Students Film Comedian Jo Brand ahead of Worthing Pantomime
 
Northbrook MET Creative Media Practice (Moving Image) degree students had the amazing opportunity to film Jo Brand for her new role in Worthing Theatre's pantomime Snow White, which opens at the beginning of December.
 
Jo, who plays the mirror in the production, visited the West Durrington campus, where the students produced, filmed and edited a video of her, which will be incorporated into the pantomime.
 
Kate Mapes, Moving Image degree Course Leader, said, “It’s great that students get the opportunity to work on professional jobs. This gives them a real insight in how to work with a celebrity client in the outside world.”
 
Nick George, Artistic Director for leading pantomime production company Paul Holman Associates (PHA), said, "The students at Northbrook MET were a pleasure to work with. It was great to go into such a professional and well equipped facility, with the students on top of every aspect of the project. PHA would be very happy to work alongside the students on future productions.”
 
A series of collaborations with Worthing Theatres has been developed in the last few years by Level 3 Theatre Arts Course Leader Sadie Anderson. Projects have included the creation of a large scale Cinderella slipper and a Tinkerbell figurine.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs opens at the Pavilion Theatre, Worthing from Friday 1st December 2017 until Monday 1st January 2018. Tickets are available from the Worthing Theatres box office on 01903 206 206 and online at worthingtheatres.co.uk.

Latest Worthing Podcast

The latest Worthing Podcast is online, once again with Worthing Theatres, looking at what's coming up in December. 

There will be another podcast coming soon. With Frances Wetherilt from Here & Now Magazine, to talk to her about the background to the magazine and what makes it successful!  That will be up in a few days. 

Click here to listen to the podcast

Students Film Comedian Jo Brand ahead of Worthing Pantomime
 
Northbrook MET Creative Media Practice (Moving Image) degree students had the amazing opportunity to film Jo Brand for her new role in Worthing Theatre's pantomime Snow White, which opens at the beginning of December.
 
Jo, who plays the mirror in the production, visited the West Durrington campus, where the students produced, filmed and edited a video of her, which will be incorporated into the pantomime.
 
Kate Mapes, Moving Image degree Course Leader, said, “It’s great that students get the opportunity to work on professional jobs. This gives them a real insight in how to work with a celebrity client in the outside world.”
 
Nick George, Artistic Director for leading pantomime production company Paul Holman Associates (PHA), said, "The students at Northbrook MET were a pleasure to work with. It was great to go into such a professional and well equipped facility, with the students on top of every aspect of the project. PHA would be very happy to work alongside the students on future productions.”
 
A series of collaborations with Worthing Theatres has been developed in the last few years by Level 3 Theatre Arts Course Leader Sadie Anderson. Projects have included the creation of a large scale Cinderella slipper and a Tinkerbell figurine.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs opens at the Pavilion Theatre, Worthing from Friday 1st December 2017 until Monday 1st January 2018. Tickets are available from the Worthing Theatres box office on 01903 206 206 and online at worthingtheatres.co.uk.

Transferring the Baton at 5 Rings in Worthing

Sussex-based IT and telecommunications business, 5 Rings, recently celebrated ten years of service at an event held at Worthing Golf Club, attended by staff and friends.

The anniversary celebration for the family-run business provided an opportunity for Geoff Raynsford to hand over the Managing Director role to son Pete Raynsford. Geoff will very much be part of the business going forward operating in a CEO capacity. Pete however, will lead the operational aspects of this multi-functional group.

The group has grown steadily over the years and now provides IT support, telecoms and energy services as well as having an electrical services arm. Its origins are in the Worthing area but in recent years the group has added a highly successful St Albans operation headed up by Group Director, Steve Maton.

Commenting on the hand over, Geoff said: “The party gave as an opportunity to enjoy social time with our fabulous team and friends of the business. I am delighted to hand over to Pete who has proven to be an excellent Operations Director and has the drive and passion to deliver our next stage of growth.”

He adds: “We are a business that is based on a distinctive, personable, service driven culture. This has attracted quality people into the business and allowed us to diversify. IT and Telecoms will continue to be our hub but we are open minded about future developments.”

Worthing’s creative hub energised by grant

 Artists and creative professionals in Worthing’s Colonnade House are being powered on to success thanks to the support of energy firm E.On.

 The creative hub in Warwick Street has been a real hit since opening last year, providing studio spaces for people working in anything from digital animation to fine art and printmaking.

But, draughty windows and doors meant that energy costs to power the creativity were higher than they should be.

In line with Worthing Borough Council’s drive to improve the energy efficiency of local buildings, Adur & Worthing Trust, who run Colonnade House, contacted E.ON and applied to their Energising Communities Fund for a grant to make things better.

They have used the £2000 grant to install secondary glazing - with those behind the hub saying it’s made a real difference.

Clare Halstead, Creative Hub Manager at Colonnade House, said: “The grant from E-ON will be much appreciated over the colder months ahead.

 “Sussex Glazing Services did a fantastic job installing the windows and Colonnade House's staff team completed the energy efficiency work by draught-proofing the external doors, so we are ready for the winter.”

Colonnade House has three floors of studio spaces and two ground floor galleries, hosting a range of exhibitions and events.

In 2015 Worthing Borough Council made a successful application to the Coastal Communities Fund for £245,000 to refurbish the building and set it up as a creative hub.

Following the refurbishment, the building was leased to Adur & Worthing Trust, a local charity that supports arts and culture and is managed through a partnership between the Trust and the Council with a staff team of three, including one apprentice.

Colonnade House officially opened in September 2016 and by the end of the first year the ten studio spaces were let to people working across the creative industries, from animators to illustrators, and photographers to painters at around 80% occupancy.

With two ground floor galleries showcasing exhibitions by local artists and organisations,Colonnade House is bringing a creative buzz to the centre of Worthing.

For more details visit www.colonnadehouse.co.uk.

Rampion announces £4 million community fund

• £3 million fund for local projects to benefit the Sussex community
• £800,000 investment in Rampion Visitor Centre to be located in Brighton
• £100,000 donation to local RNLI stations who help save lives at sea

BuildingAW goes live: new magazine shows Adur & Worthing is growing places

 Adur and Worthing’s reputation as a place on the move towards a better future is to be underlined in a new publication.

Building AW is a bright, informal 26-page online publication which will keep residents and businesses across both areas up-to-date with all the latest development in their communities.

With updates coming every few months, the aim is for Adur & Worthing Councils to keep the public fully informed of the change that is taking place at pace.

Within this first edition is an interview with Ben Cheal, of Roffey Homes, the company behind the redevelopment of the former Aquarena site.

Features on the Adur Tidal Walls scheme in Shoreham, the £3.5 million redevelopment of Worthing Museum and Adur District Council’s successful planning application to create a new office block on the former Civic Centre car park are also enclosed.

The online publication will also include regular updates on some of the major projects across Adur and Worthing which are moving forward at speed.

Councillors heralded the publication as a vital way to communicate with local residents the ongoing work that the Councils is driving forward.

Councillor Brian Boggis, Adur District Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, said: “It is clear that the towns and villages across the district are about to begin an exciting new chapter.

“Major redevelopment schemes such as the Tidal Walls scheme in Shoreham are very much in the public eye at the moment and have the potential to bring increasing investment and prosperity to the district.

“We are also keen to maximise the use of our own council assets to drive regeneration forward, as you will see from the projects currently underway on the old Civic Centre site in Shoreham.

“However, we remain conscious of our obligations to retain the individual character and traditions of the various parts of our district.”

Councillor Kevin Jenkins, Worthing Borough Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, said: “Worthing is emerging as one of the most exciting destinations on the south coast. With a growing reputation as a place to live and work, a new generation of investors, start-up businesses and young families are discovering what makes Worthing great.

“Worthing Borough Council has been developing a new vision for how the town will continue to be transformed in the future.

“Creating a sense of place in the heart of the town, improving the public realm and infrastructure, developing the retail and hospitality experience and growing the tourism offer is vital to this vision.”

To see the publication, visit this link.

Boost your cultural and community funding

Free photos for your LinkedIn Profiles!

Where: Studio 12, Triangle Business Centre, 95 Commerce Way, Lancing Business Park, BN15 8UP.
When: Friday 24th November 11:00am-4:00pm

Martin Bloomfield from Bloomfield Digital and Julian Tate from Image 1 will be taking head and shoulders photos for people's LinkedIn profiles.. If you would like a high resolution photo, its asked that you donate £10 to Care For Veterans, Lancing Business Parks Charity of the Year.

Major investment planned for Worthing’s car parks

Parking charges in some town centre car parks in Worthing are proposed to increase to help fund a much needed multi-million pound upgrade aimed at improving the experience of shoppers and visitors to the town.

With a number of major regeneration schemes transforming the town, Worthing Borough Council leaders believe this should include upgrading its multi-storey car parks.

To help fund the refurbishment, the local authority has recommended a number of modest increases to tariffs at some of the car parks it operates - the first proposed rise since 2014.

Business groups in the town - including the Town Centre Initiative and Worthing & Adur Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the fact prices would still compare favourably to those in neighbouring towns and cities.

The proceeds would support a major investment programme to High Street and Buckingham Road car parks, some of which is already underway.

New lighting and replacement CCTV has already been installed in both car parks. This together with recently introduced night patrols will improve security at all sites.

A programme to replace lifts in Buckingham Road will get under way in December. Future works will include refurbishment of parking decks, entrances and public stairwells and new signage.

In future it will be easier for customers to pay with online automatic billing and contactless payment options being pursued.

Councillor Diane Guest, Worthing Borough Council’s Executive Member for Environment, said: “We know that having sufficient high quality parking is critical to Worthing’s local economy - not only are multi-storeys quite often the first thing visitors see, but they also help reduce congestion in the town centre.

“That’s why it’s vital that we up our game and ensure that our car parks are welcoming, safe and accessible to all.

“This would be the first price increase since we brought the off-street car parks back in house in 2014. But we have ensured they remain competitive and represent value for money.”

Worthing Borough Council brought the running of the car parks back ‘in-house’ from NCP in 2014 and substantially reduced the rates from £1.70 an hour. They have remained that level for four years.

The proposed tariff changes, which could be introduced in the new year, will affect Buckingham Road, High Street, and Grafton multi-storey car parks, as well as Lyndhurst Road surface car park.

Customers would still be able to enjoy £1 per hour for up to four hours on Saturdays and free parking on Sundays at the Civic Centre car park behind the Town Hall.

The popular £1 tariff for the first hour will remain while prices will remain lower than on street parking for up to two hours (the maximum length of on street parking in central Worthing).

The proposals will be subject to consultation with key stakeholders including West Sussex County Council and the police.

Chris Coopey, President of Worthing & Adur Chamber of Commerce, said: “Worthing has been in the fortunate position to not have any issues about the cost of parking since 2014.

 “There is a general feel that we need to see improvements in the car parks in respect to safety, lighting and an improved appearance which hopefully the slight increase in parking costs that has been proposed can allow to happen.

 “In comparison with our competitor destinations, even with the proposed rises Worthing represents really good value.”

 Chris Spratt, Chairman of Worthing’s Town Centre Initiative, said: “I’m delighted to learn the council has committed to carry out some much needed investment into the car parks.

“We are very keen to see investment in improving the customer experience when visiting Worthing. It is unfortunate that the cost of parking is increasing but I’m pleased the council has been astute enough to keep the costs lower than equivalent parking in nearby towns.

“The TCI has agreed to partner with the council in looking at ways to improve the appearance of the car parks to provide a positive welcome to the town.”