Mental health at Christmas
It's often forgotten that Christmas can be a particularly difficult time of year for people suffering from mental health problems such as depression.
It is open 5pm to 9am and all 24 hours a day during weekends and bank holidays, providing out-of-hours mental health advice and support to anyone living or working in Sussex.
Fourteen trained operators can take calls from patients, carers, family members, GPs, NHS professionals and anyone who has a query about mental health related issues.
The number to call is 0300 5000 101.
Wishing everyone a healthy and happy Christmas and New Year.
A busy week ahead
Most of us are still recovering from last Thursday's seven hour Core Strategy meeting, but there is no let up in the final week before Christmas.
On Monday I'm attending the citywide Community Safety Forum to discuss efforts to tackle domestic violence, followed by a meeting to update on progress towards redeveloping the Brighton Centre.
On Tuesday I'm taking part in training to help appoint senior officers, followed by meetings of the Scrutiny Commission, Local Strategic Partnership and then the East Area Housing Panel.
Wednesday is the final meeting for 2009 of the Whitehawk and Manor Farm Crime Prevention Forum at 6.30 in Robert Lodge.
On Thursday I have meetings at the Crew Club and Valley Social Centre where developments around the Whitehawk Hub will be discussed.
Finally on Friday I will be chairing a seminar of the Environment Scrutiny Committee examining the budget proposals for that department for the coming year, after which I have an advice surgery ending at 8pm.
New allotments in East Brighton
There’s good news for all those waiting for an allotment. 40 new plots on the Whitehawk Hill allotment site and 60 new plots on the adjacent Craven Vale site are being opened this weekend. Further details are online at www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/allotments
This Sunday the 3th December, between 10 and 3.30 there will be a “Big Dig” with Brighton & Hove Allotment Federation and Brighton & Hove Food Partnership to provide support and advice for new allotment tenants.
This is excellent news for all those wishing to grow their own food locally, congratulations to all those in City Parks and other departments within the council who have worked so hard to free up these sites and make them available to local people.
Tree O'Clock in East Brighton Park
This Saturday the Friends of Sheepcote Valley are taking part in the national Tree O'Clock event where 300 new trees will be planted as part of an attempt to set a new national tree planting record. It all starts at 11am.