People living in West Sussex can now get free health assessments in the New Year. Health advisors are offering the NHS checks to prevent major causes of illness - including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease. The 30-minute appointments, for anyone aged between 40 and 74 without an existing long-term condition, include blood pressure, finger-prick blood and cholesterol tests. They start this month in North and Mid Sussex as well as Bognor Regis and Chichester and can be booked by calling either 01444 477 191 or 01243 642 370.
Keep up-to-date with breaking West Sussex news by following the County Council’s Twitter account. It broadcasts the latest news on roadworks, school closures and events happening across the county. It can even be accessed without joining the social media website - just go to www.twitter.com/wsccnews
Meals on Wheels customers can now enjoy a new range of salads from this month. The menu includes new and improved selections served in segmented containers to enhance the freshness and presentation of the dishes. The salads, supplied by Sussex-based company Nibbles, are on a four-week rotation and will also be available in West Sussex County Council Day Centres.
The delight of a little boy and the volunteer who looks after him has been captured in a new video by WSCC. Cameras were allowed to film Sue Smith’s weekly visit to four-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer Samuel Pallant. Sue is a volunteer with the County Council’s Fun and Breaks Service - designed to give breaks for disabled children and their families. Watch the video here.
A scheme preventing people with learning disabilities from being bullied is looking for new members in Worthing. The Safe Place initiative, run by WSCC and Sussex Police, provides a secure place for anyone with a learning disability whenever they feel threatened or unsafe. The free-to-join scheme was launched in Horsham earlier this year and has already seen more than 60 people sign up.
A number of photos of this year’s Diamond Jubilee will be preserved in the West Sussex Record Office for future generations. The pictures, from four amateur photographers living in the county, showcased the celebrations on June 5. It was part of a competition offering people the chance to win a place in its archives alongside documents from the Queen’s Coronation and Silver Jubilee.
People applying for British citizenship can get help from WSCC's Nationality Checking Service. For £60 and a one-to-one appointment we can check and photocopy all the original documents needed to show the United Kingdom Border Agency – before sending it securely on your behalf. You can also watch a video on becoming a British citizen here.
Ever thought about being the lead guitarist of your own rock band? How about playing classical piano at the Albert Hall? Well now is your chance: all you have to do is sign-up to one of the West Sussex Music Service’s centres for individual or group tuition. They are based across the county in Chichester, Crawley, Horsham, Haywards Heath, Worthing and other areas.
Get to know your ancestors while staying in first-class accommodation with the Record Office’s new holiday package deals. Amateur genealogists can now investigate their family history before dining in a luxurious Chichester hotel for a discounted price. They will also get three hours with their own researcher to explore the archives - which hold thousands of old documents.
