The Argus:

Hello from Helen at the Community Office in Bevendean school.


What the Health is Going on in Bevendean?  Local groups at the ‘What the Health Is Going on?’ helped the event go with a swing. The young people of BAG, Bevendean Activities Group, made delicious fruit smoothies, the WI served a healthy, tasty selection of salads while the Holy Nativity project provided tea and home-made cakes. As many as thirteen agencies and services had an assortment of stalls and activities. Children and adults alike enjoyed making new toys from old with CommuniToy, Bike for Life offered free bike maintenance and Salvation Army lunch club ran a ‘Bric a Brac’, stall. The NHS Community Nurse offered Health Assessments, Mind gave out ‘stress’ dots to measure people’s stress levels and Active for Life brought the mini gym for small children. Bevfest made instruments while the Community Garden and ‘Friends of Bevendean Down’ joined forces to make kites and take children for a walk on the Downs to fly them. There were Yoga and Zumba taster sessions, face painting and information from Fare Share, the Food Partnership, The Bevy Pub and Partridge House among others. Over 150 people attended the event and feedback from visitors and stall holders alike was positive and encouraging.                                                                                               

Heritage Lottery ‘All Our Stories’ - The History of Lower Bevendean Farm                                                                                                                           The History project started earlier this year to find out about the history of Bevendean. Activities have included two ‘Memory Days’ to date to collect people’s photos and documents which will be used as part of an archive of pictures, documents and oral histories on a dedicated website. Local residents received free Oral History training to interview and record the memories of people who remember the estate since it was built in the late 1940’s. Two classes of children at Bevendean Primary have been part of the project and have enjoyed a visit to find out about the history of sheep grazing, a craft     session to card fleece and make felt and excavation    sessions with the Lewes Castle archaeology team. They will also be enjoying more historical crafts and a visit to the Weald and Downland Open Air museum in July.                                                                                                                   

Community Café and Food Bank - ABC won funds from the Good Food Grant to set up a weekly Community Café and Food Bank in Bevendean to support local people on low incomes and /or in crisis. The Community Café is open on Wednesday mornings from 9am -1pm. It is a welcoming meeting place for local residents, a chance for a natter and to say what you’d like to see in Bevendean. During the summer break there will be other free activities happening in or around the Cafe on Wednesdays (See Activity list in Bulletin).                                                                                                 ABC will also be setting up a Food buying group and would like to hear from interested people – call Helen on 603698 or e mail Helenjones@trustdevcom.org.uk                                                                                     

PPG – Patient Participation Group                                                                                                                                                    There is a PPG Group at the Willow surgery which is a group of local residents that meet to look at the local health services and to discuss what residents think of local services. It is run by Carol Hamilton the Willow  Surgery practice Manager. All local residents are welcome to attend the PPG meetings and have their say about local services. Call into the surgery for news of the next meeting.