LOCAL GROUPS

FOCC Mid Sussex

Area:  From small beginnings in the village of Horsted Keynes in the beautiful Sussex countryside, our group now enjoys support throughout Mid-Sussex and beyond. Our catchment area encompasses the towns of East Grinstead in the north, Haywards Heath in the centre and Burgess Hill in the South.

Group Coordinator:  Sheila Nash - tel. 01444 892149  - email

Visits We welcomed our first group of children from Mogilev in Belarus in 2001. Over the years the children have stayed with host families in Haywards Heath, Crowborough, Horsted Keynes, Danehill, Chelwood Gate, Newick, Lindfield, Scaynes Hill, Balcombe, High Hurstwood and North Chailey.

Visits take place in June/July each year. We meet at The Martindale Centre in Horsted Keynes and organise a varied activity programme for the children during the week - highlights are a three-day camping trip and numerous visits to local swimming pools and the seaside! The main aim of the visit is to improve the children’s health and they receive excellent care from a local dentist and optician. They go home after a month of fun and love, with many happy memories and suitcases filled to bursting with clothes, vitamins, toiletries and food, knowing that people in the UK care about them and their families.

Ways in which you can help We are fortunate in having a waiting list of host families and are considering starting a new group based in the southern part of Mid-Sussex. We are always pleased to hear from families who would like to host a child. There are many other ways in which you can become involved with the charity, either as a host for one of the interpreters, a helper when the children are here, a fundraiser or a sponsor. Please contact our coordinator, Sheila, for more information.