M&S Haywards Heath

The charity is a membership based food operation providing food to people on low incomes in the Burgess Hill area. A weekly subscription is paid by members and this entitles them to shop for food to a higher value than their subscription allowing tight budgets to stretch further. We offer as close to a normal shopping experience as possible with the key words, hope , dignity and choice forming the base for everything we do. Individuals can apply to use the Pantry online or in person. There is a waiting list due to the demands on our service. We currently have over 250 members representing over 800 individuals in Mid Sussex. We also offer wraparound support in the form of cookery classes, maths and literacy support, housing advice, IT support, energy advice and social activities.

Bentswood Hub C.I.C. was set up to take on the responsibility of the community larder and some other activities in the Bentswood area when Sussex Clubs for Young People sadly went in to liquidation. Bentswood Hub C.I.C. offers a holistic approach to youth and community support, empowering the community to embrace it's youth and build better futures. Bentswood Hub C.I.C. delivers the following activities: Emotional support and sign-posting. A community larder offering fair access to food for all. Pop-Up events to support the community at key points in the year. A junior and a Senior youth group. A 'Just for Girls' weekly emotional wellbeing group. Training and work experience programmes for young people. A Man2Men weekly session. A knit and natter weekly session. A weekly silent book club. Volunteering opportunities.

We give people the care they need towards and at the end of their life, supporting them to live as well as possible with their illness by adding life to their days. We also help their families and carers to cope practically and emotionally. When our patients reach the end of their journey, we help them to die with dignity and with as little suffering as possible and we support their families through the process of bereavement. We offer care via our 14 bed inpatient unit, home care through our Community Team and outpatient services through our Wellbeing Centre. We have to raise approximately £2.6 million each year from voluntary sources to ensure these services can be delivered free at the point of care. Our nurses care for the patients both in the hospice and in their own homes. We offer care and support to patients based on their individual choices and needs. Many of our community patients also benefit from our Wellbeing Centre which include: gentle exercise, meditation and breathing classes, a gardening club, art and other creative activities, counselling, welfare advice, complementary therapies and spiritual care. For the duration of the patient’s illness, our hospice becomes an extension of the family. We are the people the patient and family members turn to when they have questions or need reassurance. The hospice supports nearly 700 patients and their families each year. Once a patient dies, our care does not stop. We offer bereavement counselling and remembrance services to the family members. Many people also want to stay in contact with the hospice through volunteering and fundraising for us.