Mayor of Polegate Town

16/07/2026

🎪 Mayor Attends Linking Lives Eastbourne 10th Anniversary Celebration
The Mayor of Polegate was delighted to attend the 10th Anniversary Celebration of Linking Lives Eastbourne at King's Church, where he met the inspiring team from Sweet Circus CIC and learned more about their fantastic work in the community.
The Mayor even had a go at one of their circus activities, trying to keep spinning plates balanced, which proved both fun and challenging!
Sweet Circus CIC is a local not-for-profit organisation that uses inclusive, creative activities to improve wellbeing, build confidence, reduce social isolation and bring people together. Their work has a particularly positive impact on people facing additional challenges, helping to create lasting friendships and stronger community connections.
The Mayor said:
"It was a pleasure to attend the 10th anniversary celebration of Linking Lives Eastbourne and to meet the wonderful team from Sweet Circus CIC. I thoroughly enjoyed having a go at keeping the spinning plates balanced. Their work makes a real difference to people's lives, helping to build confidence, improve wellbeing and bring communities together. Congratulations to everyone involved on this wonderful milestone." 🎉

06/07/2026

06/07/2026

29/06/2026

29/06/2026

Key Stage 3 Awards Evening

Mayor of Polegate Town , Cllr Stephen Shing and Cllr Dan Dunbar Deputy Mayor of Polegate were delighted to attend the Key Stage 3 Awards Evening at Willingdon Community School.

The event celebrated the achievements of students across a wide range of academic, creative and extracurricular disciplines. It was encouraging to see the school's strong emphasis on perseverance, teamwork and excellence - values that contribute greatly to the development of confident and responsible young people.

A particular highlight was the keynote address by Michael Edwards, known as "Eddie the Eagle". His inspiring account of determination, resilience and overcoming challenges delivered a powerful message to students about the importance of self-belief and persistence in achieving their goals.

Awards were presented across a variety of categories, including music, poetry and photography, reflecting the breadth of talent within the school community. The achievements of the award recipients are a credit not only to the students themselves, but also to the dedication of their teachers and the support of their families.

Congratulations to all the students recognised for their hard work, achievements and dedication throughout the year. Mayor Shing said, "I would like to thank the school leadership for their invitation and congratulate all those who received awards. The ceremony demonstrated the high standards being achieved by our young people and left me feeling optimistic about the future of our community."

Well done to everyone involved in such a fantastic celebration of student success.

29/06/2026

Mayor Celebrates 10 Years of Linking Lives Eastbourne

The Mayor of Polegate Town , Cllr Stephen Shing, was delighted to attend the 10th anniversary celebration of Linking Lives Eastbourne, which also coincided with the 10th anniversary of Loneliness Awareness Week.

The event brought together a diverse range of organisations committed to reducing loneliness and strengthening community connections. Visitors were able to meet representatives from local charities and community groups, with displays and activities provided by organisations including Sweet Circus, Canine Concern, A Touch of Gentleness and many others promoting friendship, inclusion, and wellbeing.

Throughout the event, the Mayor met representatives from several partner organisations and gained a greater understanding of the vital support they provide to people experiencing loneliness and social isolation.

One of the highlights of the day was an inspiring conversation with Mr Frederick Smith, Founder and Chairman of "Just Friends", to learn more about the organisation's work in bringing people together through friendship and community support.

Speaking after the event, Mayor Shing said:

"I was delighted to learn more about the excellent work of Just Friends and to hear they are considering opening a branch in Polegate. This would be a wonderful opportunity to support local residents by reducing loneliness and strengthening community connections.

I wish them every success with their plans. If there is any way I can support their work, I would be delighted to discuss how we can work together for the benefit of our community."