June 2006

Date	Press release title
6 June 2008	Town Council Grant Furnishes Fleeces
20 June 2008	Police Available to Hear Your Concerns
20 June 2008	Mid Sussex (South) Access Group comes to Help Point
27 June 2008	Signpost to Solving Housing Problems

Burgess Hill Town Council has provided a grant of £350 towards the cost of purchasing fleeces for the Youth Section of the Mid Sussex Brass Band. The section has 23 young members, the majority of whom are Burgess Hill residents.

The 35 fleeces were purchased using two grants: one from the Town Council of £350, and the second of £287 was provided by Mid Sussex District Council.

Twenty three of the fleeces have been issued to existing members, with any spares intended for new members who will be recruited this summer. Recruitment to the Youth Section is ongoing as they lose members to university courses or other educational establishments in the autumn.

The Youth Band played in Church Walk from 10.00 – 12.00 hours on Saturday 7 June 2008 at the Burgess Hill Community Festival. On that day, Chris Thomas-Atkin, Chairman of Burgess Hill Town Council, presented the grant cheque to Nina Buttery, the Youth Band Manager, at the Church Walk bandstand. The Youth Band, conducted by Ray Lomas, the senior band's principal euphonium player, was resplendent in its fleeces.

Nina Buttery said of the Burgess Hill Town Council grant: “We are very grateful to the Town Council. The new fleeces are great and the Youth Band members will be smart - and warm - when we play our outdoor concerts."

Chris Thomas-Atkin, Chairman of Burgess Hill Town Council, said: “The Town Council is delighted to make a major donation towards the Youth Band’s fleeces. Band members, both senior and junior, give up their time and talent to make local events go with a swing and it is good to make this contribution in return.”

The Mid Sussex Brass Band plays a central role in community events throughout

Sussex

. In May, youngsters from the Mid Sussex Youth Brass Band joined forces with the Patcham Youth Band at the Hawth Theatre, Crawley . Earlier in the year, the Youth Band also won many trophies in the Southern Counties Amateur Brass Band Quartets and Ensembles contest at Ringmer Community College .

Andy Wooler, the senior band's musical director since spring 2000, recently stepped down from this role and the band is currently in the process of appointing David Hughes as his replacement. Andy had been instrumental in the band winning many prizes at SCABA contests and improving its standard during this time.

The senior Band will be playing at Eastbourne bandstand, Horsham Carfax and Horsham Park band stands, as well as Hever Castle in

Kent

. All the Band's engagements can be seen on its website, www.msbb.net.

Anyone interested in joining the Band should contact the Secretary Paul Homewood on 01444 454824 or email phomewood@msbb.fsnet,co.uk.

A scheme has been set up whereby local people are invited to drop in to Burgess Hill Town Council’s Help Point, 96 Church Walk, to discuss any worries they may have with a community police officer.

Police Community Support Officer, Brian Patfield, will be available at a drop-in surgery session at the Help Point on Wednesday 2 July 2008 and his colleague, Katie Buckler will hold a surgery on Wednesday 16 July 2008 between 11.00 – 13.00 hours. Residents of Burgess Hill are invited to turn up on the day to discuss any issues or worries that they may have.

Chris Thomas-Atkin, Chairman of the Town Council, said: "We are delighted to offer this valuable service to people. This is an initiative designed to make it easier for people to speak openly to the police in an informal setting. Many people may find the thought of airing any problems or difficulties at the police station very daunting. Hopefully, anyone who would like to chat about their concerns will feel comfortable coming to the Help Point."

Mid Sussex (South) Access Group, which works to promote disability awareness and access in Mid Sussex, holds twice monthly advice surgeries at the Help Point, 96 Church Walk, Burgess Hill. The July dates are Friday 4 July and Friday 18 July from 09.30 – 11.30am . There is no need to make an appointment as the service will operate on a ‘drop-in’ basis.

The surgery provides service providers with advice on how to make their services more accessible to everyone in the community. It provides people with the opportunity to discuss problems of access to shops, other buildings and services, such as local transport. So, if you would like information on access issues as a carer, as a disabled person or as a service provider please come to the Help Point to speak to a representative from the Mid Sussex (South) Access Group.

Chris Thomas-Atkin, Chairman of Burgess Hill Town Council, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Mid Sussex (South) Access Group advice surgery to the Help Point, and I am sure this will be of great benefit to our town’s residents.”

To obtain further information about the sessions, callers can contact the Town Council Help Point on 01444 247726.

Are you struggling to solve housing-related problems, such as debt, homelessness or anti-social behaviour from neighbours? If so, an advice surgery at Burgess Hill Town Council’s Help Point may be able to help. The West Sussex Signpost Service outreach surgery is run by Southdown Housing Association, and will operate on the second Friday of each month, from 9.30-11.30am . The next session takes place at the Help Point, 96 Church Walk, on Friday 11 July.

The Signpost Service is available to anyone who needs advice or support to help resolve their housing related issues. Many people have already used Signpost in other parts of Mid Sussex receiving advice to solve problems such as homelessness, rent arrears, anti social behaviour, debt, claiming benefits and accessing health and community care services.

The facility provides telephone advice, face-to-face support and referral onto specialist care and support services.

Chris Thomas-Atkin, Chairman of Burgess Hill Town Council, said, “The Signpost Service is a valuable asset to our town’s residents, some of whom may be struggling to cope with severe housing problems and desperately need impartial advice to improve their situation. That advice and help is now available at a convenient location.”