Memories

 

Last week we also let you know that, from the beginning of December, the centre of Chichester will be ‘abuzz’ with festive cheer as CDC welcomes the return of the Christmas Market, and the week before there will be light-turning on events elsewhere too. Selsey’s Christmas Event is being organised by Selsey Community Events on November 26th funded largely by a grant from Selsey Town Council. The theme will be the Grinch - who will be visiting Selsey to cause mayhem! Hopefully Selsey’s children will find Christmas in time and the Grinch will ‘come round’ in the end!! Staying with children, last Saturday, Donna and I met our first grandchild, who I am humbled to report includes Timothy amongst his names. 

On the business front, I had CDC’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday and a private briefing from CDC’s Senior Leadership while Donna and some of the Team met, once again, to work on Selsey Town Council's budget; it is the next Full CDC on Tuesday. And the Development and Infrastructure Panel the following day.  There is a high volume of case work at the moment - with housing issues and concerns about the payment of bills.  Remember CDC’s Supporting You project.  It is now up and running and is a ‘holistic - wrap-around’ advice service. There is a link further down this page.

Sunday was Remembrance Day. Val and Mick shared some special memories, Mick by wearing his grandfather's medals and Val telling us that her Mother served with the Royal Air Force as a Chef making sure the boys went off full up before taking off to whatever manoeuvre they were tasked to do, not knowing whether they would return. Her Father, and  his brother Richard, were not called up for service because they worked for the railway as Fireman, Stokers and drivers, whatever was needed at the time, making sure that the troops got to where they needed to be. They also transported the children away from danger, evacuating them to safer areas. 

It was widely reported that ONS figures showed the economy contracted by 0.2 per cent between July and September, signalling the start of a recession - this is the BBC’s take on it.

Those of you who remember the recessions of the 1980s and early 1990s when we had a similar experience to the current cost of living, will be aware that as things worsen people are forced to cut back and businesses look to make savings, particularly on staffing; here is an article that explains, much better than I could, what “Quiet Firing” is, and what, as a precaution, you should look out for.

Colder weather is apparently on the way so these links may be helpful: -

• Advice on how to heat the human and not the home.

• Older people may be due over £1,100 to help with soaring energy bills this winter. 

• The National Grid may pay people to use less energy if there is a power crunch on the continent this winter. 

• In the longer term, the UK has joined the new Global Offshore Wind Alliance. 

Residents in Selsey were saddened to see the former Marjorie Cobby House up for sale after WSCC decided to close it; you may remember this process was begun prior to Donna's election as Selsey's County Councillor. She campaigned against the closure, asking the Scrutiny Committee to revisit the situation - their recommendation to Cabinet was just that, but Cabinet disagreed, and the closure went ahead. 

As former carers we felt this decision was shortsighted and were unsurprised to learn that a Guardian investigation found that increasing numbers of hospital beds are being occupied by patients who could be discharged if there was not such a shortage of social care. 

In happier news, art lovers will welcome the return visit of Turner’s Chichester Canal masterpiece.

The Supporting You team is now ready to help anyone who needs help with finances, housing, health and wellbeing. It's a 'wrap around' holistic approach to dealing with individual issues. Don't hesitate to call or email them. This is the link along with others we have to share with you this week: - 

• Supporting You. 

• WSCC wants your ideas on how they can better tackle climate change.

• Carers Rights Day is on Thursday.

• WSCC's Your Mind Matters. 

We'll include this link in our next few blog posts but please let people know that West Sussex County Council’s Holiday Activity and Food programme is back this December, offering free holiday club places for children who receive means-tested free school meals.

Finally: - 

• Suicide in Sussex

• Help for local businesses

• Help for households

• WSCC's cost of living information

• Other suggestions from CDC

• Warmer Homes help site

• CDC Meetings

• WSCC

As always, from the whole Team, stay safe.

Tim