Eating Well from the start

Good nutrition is such a key factor in helping maximise a child’s learning potential and general health, and is a great foundation for their future. Through instilling good healthy eating habits from an early age, you can help, among many things, to:

• reduce susceptibility to illness, which is inevitable through peer contact and play;
• increase concentration levels, which in turn can increase learning potential;
• give them the right energy sources for growth and play; and
• get them interested in good food that will give them all the nutrients they need to grow and thrive, and be a great basis for a healthy life.

Eating healthy fresh food is easy to do and will not break the bank. Often a few changes to a diet can have noticeable benefits.

For one to one nutrition consultations, or group consultations for 4-5 people, contact qualified nutritional therapist, Caroline Westoll, at www.carolinewestoll.com

Let’s Go Cuckoo

Broad Oak Pre-school have joined forces with Friends of East Sussex Hospices to create a huge fundraising event called ‘Let’s Go Cuckoo’, taking place on 4th July. ‘Let’s Go Cuckoo’ will be a sponsored 4-mile walk along the beautiful Cuckoo Trail in East Sussex.  The BBC presenter and mother of two Louise Minchin will be walking on the day.

The walk will start at 10am in Horam and will finish at ‘The Cuckoo’s Rest’ in Hellingly at around 12.30pm, raising much-needed funds for both charities. Refreshments and entertainment will be on offer for the families who complete the walk along as well as a “Let’s go Cuckoo” T-shirt, goody bags and medals for children.

You are invited to join this fun day out, and to bring along your friends and families, young and old. The combined fundraising target is £10,000.  Many local companies have already supported the walk with donations, advertising or in kind.  Grateful thanks are offered to those (BBC Sussex, Co-op, , Freeman Foreman, H & R Hughes Solicitors, Heathfield Windows, Lawson Commercial, Sussex Express, Sovereign Radio, Southern Pools, TR Fastenings & Watsons) who have given their support so far.

Broad Oak Pre-school has been serving the local community for 41 years and has looked after generations of children.  Exceptional care and education are bywords for the school, reflected by an “ ‘outstanding’ in all areas” Ofsted commendation.

Administrator Helen Swan says “Broad Oak Pre-School is run as a charity.  Every year we need to top up the amount we receive from government fees and grants in order to cover our running costs.  Recent changes in the way government funds pre-schools has resulted in BOPS having to bridge a larger than usual shortfall”.

Friends of East Sussex Hospices raises funds and promotes awareness of the invaluable services offered by the hospices that serve the people of East Sussex.  Chairman Kathy Gore says “Our hospices couldn’t perform these services without the wonderful support of local communities and events such as this”.

Local businesses supporting ‘Let’s Go Cuckoo’ include Appleby Petfield, Heathfield Ironmongers, Jewsons, Parker Building Society, Pennels Carpets, Print Matters, Southern Pools and WebPlacing.

For details, registration and sponsorship details see www.letsgocuckoo.co.uk

Rising Stars need help

New Premises and Equipment Sought as Rising Stars Pre-School Hall in Eastbourne Razed to the Ground in Suspected Arson Attack

When St. Andrews Church Hall on Seaside, Eastbourne was destroyed by fire in the early hours of the morning on Sunday 9th May, the home of Rising Stars Pre-school was also razed to the ground. The pre-school, founded in 1977, is a much-loved and popular hub of the community – it already has a full register for September 2010. Sadly there is currently nothing to offer those looking forward to this opportunity since all of the toys, books and ICT equipment have been reduced to ash. Staff, parents and children are distraught at the loss of their resources, not to mention files of irreplaceable work. The pre-school is run by parents and is a non profit-making charity, making the loss all the more poignant.

The immediate priority of the committee is to ensure that the 53 pre-school children currently on the register can continue to be cared for by the staff they have grown to know and trust. They are urgently seeking an OFSTED-registered building to use temporarily until May half term, after which time a more permanent solution is sought.

Please call Sarra Hawes (Chairperson) or Louise Smith (Pre-school Manager) with any offers of help, either with Rising Stars’ quest for a new home or for equipment to enable them to continue their essential role in our local community. Tel: 07773 874629.

There will be a sponsored Toddle on Friday May 21st starting at 10am from Eastbourne Pier to Princes Park.  An online sponsorship page is being set up but in the meantime if you would like to make a donation please contact Chrissy Higgins or paypal her at chrissyhiggins1978@yahoo.co.uk.  More details on Facebook at:  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118530341510868