Wellbeing advisers are there to help you
The coronavirus pandemic has challenged all of us, and it is has had a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of many people. Due to this, I wanted to remind you of the one-to-one advice and support that is available from our Chichester Wellbeing Team. This free service is available to you if you live in the district and are aged over 18.
They cover advice on: mental wellbeing; work-life balance (including working from home); weight management and healthy eating; exercise; menopause; smoking cessation; alcohol awareness; pre-diabetes; and, home energy. Our friendly team of wellbeing advisers can help you make small changes to your lifestyle, which can make a big difference to your wellbeing. If you would like some advice and support, please do get in touch by calling 01243 521041; emailing info@chichesterwellbeing. org.uk; or visiting www.chichester. westsussexwellbeing.org.uk
The wellbeing team are also involved in home energy; making sure people have warm homes and helping them to save money on their energy bills. I’m pleased to tell you the council has successfully bid for funding to extend the Government’s Green Home Grant Local Authority Delivery scheme. This means eligible homeowners will receive fully-funded support of up to £10,000 for energy efficiency improvements in their homes. Residents can apply for this funding if they have a household income of less than £30,000 and their home has a low energy efficiency rating. The funding can be used for a range of improvements and low carbon heating measures, including first-time gas central heating and heat pumps; wall insulation; loft insulation; smart heating controls; and, energy efficient double glazing. Private and social landlords will be able to access up to £5,000 with a one-third contribution. Find out more about the scheme and apply for a grant at www.warmerhomes.org.uk or call 0800 038 5737. To find out more about our free Home Energy service, please visit www. chichester.westsussexwellbeing.org.uk/ topics/healthy-home/wellbeing-home
I’m also pleased to tell you we have issued nearly £500,000 in grant funding to businesses and community groups in the district, taken from the council’s reserves, as part of our Covid-19 recovery plan. A total of 190 business grants and 66 community grants have been approved for funding. We launched the scheme in August 2020 to provide support to organisations struggling due to the pandemic, but were either not eligible for Government grants or needed additional support. It is vital we all play our part in supporting businesses and community groups – and we will be again encouraging you to support local when our businesses are ready to safely welcome you back and restrictions are lifted.
If your business has been affected by coronavirus, Government funding is still available and we would encourage you to check whether you are eligible for grants. Find details and apply here: https://www. chichester.gov.uk/covidbusinesssupport
New Government business rate grants have been announced. These are known as ‘restart grants’ and will take effect from April 1. We are waiting for further guidance on these and we will update businesses through our email newsletter, social media channels and on our https://www. chichester.gov.uk/covidbusinesssupport web page. To date, our team has issued more than £47million in Government funding through business rate and discretionary grants to businesses.
This weekend is census weekend. Run by the Office for National Statistics, the census is a once-in-a-decade survey that helps provide a unique snapshot of the society we live in. The information you give helps organisations plan and provide the services we all need. By taking part, you will be helping make sure you and your community get the services needed now and in the future. Visit https://census.gov. uk/ where you will find lots of information about how data is kept safe and how you will be invited to submit your census form.
It is all change at Chichester Cathedral. The 16-year-old tiercel, the male nicknamed Maverick, was last seen on Christmas Eve, so is presumed dead. A new male is awaited to partner the old female who still seems to be around. A new nest box has been put up at a new location on the south-east turret by county ecologist Graham Roberts. Normally, the first egg would be expected on March 26 but we shall have to wait and see. The photographs are by David and Janet Shaw, who have just self-published a book about Maverick and his strange life. Details next week.
It’s tough time to be a politician wherever you are, what with the pandemic, increasingly polarised views and the perils of social media. Two recent and not altogether unconnected events remind me political legacies can defy early reputations. As Churchill’s personal brandy glass and monogrammed slippers sold for a combined premium-inclusive £60,000 at auction the other day, the almost mythical status of our greatest wartime leader was set against the rather less generous views of Chips Channon, celebrated diarist of the 1920s and 30s, whose journals have been republished in unredacted form for the first time. Channon, a brilliant writer of sometimes dubious views – he thought Hitler marvellous and Churchill the most dangerous man in Europe – was an unparalleled observer of his times in terms of wit, yet was almost invariably wrong about public figures, events and how everything would turn out. His career as an MP was certainly overshadowed by his writing, and a good thing too. How different was the experience of the nation’s first prime minister, Robert Walpole, from the frenetic lives of 20th century incumbents of that role. Walpole, who took office exactly 300 years ago on April 3, enjoyed an uninterrupted term in office of over 20 years. He is seen as one of the best political leaders we have had and navigated a careful course of moderation and tolerance to establish political and social stability. How different from the bearpit Commons that was to follow.