Epsom & Ewell Borough Council is installing 14 memorial benches across the Borough to commemorate all the lives lost in the Covid-19 pandemic. Metal benches have been placed at Alexandra Recreations Ground, Long Grove Park, Nonsuch Park, Shadbolt Park, Stoneleigh Broadway and The Grove in Ewell Village.

Mayor Clive Woodbridge, College Ward Councillors Julie Morris and Nigel Colin, Cllr Hannah Dalton and Elena Ciesco. Acting Borough Chief Executive Jackie King also attended.

More metal benches have been or are in the process of being installed at Auriol Park, Ewell Court Park, Mounthill Gardens and The Wells Centre. Wooden benches will also be placed at Epsom Common, Grandstand Road, Horton Country Park and Hogsmill by the steppingstones at a later date. Flowers will also be planted around the benches where appropriate.

Funding for the benches was provided via the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

Councillor Hannah Dalton, who put forward the CIL bid, said, “The past two years have been extremely hard for everyone in the Borough, but more so for those who have lost loved ones. These benches are our permanent memorial to all those affected by the pandemic. “I hope they will bring comfort to grieving families, ensuring that their loved one will always have a place in and be remembered by our community.”

Councillor John Beckett, Chair of Environment and Safe Communities Committee, added, “While these benches memorialise the pandemic, they also represent a time for reflection within the Borough. I can’t think of a more fitting tribute to those we have lost, than to have something to remind us of and generations to come.”

One of the benches, for each of the Borough’s Wards, was the place of a moving speech by Mayor Clive Woodbridge on Saturday morning 22nd October. In Alexandria Park The Mayor spoke of the loss so many across the Borough have suffered during the pandemic. As of the week ending 7th October 2022 the UK Government funded LG Inform states that 474 persons have died of Co-Vid in Epsom and Ewell.

Mayor Woodbridge recognised how deep the bereavement is felt by relatives who came to the bench this day especially as he had this year suffered the loss of a son. As an example of the reality of loss he read a tribute to one Epsomian who succumbed to the virus.

“Luigi Ciesco was born in Italy in 1941 and at the age of 19 he moved to England in 1960 to start a new life. He met Vincenza his wife, at a wedding in Italy and soon after, they were married, settling first in Hook Road and then in Alexandra Road in Epsom for 45 years. They went on to have 4 children and 8 grandchildren and were married for 57 years. He was an amazing, fun loving and cheeky man, a real character and he was known and loved by so many. He loved his family, and he loved his Italian music and he loved to dance. He was an extremely hard-working man and worked in the NHS. He grew all his own vegetables and was an expert gardener and wine maker.

The Covid memorial benches mean a great deal to the bereaved families. The world seems to have moved on from Covid but they have not moved on, they are forever changed. The benches show the reality of how cruel this virus is and how it does not discriminate from young to old. We all hope that it makes people stop and think about our loved ones never to be forgotten.”

Surrey Arts inclusion music teacher Raghad Haddad has won the Inspirational Music Leader Award at the Youth Music Awards 2022. Raghad received her award on 19 October in Troxy London in recognition of her work for Surrey Arts as a diverse leader of refugee background, supporting vulnerable children in Surrey.

Raghad Haddad is a viola player from Yabroud, a small town in the mountains north of Damascus. Since being granted asylum in the UK in 2018 she has performed at numerous charity events in London and Brighton and recently performed with Damon Albarn, The Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and The Orchestra of Syrian Musicians.

On behalf of Surrey Arts Raghad has worked on multiple projects supporting vulnerable children including SEND and refugee children and has been the executive producer of a major international music project involving the United Nations and 120 participants from around the world.

After finding out she won the award, Raghad said: “I was speechless when they announced my name as the winner of the Inspirational Music Leader at the Youth Music Award 2022 this week!

“It’s such an honour to have received this award and I’m so grateful to my colleagues at Surrey Arts for the support they have given me since I arrived in the UK from Syria. 

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity, not only to rebuild my own life but also the privilege to help others affected by war, poverty, climate change and discrimination. Sadly, the need to support displaced communities is not getting smaller and I look forward to supporting more of your transformational projects in the months and years ahead.”

Kavyan Hajirostami also won the Young Leader Award for their work with Big Leaf. Big Leaf support Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) across Surrey and work closely with Surrey Arts on a range of music and arts projects. You can find more information about Big Leaf here: https://www.bigleaffoundation.org.uk/

Surrey County Council news

Pupils at Shawley Community Primary Academy Epsom Downs will put their racket skills to the test this half-term and take part in an exciting afternoon of tennis coaching and computer-based learning activities, with education charity, Rackets Cubed.

The unique initiative combines racket sports with science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) lessons at the local Sutton Sports Village, rounded off with a well-deserved and nutritious hot meal for the budding athletes and computer whizzes.

Supporting all children to be healthy, happy and ambitious learners is at the heart of Shawley Primary Academy’s approach. The school has partnered with Rackets Cubed to help widen access into sports and STEM learning for more children in the borough, empowering each pupil to realise their full academic and sporting potential.

The charity aims to improve the lives of children and young people across the UK and raise aspirations through its integrated programme of sport, education and nutrition learning. As part of the enriching afternoon, pupils in years 5 and 6 will be getting served with:

• Racket sports – a structured coaching session with a professional sports coach
• STEM activities – one hour of fun and engaging computer-based activities delivered alongside the sports coaching, to complement the core school curriculum
• Nutrition – A healthy and hearty meal will be provided at the end of the session to help the children re-energise, whilst learning about the importance of nutrition for classroom and sporting achievement

While tennis fans bid farewell to old legends such as Serena Williams and Roger Federer this year, the future is looking bright with newcomers such as Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu. This makes it a perfect time to introduce more local children to the sport and nurture the next generation of diverse tennis talent.

By providing pupils with the opportunity to try extracurricular opportunities that otherwise might not be easily accessible, Shawley and Rackets Cubed are working to help children dream bigger, develop their skills and discover new passions.

Sports Lead at Shawley Community Primary Academy, said:

“We are very excited here at Shawley to begin this partnership with Rackets Cubed and help break down barriers to sports and STEM learning. The positive growth and self-fulfilment of our pupils is central to what we do, so being able to align ourselves with a charity that is also driven by these aims was incredibly important to us. Sports can create an infinite number of opportunities and benefits when it’s regularly engaged in, so it wonderful to work with Rackets Cubed and help our pupils access professional coaching and training, which all contributes to their wider success.”

For more information about Shawley Community Academy, please visit: https://www.shawleyprimaryacademy.co.uk/

Vice Chair of Trustees and Company Secretary vacancies Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell are advertising for a Vice Chair of Trustees and a company secretary (both volunteer roles) to join/support our Board of Trustees. These are very rewarding roles and will be critical in furthering the work of CAEE particularly as we support local people through the cost of living crisis. Further information and application packs are available on our website. For an informal chat about the roles, contact our Chair of Trustees via the website. Closing date for applications is 14
November.

We also have a number of other volunteer roles available including reception and admin supporters, fundraisers, research & campaigns volunteers.

Please visit our website caee.org.uk/volunteer/ for more details.

Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell
21 October 2022

A man who stole £23,000 when he burgled a house in Epsom, will now spend just under three years behind bars for his crime. Alfred Pire, 25, of York Road, Chingford, pleaded guilty to using a crowbar to break into a home on East Street, Epsom, on the afternoon of 23 May. After conducting an untidy search, Pire took approximately £23,000 in cash and fled the scene.

In his rush to leave the crime scene Pire left the crowbar behind, allowing officers to swab it for DNA bringing up a match on the system. Investigators also trawled through footage from nearby CCTV images and were able to match Pire to a man acting suspiciously in the area at the time of the burglary.

At sentencing at Guildford Crown Court on Monday, 17 October, Pire was sentenced to 32 months in prison. Unfortunately, the money stolen in the burglary was not recovered.

Investigating officer PC Brown said: “Pire was brazened enough to drive to the scene in his own vehicle and use a crowbar to break into the victim’s house, stealing a significant amount of cash that was proceeds of years of hard work and long hours from the victim’s business. The impact this has had on the victim has been huge.

“We know that when your house is burgled victims can feel extremely violated and uncomfortable in their own home. No-one should have to feel like this due to another persons’ selfish and criminal actions, so we are very pleased that we were able to bring the victim some closure with the successful prosecution of Pire.”

Surrey Police

Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell (CAEE) has launched a crowdfunding scheme with the Aviva Community Fund to raise money to deliver critical Cost of Living advice to local people. Aviva has selected CAEE to be part of the Aviva Community Fund where Aviva employees can allocate £25 (donated by Aviva) to their chosen charity project on the scheme. The crowdfunding scheme is not limited to Aviva employees – the public are encouraged to donate towards community fund projects. In addition, Aviva has pledged to match donations (one per donor) up to the value of £250 to help tackle the Cost of Living crisis.

Lisa Davis, CEO, CAEE said: “The Cost of Living crisis is affecting all of us with rising prices and concerns about the future. But for some, the crisis is truly devastating. People coming to us are understandably very worried about paying their bills, heating their homes and looking after their families. Demand for our services is predicted to grow this winter so this campaign is crucial to help us support the local community during this difficult time.”

CAEE is an independent charity and needs to raise funds to keep its services running for the benefit of the community of Epsom & Ewell. It gives free advice and information about many different issues including debt, benefits, housing and employment advice.  This can include crisis support such as vouchers for the local food bank and funds to help with fuel payments. CAEE can check that people are claiming all the benefits and other money that they are entitled to and help with budgeting skills whether they are in debt or worried about managing their money effectively.

Please visit the CAEE crowdfunding page for more information and to donate: https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/p/citizens-advice-epsom-ewell-cost-of-living-advice-services  

Or visit the CAEE website www.caee.org.uk

About Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell CAEE is a small, local charity offering free advice and information for all who live, work and study in the borough of Epsom &a Ewell. All advice is free, confidential, impartial and independent.As a small charity we are responsible for raising our funds. It costs, on average, £60 for each client that we help. To make a donation please visit www.caee.org.uk/donate/

Just £5 per month could enable us to help another client this year. If you need advice, please contact our friendly team at Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell on 0808 278 7963 (Mon-Fri, 10am – 4pm) or see our website: www.caee.org.uk

Epsom Pantry is a member-led community hub and food shop opened by Good Company (Surrey). Opened to create a network of support and a much-needed source of affordable grocery shopping within our community. The Pantry is a means of strengthening people’s financial and emotional resilience while also helping to reduce the dependency on food banks. The cost-of-living crisis means more and more households are struggling to make ends meet. The Pantry offers vital financial savings, access to healthy nutritious food and the opportunity to be part of a growing community of support during a time when it is most needed.

Image: Volunteers Faye and David in the Pantry

Since officially opening back in July they now have 170 members, supporting a total of 299 adults and 258 children. The Pantry membership has grown very quickly, far exceeding its aim of reaching 100 members in a year!

Bex Loomes, Epsom Pantry Manager said “With growing numbers comes a great sense of community. As soon as the shop opens there is a buzz and a lovely atmosphere. We have seen long lost friends reunited, shoppers sharing new recipe ideas, and people sitting down to chat with new friends, in a space they feel is their own. If you are in Epsom Monday to Friday, do pop in and say hello. We are open for limited hours but there is often someone in the shop ready to show you around.”

Epsom Pantry works through a membership system. Anyone can apply online to become a part of Epsom Pantry or be directly referred to the Pantry by Epsom & Ewell Foodbank. The Pantry offers an alternative food-aid that is available to anyone we see at our food banks centres. They also help people before they are in that crisis situation.

For £5 members get to choose 10 items from the shelves. Each week this includes meat, dairy, fridge, and freezer items, as well as all the store cupboard basics and toiletries. Fruit, vegetables, eggs, and bread are all given out for free! Our members are taking home over £30 worth of food shopping for just £5, meaning they are saving an average of £1,000 a year on shopping bills.

When not open for shopping, they are running community activities. So far these have included free children’s cooking classes with Jayne from Grow, Cook, Enjoy; energy advice consultations and top ups with Dave from Surrey Community Action; and adult low-cost, low-energy cooking classes with Chef Renu.

Newest staff team member Jane (Pantry Co-ordinator) will be heading up these community activities going forward, engaging with local agencies, and involving the wider Epsom community in what Epsom Pantry do here.

Epsom Pantry
24 South Street
Epsom
KT18 7PF

Surrey County Council and 56 Local Authorities across England have worked together to share ideas and jointly fund the creation of a short film to raise awareness of fostering. It is aimed at finding more people who may be interested in becoming foster carers and providing nurturing, positive homes for children and young people across the country who need them. 

The new film, simply called ‘Childhood’, highlights the impact of neglect on children, particularly brothers and sisters who may be left at times to try and care for each other. It shows the journey of ‘Sophie’ and ‘Charlie’ who are in a very difficult home situation where their needs are not being met, to being nurtured and supported through foster care to attend school and be able to enjoy their hobbies and interests. In other words, have a childhood.  

Sinead Mooney, Cabinet Member for Children and Families at Surrey County Council said: “We have a critical need for more foster carers in Surrey, and we are calling on people to open their hearts and homes, to make sure that Surrey’s children can be cared for in their local community. Fostering really can make a huge difference to children and young people, and we offer a strong carer network as a local authority, so I encourage people to find out more.”   

‘Childhood’ will be officially launched with a premiere at the Everyman cinema, Birmingham on 13^th October, with an introduction from Kevin Williams, the Chief Executive of The Fostering Network, and Rachel Brown, project manager working with Council Advertising Network. 

Kevin Williams said “We continue to value and support foster carers but we urgently need more foster carers to come forward to care for children within their local communities. Foster carers are the bedrock of children’s social care; they are vital in our society and our young people rely on their care, dedication, passion and skills to support them when they need it most. Across the UK, around 9,265 more fostering families are needed, to make sure every child that can’t live with their own family gets the care they need. 

“Currently, there are over 70,000 children living with almost 56,000 foster families in the UK, and the number of children coming into care keeps rising. The reasons children become looked after vary widely. We need more people to come forward to foster, to stand by their side and to be there for them no matter what.”

The film will then be published on all 56 participating council’s social media platforms. 

The film will be available to watch and share from all participating local authority platforms from noon on 13^th October 2022 to help the message spread across the UK using the hashtags #FosterForYourCouncil and #Childhood 

Find out more about Fostering in Surrey here: surreycc.gov.uk/fostering and follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.  

 Anyone can contact SCC today for a friendly and informal chat about fostering in Surrey: 0800 096 9626. 

Surrey County Council news

Surrey Police marked County Lines Intensification Week (3-9 October) by targeting and disrupting violent county lines gangs and engaging with those most vulnerable to exploitation by these criminals.

The intensification week, which is run nationally, aims to make life as difficult as possible for members of county line gangs, who often use violence and intimidation to exploit children and the vulnerable and to force them to store and ‘run’ drugs for them.

Over the week, officers focused on visiting local communities to raise awareness of the signs of exploitation and what to do if you think a loved one is at risk. They carried out 31 cuckooing prevention visits, safeguarded 40 vulnerable adults, engaged with over 460 people at local community events, and completed almost 120 prevention and education visits at secondary schools, taxi firms, leisure centres and youth groups.

A total of 11 people were also arrested for various drugs offences, 76 people were proactively stopped and searched, over 250 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine were seized, and more than £2000 in cash and assets were confiscated.

This latest activity was carried out by the neighbourhood and proactive teams and is on top of the 119 county lines that Centurion, our dedicated county lines team, have successfully shut down since their creation in September 2020. This works out at just over one drugs line being closed per week.

DCI Debbie White said: “County lines gangs can cause untold misery to their victims as they often utilise violence (including sexual violence), and intimidation to exploit the most vulnerable in our society. Working closely with our partners in neighbouring forces and the South East Regional Crime Unit (SEROCU), we have become very effective at using intelligence to identify and target those who may be involved in this criminal activity and bringing them to justice. Your information is vital in allowing us to keep on closing down these drug lines, so if you have any information regarding drug dealing or violent crime in your area, or you are worried that someone is being exploited, we need you to tell us. If you’d rather not speak to police, please reach out to the anonymous and fully independent charity Crimestoppers. Together we can stop the flow of drugs into our county.”

Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend said: “Driving county lines gangs out of Surrey remains a key priority for me as your Commissioner and this kind of targeted police action is vital in helping take dangerous people and drugs off our streets. These networks are ruthless and actively groom young and vulnerable people in our communities to act as drug couriers or dealers. It is so important we all work together to prevent them falling into the clutches of these gangs. That is why I would ask everyone to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police so they can take immediate action and disrupt this criminal activity in our county.”

Surrey Police news

Welcome to our weekly update.

NATURE POEMS POET’S CORNER

Epsom Common Bird Walk Poem

October 13, 2022

It’s an early start, binoculars in hand,we follow the winding path through the trees;all shades of green surround us as we standdawn chorus resounds, distant bird calls tease.On the pond, … READ MORE

COMMUNITY EDUCATION

Epsom College top independent school 2022

October 12, 2022

Epsom College has been judged Independent School of the Year 2022 at an annual awards ceremony that celebrates the very best in education and student experience in UK independent schools. … READ MORE

NEWS TRANSPORT AND ENVIRONMENT

Re so la – “a very good place to start”?

October 12, 2022

Guildford’s MP has labelled a “blanket ban” on solar farms “unwise” and says she supports a bid by the University of Surrey for a site outside of the town. The … READ MORE

COUNCIL PLANNING

Claygate not to suffer children’s home

October 11, 2022

Plans for a children’s home in a Claygate cul-de-sac have been refused despite support from Surrey County Council which needs more beds for Surrey’s vulnerable children. The application for a … READ MORE

COMMUNITY COUNCIL HEALTH

Lighting up for menstrual dignity

October 11, 2022

On Tuesday 11 October Surrey Fire and Rescue Service lit up Guildford Fire Station in a show of support for Binti, an international menstrual dignity charity based in Weybridge, Surrey. … READ MORE

FOOTBALL SPORTS

Epsom and Ewell FC Top the Table

October 10, 2022

Epsom & Ewell 2-0 Hailsham Town. Southern Combination League – Division One. Saturday 8th October 2022. It was back to League action on Saturday following our midweek League Cup defeat, … READ MORE

COMMUNITY NATURE NEWS

Princess Anne’s Epsom visit kept a bit secret

October 9, 2022

Epsom and Ewell Times exclusive: 21st June 2022 HRH The Princess Royal entered the Borough of Epsom and Ewell. The Court Circular states: Her Royal Highness this afternoon opened the … READ MORE

COMMUNITY TRANSPORT AND ENVIRONMENT VOLUNTEERS

Can we be sustainable?

October 9, 2022

Sustainable Epsom and Ewell is an independent, apolitical and entirely volunteer led environmental group aiming to raise environmental ambitions in the Borough. Sustainable Epsom and Ewell was founded in late … READ MORE

COUNCIL VOLUNTEERS

Surrey’s Fire Service sends 4×4 to Ukraine

October 7, 2022

Two Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) staff members set off to Poland yesterday (Thursday 6 October) to donate another 4×4 Land Rover to the Ukrainian Fire and Rescue Service. … READ MORE

COUNCIL PLANNING

“Blot on the landscape” – Ewell care home inked in

October 7, 2022

A derelict site in Ewell is to become a 70-bed care home. The Organ Inn was known to any one of Epsom and Ewell driving to London. Situated prominently on … READ MORE

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COUNCIL PLANNING

14 against 59 = 70? Dilemma for Headley

October 6, 2022

Councillors have been warned to “be under no illusions” that a plan for 70 homes at Headley Court could be progressed as they rejected an application for 59 homes on … READ MORE

COUNCIL HEALTH

Will “Top Tory” Surrey County lobby Coffey?

October 6, 2022

A council chief has called on select committee members to use their status as a “top Tory” authority to influence health spending at government level. Calling ambulances backed up outside … READ MORE

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