List of Representatives

Ian works as Mission and Unity Co-ordinator at Churches Together in Sussex. Churches Together is a network of Christian Denominations, organisations and over 50 local groups which have Church unity as one of their primary goals.  Across Sussex over 100,000 men, women and children attend 1000 churches every Sunday, and many also work within their local communities to enrich the lives of those who live, work and visit Sussex.

Churches Together in Sussex are a co-ordinating and facilitating umbrella group and co-ordinates the activities of the various individual groups of "Churches Together" in towns and villages across Sussex. Approx. 50 groups, meets at different times, please contact Ian for details. Churches Together in Sussex also works to promote the role of all 1000 Christian Churches in Sussex and seeks to provide a link with other faith communities.

Age UK East Sussex was founded in 1948 as the Old People’s Welfare Committee. We became an independent charity in 1973, and until December 2010 we were called Age Concern East Sussex. In January 2011 we rebranded as Age UK East Sussex. This was because we became a brand partner with Age UK (the new National Charity for older people formed by the merger of Age Concern England and Help the Aged). We are independent, locally-focused and led by the needs and aspirations of those in later life.

Steve Hare will also, through his role on the SpeakUp Forum, help representing on the county wide level views of the East Sussex Seniors Forum and Meridian Mature Citizens Forum.

Hastings Community Network which is a network of networks in Hasting and St Leonards dedicated to enabling voluntary and community groups to have a representative voice within decision making bodies and to help shape the services we all receive from public agencies.

Hastings Voluntary Action (HVA) aims to enhance the quality of life of people in the Hastings area by promoting the principle and practice of voluntary action by both individuals and organised groups, and by supporting the development of local initiatives to meet community needs.

HVA works with the groups from voluntary and community sector in Hastings area in a whole range of ways. HVA attends a wide range of meetings to enable the statutory partners to find out more about voluntary and community sector activity and capability in Hastings and to be able to feedback to the sector about statutory events, schemes of work and consultations.

Hastings constituency is also represented by Fran McKeown representing Hastings Community Network, which provides direct feedback to and from the voluntary and community sector groups in Hastings.

Nick is working for The East Sussex Disability Association (ESDA) which is an organisation led by disabled people, where non-disabled and disabled people work together to promote the equality and full participation of disabled people in society. Through its activities and services, ESDA provides expert advice, information and practical support to disabled people in overcoming any barriers they encounter. Through ESDA's campaigns, forums, training, research and representation, the voice of disabled people influences the movement towards equal rights in society.

East Sussex Social Enterprise Network (ESSEN) is the support network for East Sussex and was formed during the spring of 2005.

The Network is overseen by a Steering Group containing stakeholders
from the following organisations who have been involved in the development
of this report and Action Plan:

• 1066 Enterprise
• Brighton University
• Hastings Trust
• Harley Reed Consulting
• Rother Voluntary Action
• Action in Rural Sussex
• East Sussex Economic Partnership
• Newhaven Community Development Trust
• Hailsham Trust
• East Sussex Disability Association
• Eastbourne & District Enterprise Agency Ltd
• SEEDA
• Sussex Enterprise

Anne is a Project Manager in Refuge East Sussex. Anne works closely with various organisations across East Sussex in the field of domestic violence.

LINk - The East Sussex Local Involvement Network in Health and Social Care is a network of local people, organisations and groups that want to make all publically funded health and social care services better.  It aims to give the communities of East Sussex a stronger voice in the current health and social care services and their future provision.  The LINk is supported by a host organisation based at the East Sussex Disability Association (ESDA) and has a core/development group to guide and develop its work.

Hastings and Rother Rainbow Alliance is an organisation that is working to support the Lesbian, gay, Bisexual and Transgender local community. Dave is part of the LGBT Equalities Forum (Hastings and East Sussex) which is a joint project between voluntary and community organizations, statutory bodies and University of Brighton. The project which will examine lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) equalities in public bodies. The group aims not only to foreground LGBT equalities work and highlight areas for improvement, but also to create a space for services and the communities they serve to talk to and work with each other in a spirit of partnership

Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) organisation which seeks to end racism and discrimination against Gypsies and Travellers, whatever their ethnicity, culture or background, whether settled or mobile, and to protect the right to pursue a nomadic way of life.

The overall objective of the organisation is to work towards a more equitable society where everyone has the right to travel and to stop without constant fear of persecution because of their lifestyle. Consequently, FFT does not restrict it’s services to one particular group nor does it represent one group against another, but rather responds to the needs of the community as a whole.

Established in 1949, Eastbourne & District Mencap has been supporting local people with learning disabilities and their families for over 60 years.We provide a range of services from 24 hour residential care to day opportunities and family services. We are a local registered charity supported by the kind and generous people of Eastbourne.