Bognor Regis Herald Weekly Round-Up 9th January 2022
Bognor Regis Centre ‘upgrade’, is it Regeneration? We have some answers — you can judge for yourself
Cassie re-united with owners after eight years …..
plus 3 little ‘extras’!
Wanted for recall to prison
Links to Bognor and Chichester
Missing, 17 — in Bognor or Chichester
Search for Tony Bytheway, wanted on recall to prison — may be in Bognor
6 January 2022
Welcome to 2022 in West Sussex!
There’s no doubt the ongoing pandemic has had an impact on every aspect of our lives, not least on our health and wellbeing.
This eNewsletter focuses on practical ways you can look after your mental and physical health as we start a new year and the challenges it may bring.
We also highlight the benefits of getting out and about and enjoying wintertime — and where better than discovering some of the wonderful places that are right here in West Sussex!
Have a happy and healthy 2022.
Local Covid-19 and vaccination update
Current covid rates remain very high across West Sussex.
Face coverings are compulsory in many indoor settings so if you’re popping to the shops, wear a face covering. Click here for a full list of indoor settings where face coverings are required.
Get more info on Covid-19 rates in your area by visiting our data dashboard.
Vaccinations
We are working closely with our local NHS colleagues to support the vaccination programme.
Everyone 12 years of age and older is now eligible to get a Covid-19 vaccination. Details of walk-in and bookable Covid-19 vaccinations centres available across West Sussex can be found here.
Testing
In response to rising Covid-19 cases and the rapid spread of the Omicron variant across the UK, we should all be following public health advice to slow the spread of infection and keep each other safe.
About 1 in 3 people with Covid-19 do not have symptoms but can still infect others. Even if you’re vaccinated, you can still catch the virus and pass it on.
Symptom-free lateral flow testing will help to check if you have Covid-19, so that if you get a positive result you can self-isolate.
Take lateral flow tests before you meet others, socialise or go to crowded or enclosed places. Please report all results and if you test positive you must self-isolate and order a PCR test.
Please do not leave your place of isolation to collect a testing kit. We recommend that you order a kit for delivery to your home, or ask a friend, relative, or carer to collect a kit on your behalf.
Demand for testing kits is high so please keep trying if you’re unable to get kits first time. Click here for details on how to pick up or order a free lateral flow test kit.
More local information on Covid-19
Make your mental health a priority
Put your mental health at the top of your to-do list for 2022.
The NHS’s Every Mind Matters campaign has expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing.
You’ll also find local information and guidance to support young people on our Your Mind Matters webpages.
Unwind your mind
You don’t have to move very far away from your front door to discover some stunning natural locations where you can relax and unwind your mind.
Walking is a great way of clearing your head and appreciating the natural world around us, like this colourful sunset over Halnaker Mill, pictured last year.
So whether it’s crunching through fallen leaves in the woods, feeling the invigorating salty sea air on the beach, or taking a gentle stroll through the park, you’ll find lots of inspiration on our Experience West Sussex website.
Have a healthier new year…
Most people who do Dry January (not drinking alcohol for the whole month) see a whole host of benefits that make taking part the perfect start to the New Year. You’ll see your skin get brighter, improve your finances and find a calmer mind. Visit the West Sussex Wellbeing website for more information.
The return of the Better Health campaign is encouraging adults across the nation to lose excess weight, eat more healthily and get active this January. Visit the West Sussex Wellbeing website for free help and support to get you started.
Thinking of quitting smoking this year? Giving up smoking is good for your health, your finances and your mental health. Experts have found that adults who smoke increase the likelihood of their kids taking up smoking. So, if you want to quit smoking for your family or for your own health this January, visit the West Sussex Wellbeing website for free help and support.
Our libraries can help your wellbeing
Reading can help lift your mood or give you helpful information, so why not visit your library or reserve a book online?
If you can’t get to the library, we can deliver to you.
Being active is good for wellbeing too, book a place at one of our regular activities and meet new people.
Or check our current offer to see our online activities such as Rhyme Times and Melody for the Mind, where you will also find our Wellbeing Resources, such as our Reading Well collections. Not a member? Join online today!
More news
- Essential work is ongoing to remove ash trees which could pose a risk to road users because of Ash Dieback infection and the potential for branches to fall into the road.
- A new plan that outlines support for more than 120,000 unpaid friend and family carers across West Sussex for the next five years has been launched.
- Our West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service rescued a llama that fell into an underground reservoir after escaping from its enclosure after dark.
Applications for primary, infant and junior school places close on Saturday 15 January 2022.
Children born between 1 September 2017 and 31 August 2018 are eligible to start school this September.
Parents/carers of children currently in Year 2 at infant school can also now apply for a place at junior school for this September as well.
Know someone who would like to receive this eNewsletter?
If you know anyone who would like to sign up for this bulletin, please forward this eNewsletter to them and they can sign up here. Thank you for your support.
Witness Appeal after assault in Chichester
Stolen Dog returned home after 8 years
Get Safe Online — New Year Resolutions
Thinking about New Year’s resolutions? Here’s a great New Year’s resolution that will keep you safe online all year round.
Do you use the New Year as an opportunity to make resolutions to change various aspects of your everyday life for the better? It could be changing your diet, getting more exercise, taking up a new hobby or saving up for something special.
We’d like to suggest another one: getting into better online habits. If you do, you’ll enjoy using the internet with increased safety and more confidence. You’ll be able to protect yourself, your family, finances, devices and workplace.
And what’s more, this resolution could be easier to keep than all the others you make!
Top tips to help you make and keep your online safety New Year’s resolution:
- Don’t overshare — You may like to share the good times with all your contacts, but take a moment to think about what and why you’re sharing, whose hands it could fall into and how it might affect others.
- Do some mobile housekeeping — If you and your mobile are inseparable, it’s a good idea to review what apps you have loaded, and delete those you haven’t used for six months. Check privacy and location settings on all your apps, as well as your device and camera. Make sure your mobile devices are protected with a passcode, and download a reputable security app.
- Get secure — Make sure the software, apps and operating systems on all your devices are updated when prompted, or better still set this to happen automatically. Check that you have up-to-date, high quality internet security software (antivirus/antispyware) on all your devices, including mobiles.
- Keep your payments secure — When you’re making online payments for purchases, services or money transfers, make sure they’re via a secure web page or authorised app. Being asked to pay for something — whether it’s goods, a holiday or travel, concert tickets or anything else, could be a sign that you’re being defrauded.
- Protect yourself from fraud — To safeguard yourself from online fraud, think twice before opening email attachments, or clicking on links in unexpected emails, texts and social media posts. Learn how to spot bogus emails, texts and posts. Don’t provide any more information than is absolutely necessary. And remember that online, not everyone is who they may appear to be. If in doubt, call the organisation or person the communication claims to be from, on the number you know to be correct.
- Behave respectfully — Voice your opinions, beliefs, and agreement or disagreement with others in a balanced, objective, tolerant way. This will earn you wider respect than out-and-out attacking speech, or blindly following or spreading what others say. Treat others as you’d like to be treated yourself. There’s no place online — or anywhere else — for abuse on grounds of race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, appearance or beliefs.
Get Safe Online
Get Safe Online is the UK’s leading source of information and advice on online safety and security, for the public and small businesses. It is a not-for-profit, public/private sector partnership backed by law enforcement agencies and leading organisations in internet security, banking and retail. For more information and expert, easy-to-follow, impartial advice on safeguarding yourself, your family, finances, devices and workplace, visit www.getsafeonline.org.
If you think you’ve been a victim of online fraud, report it to Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre on 0300 123 20 40 or at www.actionfraud.police.uk. In Scotland, report fraud to Police Scotland by calling 101.
Message Sent By
Derek Pratt MBE (NWN, Administrator, Sussex)
