room, 152 first floor.

Event Highlights:

1. Sector-Specific Insights: Engage in focused discussions tailored to your industry during our Professional Services session. Share your insights on current challenges, trends, and future opportunities that can shape the training landscape for your business.
2. Input into Training Needs: Your expertise matters. Provide valuable input on the specific training needs of your sector. Help us understand the skills and knowledge your workforce requires now and in the future.
3. Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow employers, industry leaders, and training experts in a relaxed and conducive environment. Build relationships, share experiences, and discover potential collaborations that can elevate your business.

Why Attend:

• Shape the Future: Contribute to the design of training programmes that directly address the needs of your business and industry.
• Networking: Connect with peers, industry experts, and training professionals to expand your network and explore potential collaborations.
• Insider Insights: Gain valuable insights into current trends and future developments in Professional Services.

Reserve your spot at the Skills Advisory Panel. Be part of the conversation, drive change, and unlock the potential of collaborative learning

The Sid Youth are offering corporate sponsorship on their website!

The Sid Youth delivers support to young people in Adur, Worthing and the surrounding areas through workshops and mentoring. "We work in a proactive way in order to make sure we are offering services that can not only benefit the young people we work with but also support the community and the families they live with"

​Their new website in due to launch soon and they are looking for 12 companies to sponsor a month each. During that month they would feature on the home page and on the sponsors page for the rest of the year.

Companies would be asked to make a donation which would be used to support the youth engagement fund. Here are some examples of ways those funds have been used recently
# Providing school shoes to you a young person who was starting high school and did not have any.
# Providing gym memberships to young people to help them with their physical and mental health
# Providing food for young people
# Taking part in activities in the community

"Any support would be greatly appreciated and we would be happy to share exactly what the funds are used for."
please email info@thesidyouth.co.uk

For more information about what The Sid Youth Group do, please check out their website https://www.thesidyouth.co.uk

Carpenter Box recruits 26 New Trainees onto its ‘Platinum’ training programme

A career in accountancy continues to be a popular choice for many school and college leavers, university graduates and career changers, with Sussex and South East accountancy firm Carpenter Box announcing the recruitment of 26 new trainees – a record intake for the firm.  

Eleven of the new trainees have joined Carpenter Box’s Worthing office, five have taken up positions in Crawley, four in Brighton, five in Chichester and one in Portsmouth. They are spread across the firm’s Business Services Group, Assurance & Advisory Group, Tax Services Group and Starbox team, which provides expert finance and tax advice to new media companies and digital platform content creators.

Carpenter Box Managing Partner, Alan Edwards, commented: “It’s great that the firm is in the position to offer so many talented individuals the opportunity to build their career here and to be part of our ambitious growth plans for the future. 

“I hope they take inspiration from the fact that many of our current partners, including myself,  started out as trainees with Carpenter Box, and I very much look forward to seeing them thrive in what is a supportive environment as they progress towards their professional qualifications.”        

The training programme delivered by Carpenter Box has earned both ‘Approved Employer and ‘Platinum’ status. The majority of the new trainees are embarking on a career pathway towards ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) accreditation, whilst others are pursuing ACA (ICAEW Chartered Accountant) and ATT (Association of Taxation Technicians) qualifications.

For those interested in a career in accountancy, Carpenter Box is holding a Careers Open Evening on Tuesday 19^th November between 5.30pm and 7.30pm at their main offices in Crescent Road, Worthing. Click on the following link for further details: https://www.carpenterbox.com/event/open-evening/

(Image shows six of the new trainees, back row l-r: Alex Webber, Jake Solomon, James Newman & Sophie Middleton. Front row l-r is Josh Plumb & Jiaolin Chen).

www.carpenterbox.com

Stanford Legal Services recognised for excellence and innovation ahead of national awards ceremony.

Paul Stanford of Stanford Legal Services has been recognised for his commitment to innovation, service excellence, client experience and expertise having been shortlisted at a prestigious national awards ceremony in Estate Planning Consultant of the Year.

The British Wills and Probate Awards was launched in 2018 to recognise and celebrate the firms, businesses and individuals who have delivered outstanding service and expertise to clients across the wills and probate/private client sector; and is widely considered to be an indicator of excellence and trust.

Firms shortlisted have been through a rigorous process of independent scrutiny by a panel of industry professionals who arrive at the final shortlists. The winners will be announced on the 10^th October 2024 at the gala ceremony in Manchester.

Commenting on his success, Director of Stanford Legal Services, Paul Stanford said:

“I am delighted to be shortlisted for the Estate Planning Consultant of the Year award. This nomination reflects my unwavering commitment to exceptional customer service, technical knowledge, and innovative solutions. Over the years, I have strived to assist others and engage with the community, all while focusing on continuous improvement, training, and development. This dedication has allowed me to consistently exceed client expectations, as reflected in numerous 5-star Google reviews. It is an honour to be recognised as a trusted, competent, and reliable estate planning legal services adviser.

Stanford Legal Services, led by Paul Stanford, continues to set the standard in estate planning. Paul's leadership and expertise makes him a go-to resource for complex estate planning needs, earning him a stellar reputation in the industry.”

British Wills and Probate Awards Headline Sponsor CTT Group Director Clive Ponder TEP said

“It’s an absolute pleasure and a privilege to once again be headline sponsors. The BWAP Awards recognise the very best in our industry and having the honour of being a judge this year, I’ve seen first hand the talent and dedication, and the heights of achievement this industry can reach”

“Huge congratulations to all those who’ve been shortlisted for the awards. I look forward with great enthusiasm to the 2024 winners being announced at this year’s event in Manchester in October.”

The British Wills and Probate Awards is the largest event dedicated to recognising excellence in the industry. It is hosted by Today’s Media, the publishers of trade publication Today’s Wills and Probate, an online news publication for solicitors, will writers and probate practitioners.

Further details about The British Wills and Probate Awards 2024 are available at www.britishwillsandprobateawards.co.uk. 

Join Tree Action in Making a Greener Future

Tree Action is a Community Interest Company dedicated to organising tree planting and maintenance projects on school grounds and public land. Since 2020, we have funded and organised seven school tree-planting projects in Sussex, planting between 20 to 50 trees per school. Our projects aim to connect young people and nature, and improve the local environment.

Recent Case Study: Oak Grove College

We recently completed a project at Oak Grove College in Worthing. A group of enthusiastic students participated in a plum tree planting day, which included preparing the ground, planting the trees, and adding stakes for support. This initiative expanded an existing small orchard, enhancing the school’s green space.

In addition to some fruit trees, the children planted silver birch trees to help maintain a mixed woodland and absorb pollution from the nearby road. The students have taken on the responsibility of regularly watering each tree to ensure their healthy growth. This project is a school-wide effort, with many year groups participating in various activities such as weeding and watering to help maintain the trees planted.

Many schools don’t have the time or resources to deliver a tree planting project on school grounds, so we fundraise and plan projects for them, enabling students to connect with and appreciate nature and contribute to combatting climate change.

We are asking for donations to continue our work. By becoming a regular donor or corporate partner, you can make a significant impact on our local environment and community, and fulfill your sustainability goals too. In return for your support, your company is welcome to engage staff in our tree-planting projects in the Adur and Worthing area. Additionally, you can display our ‘We Help Tree Action Plant Trees’ logo on your website, to showcase your commitment to sustainability.

For more information, please feel free to visit our website at: www.treeactionuk.org

Or contact us at ricky@treeaction.org.uk

St Mary’s Church in Horsham receives commemorative plaque to mark award-winning renovation

Handover ceremony after Pilbeam Construction named as winner in Sussex Heritage Trust Awards. 

St Mary’s Church in Horsham has a received a special plaque after a renovation project at the church by Southwick firm Pilbeam Construction won a Sussex Heritage Trust award.

The aim of the renovation was to improve flexibility of space in the South Aisle of the Grade-1 listed building in Causeway, Horsham, which in part dates back to 1247.

It also saw underfloor heating installed, creating a comfortable space for people to take refreshments during concerts and after services.

Judges were so impressed with the sensitive way it was achieved that they awarded the project first place in the Ecclesiastical category.

Now, having picked up the award in a ceremony at Lancing College Chapel, Pilbeam returned to Horsham to hand over a commemorative plaque to the church.

Nick O’Riordan at St Mary’s said: “We’re absolutely delighted with this award-winning project and the way it has transformed the space at St Mary’s.

“A lot of people have remarked on how wonderful it looks, completely in keeping with this very special and historic building.

“Many congratulations to Pilbeam Construction for being honoured in this way and for working with us so closely on the project. We’ll be very proud to display the plaque and to welcome people to enjoy the South Aisle at St Mary’s with us.”

Expertise was required to complete the renovation, which included digging down to put in insulation for underfloor heating pipes before adding a screed layer and ceramic tiles.

These were then topped with stylish Clipsham Stone tiles, expertly laid next to the church’s existing Victorian floor tiles.

All these works needed to be carried out with minimal disruption and damage to the fabric of the building, including the church’s famous Father Willis organ.

Alan Corbett, managing director at Pilbeam Construction, said: “This was a special project to be involved in and we were delighted to see it win an award.

“Then to come back and present a plaque to our friends at St Mary’s, and see for ourselves how well the project has been received, was inspiring. We hope the newly renovated space will be used and appreciated for many years to come.”

For more information please visit: https://www.pilbeamconstruction.co.uk/

Criminal Groups Targeting Charities and Not For Profit Landowners in the South East

 We have received a message from the Environmental Crime Agency asking that we raise awareness around the risks of serious and organised waste crime to landowners, who can leave charitable organisations with substantial clean up costs, that can run into tens of thousands of pounds. 

There is a criminal group currently operating across the South East, where offenders have targeted scout groups.

The offenders’ method involves making an unsolicited approach to charity landowners in person/phone call or email offering free or low-cost landscaping/resurfacing, sometimes in exchange for storing some ‘soil’ on your land. 

The material is waste that has been processed, and to the untrained eye can look like a pile of soil. The cost of clearance falls to the landowner including the landfill tax, which can be substantial. A charity site has been targeted this year in Berkshire and approximately 100,000 tonnes of processed waste has been tipped. 

It is highly likely that offenders are currently scouting for new land, although two individuals were arrested for these offences on the 19th June 2024 and are currently on bail whilst investigative enquiries continue.

Please find some information here for the benefit of charity and not for profit landowners. The offenders are experienced and well organised, so please encourage your staff and volunteers if they are approached by individuals or companies offering to do free or low-cost landscaping, resurfacing or similar, be suspicious and to report their concerns promptly to the Environment Agency (0800 80 70 60) or via Crimestoppers.

GWCA Partner with Worthing Football Club

GWCA Solicitors are delighted to announce that we have partnered with Worthing Football Club and become a premium sponsor for the upcoming 2024/2025 season.

Worthing Rebels have played at Woodside Road since 1901 and are the most successful team in the Sussex Senior Cup, having won the competition 22 times. The club has gained two promotions to the National League South and the Rebels finished the 2022/23 season in their highest-ever league position in their 137-year history.

GWCA Solicitors started out in in 1915 and, like the football club, has been at the heart of the Sussex community ever since. We have a great reputation for helping people with life’s big decisions. This partnership with Worthing F.C will help develop and strengthen relationships with current and prospective clients, together with key local business and communities.

GWCA have been a statement of the Sussex legal community for over 100 years and have prided themselves by being the largest local solicitor firm in Sussex and the South coast, providing legal services for individuals and businesses. Our offices are in local towns around Worthing and across the South coast. We are proud of our strong ties with the local communities and organisations.

As part of the sponsorship, GWCA Solicitors will have prominent advertising areas within The Sussex Transport Community Stadium. You will see this as you walk into the stadium on the fencing to your left, around the pitch and in match day programmes.

Emma Chatwell, GWCA Senior Partner said “We are a local firm keen to support and promote other local businesses and are delighted to become the clubs’ one of the clubs’ premium sponsors. We are proud to stand with Worthing Football Club and look forward to supporting them as we support all existing and new clients, in every aspect of their lives.”