28/12/2013 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

‘Tis the season to recycle

Posted on 28/12/2013 by Sarah Green

Now you have opened your presents this Christmas, remember to recycle those old hairdryers, food processors and computers.

Brighton & Hove City Council has 20 recycling collection points for small electrical items across the city where old and broken kettles, hair dryers, toasters, DIY tools and irons can be recycled.

The scheme is run by the council and Veolia Environmental Services, as part of a drive to encourage residents to reduce waste, and to recycle more.

Councillor Pete West, chair of the council’s Environment, Sustainability and Transport Committee said: “The average resident accumulates three new electrical items each year, and many of these are Christmas presents.

“However, only one in five small electrical items gets recycled.

“With 20 bring sites across the city, residents can easily recycle their unwanted items and we hope to see the banks filling up by the new year.”

All small items, broken or usable, are accepted including toys, shavers, phones, DIY tools, mobile phones and kitchen appliances. They just need to be small enough to fit through the chute.

The recycling sites can be found at:

• Marine Cliffs Car Park, Rottingdean

• Asda Marina

• Whitehawk Family Centre

• Leybourne Parade, Lower Bevendean

• Withdean Stadium

• Outside Hikers Rest P.H., Coldean Lane

• Opposite 57 Ladies Mile Road, Patcham

• Montpelier Crescent

• Opposite The Glass Centre, 224-226 Portland Road

• Goldstone Retail Park

• Kingswood Street

• Little East Street (east of Brighton Town Hall)

• Whitecross Street

• Regent Street

• The Level, Union Road

• Tisbury Road – outside Hove Town Hall

• Upper Rock Gardens

• Wickes DIY, Davigdor Road (Lyon Close)

• King Alfred Leisure Centre Car Park

• Norfolk Square, Western Road.

Electrical items can contain hazardous and toxic metals which can be damaging to the environment when thrown away.

Recycling these items helps preserve natural resources and protect the environment. Some electrical items also contain valuable raw materials such as silver while others can be used to make other items. For example – one iron contains enough steel to produce 13 steel cans!

Larger items can be taken to the council’s household waste recycling centres or collected using the bulky waste service featured on the council’s website.

For more information on recycling and reusing electrical items, CLICK HERE:

Brighton Half Marathon unveils Charity Ambassadors for 2014

Posted on 28/12/2013 by Besi

Danny Dwyer, a 38 year old legal agent from Brighton is to be an Ambassador representing the Sussex Beacon at the Brighton Half Marathon on February 16, 2014.

Danny is a long standing supporter of The Sussex Beacon and has been a volunteer fundraiser with the charity for three years. He will be running the Brighton Half Marathon for the third time in 2014.

Danny runs to keep fit and taking part in the Brighton Half Marathon gives him the motivation to train whilst allowing him to support his local charity and community.

He said: ”‘HIV has been part of my life for many years. I often sit back and look over the volunteering work I have done and what I’m involved with currently in the community. When I see photos like this it only encourages me to keep motivated. Volunteering with the HIV Sector is a wonderful thing yet a rollercoaster of emotions. My support and commitment to The Sussex Beacon couldn’t be any stronger. I do what I do to help people smile, to keep them motivated and to believe in themselves. I have met so many inspirational people through volunteering that have encouraged me to keep smiling myself and I NEVER want this journey to end!”

If you want to sponsor Danny, CLICK HERE:

Other Charity Ambassadors for the race include; Luisa Gretton from Brighton who represents RISE, Judy Foote from Bromley who runs for WaterAid and Aoife McCauley from Eastbourne who supports Scope.

Public places for the Brighton Half Marathon on Sunday, February 16 are sold out but runners can still sign up to run for one of the races official charities, including The Sussex Beacon.

To register to run for the Sussex Beacon, CLICK HERE:

For more information about the Sussex Beacon, CLICK HERE:

Council staff and councillors support Eastern European communities at Christmas

Posted on 28/12/201330/12/2013 by Sarah Green

A charity project helping people in Eastern Europe has been supported by staff and councillors at Brighton & Hove City Council.

The Link to Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal asked for contributions of simple gifts to make a big difference to those in need. Donated items were placed in shoeboxes ready for distribution to families, individuals and projects (such as orphanages and soup kitchens) throughout Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Albania and Ukraine.

Gifts include pens, pencils, gloves, socks, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and other household basics that many people in the UK take for granted.

A total of 94 festively wrapped boxes of Christmas gifts have been donated by councillors, staff and their families at Brighton & Hove City Council.

Deputy Leader of Brighton & Hove Council, Cllr Lizzie Deane, said: “The shoebox appeal is a simple and effective example of how Christmas is a time for giving. The boxes will reach vulnerable people in need of comfort in the midst of winter. This collection was supported from all areas of the council with people working together to help others.”

The craft group at Tower House Day Centre filled their boxes with hand-knitted hats, scarves and other goodies. Individuals donated boxes and teams got together to collect up donations. Staff in the Commissioning Support Unit collected 32 boxes and a joint effort in Democratic Services added a further 12 wrapped boxes packed with essential items and other gifts. A large donation of children’s clothes was also made to help the charity.

The boxes were passed to Worthing-based charity Link to Hope so the gifts could be transported in time for distribution before Christmas. The Shoebox Appeal has been running since 1992 and has delivered over 600,000 shoeboxes to hundreds of different locations in Eastern Europe over the years.

For more information on the work of Link Romania, CLICK HERE: