Category Archives: Features

Features, SUSY News

Nominations invited for Volunteer Awards

An incredible 700 people in the borough of Reigate & Banstead volunteered at some point in the past year to help the local communities respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.

As part of the recent national Volunteers’ Week, the Council is launching its newly branded Reigate & Banstead Volunteer Awards to celebrate the role of the borough’s many volunteers and show appreciation for their time and commitment to helping others.

Individuals and teams can be nominated in five categories, including a brand-new Crisis Response Volunteer category, to recognise those individuals who supported the local community to ensure vital services and support, such as food, medicine and calls to vulnerable residents, were delivered to members of the community during the pandemic.

Mayor of Reigate & Banstead, Cllr Jill Bray, said:
“Never has volunteering been more important than it is now. It’s thanks to the selfless contributions from many individuals in our borough that our most vulnerable communities have felt supported and looked after in some of the most challenging of circumstances.”

The annual award scheme, now in its eighteenth year, was set up to recognise the unrewarded heroes who do a great amount of valuable work for the borough and its community and to show appreciation for their selfless service. The scheme is organised by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council in partnership with Voluntary Action Reigate and Banstead (VARB) and were previously called the Mayor’s Volunteer Awards.

Alisdair Semple, Trustee of VARB, said:
“In our charity’s 25-year history, we have not seen anything like the multi-generational response to help and support those most in need that we’ve seen in the past year.

“What an incredible time to shine a spotlight on those that served, to note something of their contributions and to celebrate the silver-linings of generosity and kindness under pressure that have been shown by so many.”

To nominate, visit www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/volunteer-awards or email mayor@reigate-banstead.gov.uk to request a nomination form. Alternatively, contact VARB by emailing info@varb.org.uk or calling 01737 763156.

The closing date for nominations is Wednesday 30 June 2021. Successful nominees will be invited to a special awards ceremony in September at The Harlequin Theatre & Cinema in Redhill, subject to Government guidelines at the time.

Features, On Demand

‘Rebel’ the Rosy Starling – a rare visitor spotted in Crawley

‘Rebel’ the Rosy Starling is a rare visitor and has taken up temporary residence in a Crawley garden.

The owner of the garden, @LittleBirdy22 (Karen) has been posting regular updates on Twitter about Rebel’s activities.

He spends most of the day in the tree, and goes to roost with the flock of starlings which also visit the garden.
He has taken a liking to red seedless grapes!

The latest we have is that ‘Rebel’ has now moved on so if you spot him in your garden, or have any other news, please let us know #SusyWatch

Chrissy spoke with with Karen about her rare visitor:

You can read more about ‘Rebel’ on Karen’s Twitter timeline @LittleBirdy22

Feature picture: ‘Rebel’ the Rosy Starling courtesy of @LittleBirdy22

Features

Kilmarnock Horse Rescue – Beginnings or a sad ending?

Carol with ‘Captain Tom’
It is possibly something that many of us think about, but what happens to a Racehorse or a Military horse when it is retired from service, or a horse owner is diagnosed terminally ill but needs to ensure their beloved animal is cared for, maybe a horse needed convalescence for malnutrition? Lots of questions when the phone rang and a lady, so passionate for her project spoke ending the conversation with “we may lose everything”!
 
 

It was a bright Saturday morning on the 20th March that I responded to my invitation to visit Norwood Hill, a small tranquil part of the East Surrey countryside within the boundaries of Mole Valley, yet London Gatwick Airport is visible only a few miles away and the few aircraft departing gleamed like great eagles as they rose in height yet far enough that it was silent, with the birds twittering in the surrounding trees. A gated entrance welcomed me, beyond that a small collection of field huts or transportable stables set in a horseshoe shape, A small cat came and said “hello” as cats do brushing around my lower leg as a lady approached waving and saying “Hi Neil, welcome to Kilmarnock Horse Rescue”.

Carol Jackson is the founder and chair of The Horse Rescue that moved here a few years earlier from an industrial site on the donation of a small piece of land to continue their good work. I`m guided in and immediately all the residents popped their heads out over their half doors, The horses almost smiling if that’s the right term and pleased to see someone different, Carol explained that they normally see children with learning difficulties during normal times, some on the autistic spectrum. The horses were rescued by the centre on the request of police forces or individual owners rather than be put to sleep. It’s a retirement home for the horse, fresh hay, a dry stable and good company sounds a welcome prospect but animals don’t have voices, we two legged humans are the animal’s voice in horse rights!

But amongst this wonderful situation all is not as it seems. It seems advice was given saying transportable structures would be acceptable, then planning was demanded, which was refused before it made committee consideration, an appeal is being made, in the meantime an eviction notice has been found attached to the gate. The passion to save the centre is strong, invites for councillors to visit in a safe socially distanced manner have been offered but no one has come. It seems during this pandemic I am the first to visit, ask questions, take pictures and record an interview with Carol. I can I`m classed as a key worker acting as a reporter for a broadcaster but councillors and planning members can in the course of performing their duties. The green belt is unfortunately being built on, bricks and mortar everywhere but with an airport parking company close by, an events company just yonder is not a few mobile transportable field shelters acting as stables for up to twenty four rescue horses in keeping with the countryside. Or is this townies that think they know? That’s the question.

I spoke to Carol at length, I`ve had to re-record my questions due to a levels glitch working with a boom pole with the mic on the end but Carol`s answers are in their entirety.

I learnt at the conclusion that it was Carol`s birthday that day, That showed me her passion, being at the stables making sure all her residents were clean, groomed, fed and watered and awaiting me to do the interview.

Let us hope this is not the end but the beginning of another chapter we will know more in the next few days.

© Neil Munday

Social Media and support information
Facebook: @kilmarnockhorserescue
GoFundMe: Kilmarnocks Fight Fund
Change.Org Petition:
Help save Kilmarnock Animal Rescue from eviction
Email: kilmarnockhorserescue@gmail.com

Features, SUSY News

The COVID-19 Roadmap for England – Steps 1-4


From Monday 21st June


From Monday 17th May

The government have announced changes to some of the rules on lockdown restrictions effective from the 17th May.

  • People can meet outdoors in groups of up to 30 people
  • Indoors, groups of six or a larger group of two households can meet
  • Hospitality can open indoors – but diners and drinkers must remain seated
  • Indoor entertainment can open, including cinemas, museums, and children’s play areas
  • Theatres, concert halls, conference centres and sports stadia can reopen – with capacity limits
  • Large indoor performances and sporting events with a capacity of 1,000 people will be allowed
  • Outdoor large performances and sporting events will have a maximum capacity of 4,000 people or must only be half full, whichever is lower
  • Bigger sports stadiums will be allowed 10,000 people or can only be a quarter full, whichever is lower
  • Testing will be used to support these openings
  • Organised adult sport and exercise classes can resume indoors
  • Saunas and steam rooms can open
  • Travel restrictions are lifted – but people should only travel to green list countries, or amber if they really have to
  • Hotels, hostels and B&Bs can reopen fully
  • Staycations can take place in groups of up to six people or two households
  • Weddings, receptions, and other life events can take place with up to 30 people – but no guests can dance
  • Funerals can take place with the number of people safely allowed at that specific venue
  • Thirty people can attend a support group, or parent and child group (children under five years old do not count)
  • Care home residents can have up to five named visitors and greater freedoms to make low-risk visits
  • Face coverings no longer needed by secondary school and college pupils in classrooms or communal areas
  • Twice weekly home testing for pupils remains
  • All remaining university students can return to in-person teaching, with twice weekly testing
  • People have the choice as to whether to socially distance with close family and friends
  • People can hug those close to them but they should remain cautious as this remains a way of transmitting COVID
  • Wider social distancing rules remain in place in adult social care, medical, retail, hospitality and business settings.
  • You should continue to work from home if you can. When travelling within the UK, you should aim to do so safely and plan your journey in advance.

    •  
    More detailed information is available from www.gov.uk

    TRAVEL
    On 7th May, the government announced that the ban on non-essential international travel would be removed on the 17th May and replaced with a traffic light system.
    This means it will no longer be illegal to travel abroad without a permitted reason.
    A ‘Green List’ setting out which countries passengers can travel to without needing to quarantine on return has been published.
    To protect public health the Govt DO NOT recommend travel for leisure to countries outside of the ‘Green List’ below:

  • Portugal including the Azores and Madeira
  • Israel
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • Singapore
  • Iceland
  • Brunei
  • Faroe Islands
  • Gibraltar
  • Falkland Islands

    •  
    In addition to the above, the MALDIVES, NEPAL and TURKEY were added to the ‘Red List’. Passengers arriving into England after 4am on 12th May MUST undertake a ten day stay in a managed quarantine hotel.


    From Monday 12th April

  • non-essential retail will be able to reopen
  • personal care premises such as hairdressers and nail salons will be able to reopen
  • public buildings such as libraries and community centres will be able to reopen
  • outdoor hospitality venues will be able to reopen, with table service only
  • most outdoor attractions including zoos, theme parks, and drive-in performances (such as cinemas and concerts) will be able to reopen
  • some smaller outdoor events such as fetes, literary fairs, and fairgrounds will be able to take place
  • indoor leisure and sports facilities will be able to reopen for individual exercise, or exercise with your household or support bubble
  • all childcare and supervised activities will be allowed indoors (as well as outdoors) for all children. Parent and child groups can take place indoors (as well as outdoors) for up to 15 people (children under 5 will not be counted in this number)
  • weddings, civil partnership ceremonies, wakes and other commemorative events will be able to take place for up to 15 people (anyone working is not included in this limit), including in indoor venues that are permitted to open or where an exemption applies. Wedding receptions can also take place for up to 15 people, but must take place outdoors, not including private gardens
  • self-contained accommodation will be able to open for overnight stays in England with your household or support bubble
  • you should continue to minimise the amount that you travel where possible
  • care home residents will be able to nominate two named individuals for regular indoor visits (following a rapid lateral flow test)

    •  
    Visit https://www.gov.uk for more information.

    ‘Stay At Home’ rule is lifting from
    29th March 2021

    Click image to enlarge

    From 29 March, the ‘stay at home’ rule is lifted. However, many restrictions remain in place.

  • People will be allowed to meet outside – including in private gardens – in groups of up to six, or as two households
  • The stay-at-home rule has ended, although the government asks that people “minimise travel”; holidays are still not allowed
  • Outdoor sport facilities will reopen, including golf courses, tennis and basketball courts, and outdoor swimming
  • Formally organised outdoor sports can restart
  • Weddings can take place, attended by up to six people

    • Shielding is lifting from 1st April 2021

    From 1 April, clinically extremely vulnerable people in England will no longer be advised to continue #shielding.

    Learn more ▶️ www.gov.uk

    Letters to patients with updated guidance will be arriving from 19th March 2021 and over the next two weeks.

    Patients on the shielding list will be able to follow the national restrictions alongside the rest of the population, but are still advised to take extra precautions to keep themselves safe from #COVID19.

    On 22 February, Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued a statement in the House of Commons setting out the government’s roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions in England.

    The first steps are summarised below:

    (Click on image to enlarge)

    More information at:
    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-spring-2021

    For more local Coronavirus Information, click HERE

    Features, On Demand

    George Cooper – ‘Slyjynx’

    SLYJYNX were originally founded in 2018 by George Cooper (lead vocalist and lyricist), Mike Pain (guitar) and Phil Stander (bass) with Louis Patterson (drums) and Tom Greatorex (second guitarist) joining later.

    The band have recently released their new single, “Help Myself” which can be found on Spotify and Soundcloud.

    Susy Radio’s Tim Bowling caught up with George Cooper recently to hear more about the band.

    Social Media:
    Facebook: @slyjynx
    Twitter: @SLYJYNX_band
    Instagram: @slyjynx

    Media © Slyjynx 2020