1st Cuckfield Cubs support local people

The 1st Cuckfield Cubs were the first in the region to take on the Foodbox Challenge to support local people who needed the services of the Foodbank to stop them from being hungry this Christmas.
The idea was that teams of boys and girls collected enough dried and tinned food as recommended by Haywards Heath Foodbank to fill a large cardboard box. But each item had to be earned, by doing a good deed or a kindness. The boys and girls took on the challenge and filled boxes by washing up, making beds, emptying bins and tidying their bedrooms. Cub Section Leader said; “The Cubs were really excited to take part and earned the contents of the boxes by being helpful. Our motto was to do our best and I am really proud of the way they met the challenge.”

Susan Osborne, who is a volunteer and Foodbank Trustee, presented sew-on badges to each Cub and congratulated them all for their efforts. She said; “Based on their enthusiasm we were expecting great things and they didn’t disappoint. Many families will benefit from their kindness and now we know how successful it can be, we will be looking to roll out the idea across Mid Sussex to other cub and scout groups in the new year.”

1st Cuckfield Cubs meet at the scout hut on Stocklands Close, Cuckfield every Tuesday evening during term time, between 6.45pm to 8.15pm.

New premises for Haywards Heath Foodbank

Haywards Heath Foodbank’s new headquarters was recently officially opened by the town’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor as the service announces the re-introduction since the Covid pandemic, of its client collection system to supplement the weekly delivery service – with a tie-in to the King’s Coronation.

Councilor Howard Mundin cut the ribbon at the new premises on Delaware Road, Haywards Heath and saw how the food bank team are helping clients celebrate King Charles III’s coronation with the creation of a special pudding devised by Cuckfield Michelin star chef Stephen Crane. Heather Cooper, Foodbank Manager explains: “As well as the usual food boxes, our clients also received a Coronation Foodbank Box which replicated as many items as we were able from the last coronation.
“Jelly and custard were the favourite pudding at that time, and we have gone one better. We invited chef Stephen Crane, from Ockenden Manor in Cuckfield, to make a food bank coronation trifle based on the popular food donations of tinned fruit, biscuits, rice pudding and custard. All the ingredients to serve up this special treat will be included in the coronation box”.

The food bank delivery service will carry on for those who don’t have transport or have health issues, but the team will encourage those who are able to visit and collect their food, to enjoy refreshments if they wish, plus a confidential chat or signposting with a friendly volunteer.

The new headquarters will be open on Tuesday afternoons from 2-4pm and Thursday mornings from 10am-12noon. Cuckfield’s Barry Prior, Chair of Trustees, adds: “By drawing the comparison of what the coronation weekend hopes to achieve – the sense of communities coming together in a spirit of shared values – we believe that sentiment resonates with the work of our food bank, which relies on the generosity of the public to provide the food, and the time and efforts of our volunteers to sort and pack it.”

For more information, please contact Heather Cooper, Haywards Heath Foodbank Manager on Tel: 07884 106719.