Community Chest Awards 202

The Sussex recipients of the Community Chest Eastern Awards 2021 have been revealed.

The awards, which are in their 20th year, are run by Hall and Woodhouse — a British family brewery founded in 1777 — with media partners Jpimedia Sussex, which was represented by the Observer’s editorial director Gary Shipton.

Business directors, Mark Woodhouse and Lucinda Gray, were on hand to distribute nearly £25,000 to 18 Sussex charities at Goffs Manor, Crawley last Thursday night. Guest speaker Richard Curtis BEM passed on the big cheques.

The charities to receive grants were; Burgess Hill Shed (£1,666); Chichester Boys Club (£1,500); Chichester Down Syndrome Support Group (£1,000); Defiant Sports, based in Eastbourne (£1,500); Forward Facing, in Brighton (£1,500); Horsham Debt Advice Service (£1,500); Les Alden Foundation in Worthing (£1,500); Littlehampton Child Contact Centre (£500); Littlehampton Shopmobility (£2,500); Lorica Trust: East Clayton Farm, in Washington (£1,438); Nature Nurture Sussex, in Pease Pottage (£438); Pippa’s

Group in Lewes(£569); Mid Sussex RDA (£1,500); Rox Music and Arts, in Bognor Regis(£500);sussexprisoners’ Families, in Brighton (£1,500); Totrockinbeats / Dad La Soul, Worthing (£1,000); UK Harvest, near Chichester (£1,500) and You Raise Me Up, near Polegate (£1,000).

Hilary Hughes, a volunteer at Chichester Boys Club, said the money will go towards new smoke detectors and fire doors at the historic building.

“Having this is brilliant as Covid has been a nightmare,” she said. “We’ve lost some of our major lettings which would have helped fund this.

“This is going to make us be able to serve our community safely.”

Chichester Down Syndrome’s grant will help to fund vital speech therapy sessions.

Volunteer fundraiser Natalie Hodges and events coordinator Kath Lake said: “It will make a massive difference to all the children who have access to speech therapy.

“All these kids have down syndrome, without being able to talk. They can’t be understood and they can’t get over their needs.

“They’ve all got something valid to say so this gives them a voice.

“A whole host of children will benefit from this.”

All attendees celebrate the generous donations from the Community Chest Awards and Hall & Woodhouse Brewery.

Chichester Down Syndrome Support Group are granted £1,000

The Horsham Debt Advice Service were donated £1,500

Chichester Boys Club collected a £1,500 contribution

Littlehampton Child Conact Centre were gifted £500

Burgess Hill Shed acquire a £1,666 donation

Defiant Sports secured a £1,500 donation.

Les Alden Foundation received £1,500

Forward Facing received £1,500