Spotlight on Uckfield

 

Uckfield Bonfire and Carnival Society

Uckfield Carnival originated 185 years ago and was organised by shopkeepers on Wednesday afternoon, early closing day, latterly moving to the first Saturday every September. Now the full carnival weekend takes place on the first Saturday of September every year. This includes fireworks on the Friday evening, a children’s procession on the Saturday afternoon and a full torchlight procession on the Saturday evening.
The Society spends most of the year fundraising and several months preparing and making 3,500 torches for the torch light procession, which is supported by other Bonfire and Carnival Societies of Sussex, bands, majorettes, and decorated tableaux.
The Society’s motto is “We burn for charity” and each year the Society donates thousands of pounds to local charities and deserving causes.
Find our more at their website – www.uckfieldcarnival.co.uk
The Uckfield Society wears Mexican costumes for the parades. Everyone is welcome to join and attend the meetings on the second Tuesday of each month at Uckfield Civic Centre at 8pm. For further information, contact the Secretary – Email: pji68@live.co.uk
Uckfield Bonfire procession
Uckfield Chamber of Commerce logo

Uckfield Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber is a vibrant, active and lively group of local businesses; current membership is over 200, meeting 6 times a year in January, March, May, July, September and November at venues around the Uckfield area. The Chamber elects an Executive Committee of between 4 and 12 members who meet every month. There are always good networking opportunities. If you are interested in joining a significant body in the community please contact the secretary at the address below:

Ian Noble – Secretary
Uckfield Chamber of Commerce
15 Horsted Square
Bellbrook Business Park
Uckfield TN22 1QG

Telephone:07801250668

Email: secretary@uckfieldchamber.co.uk

Website:www.uckfieldchamber.co.uk/ 

Ashdown Radio

Broadcasts on 105FM 24 hours a day, every day of the year, to Crowborugh, Uckfield and the surrounding villages. It plays excellent music from the last five decades, local and national news, travel updates and local and community events. It also plays a big part in the Uckfield Festival each July, the Uckfield Carnival in September and the Christmas late night shopping in December. It is the voice of Uckfield and the surrounding areas and is proud to be able to say it is one of only two community radio stations in East Sussex. It is always on-air, which means that it can keep the town updated with any event that might occur instantly.

Advertising, sponsorship of programmes and the offer of on air prizes are just three ways of promoting a company or business. The station also attends local events, school fetes, sports days and fairs at a reasonable cost. Further information can be obtained by calling 01825 891 105 or by visiting www.ashdownradio.com. The station can also be contacted via Facebook or via the studio www.ashdownradio.com/contact/contact-the-studio

Ashdown Radio logo
Bluebells in Boothland Wood

Uckfield and District Twinning Association

Is an active association with over 100 members of all ages. They have strong links with twin towns in Germany and France as well as a strong programme of youth activities and regular social events. Uckfield has been twinned with Quickborn in Germany since 1989 and local residents have regularly been welcomed in this northern Germany town for the annual Eulenfest celebration, while they host German visitors to the Uckfield Festival. 2011 saw the formal twinning with the new French partner town of Arques-la- Bastaille near Dieppe. In the last few years primary school groups have stayed with families in France, teenagers have taken part in exchange youth camps, while adults on both sides of the Channel have made friends and enjoyed hospitality. The Association also supports local teenagers to attend an annual International Youth Camp which takes place in countries throughout Europe. In 2010 an organised camp in Uckfield attracted young people and youth leaders from England, Germany, France, Sweden, Latvia and Finland. Apart from the formal twinning activities they run a series of social events, quizzes and talks throughout the year.

 

New members are always welcome. Please get in touch if you would like to; join them in a visit to Germany or France; host families from other countries; recommend a young person to attend the subsidised youth camps here or abroad or come to one of their social events. For more information email: davidsudbery@hotmail.com or telephone: 01825 733318

Uckfield Leisure Centre

The site is owned by East Sussex County Council and currently leased to Wealden District Council. Freedom Leisure manages Uckfield Leisure Centre on behalf of Wealden District Council. Its aim is to “improve lives through leisure”, providing affordable, inclusive and sustainable facilities that the whole community can enjoy. The leisure centre is located in Downsview Crescent.

In terms of facilities there is a 25m pool which has a gently sloping beach and a flume: perfect for families and those who want to swim for fitness. There is a fully equipped gym, a wide range of exercise classes, squash, badminton, table tennis, sauna, steam room and a cafe. If you want some time to yourself to exercise, book your children into the creche – open five mornings a week. Kids’ holiday activity clubs, birthday parties and swimming lessons are also available.
For further information, contact the Leisure Centre with the details below:

Tel:01825 761160

Website:www.freedom-leisure.co.uk

The future of the Leisure Centre is currently uncertain as the lease agreement between East Sussex County Council and Wealden District Council is due to end in July 2023. East Sussex County Council do not have responsibility for leisure nor do they have the resource to continue running the site. A tender process was unsuccessful in 2021/22.

A public consultation is currently open seeking the views of the public and key stakeholders. This is due to end on Saturday 27 May 2023.
Please take the time to respond:
East Sussex County Council Public Consultation on Leisure Centre

Mother and children in swimming pool
Morris men dancing outside Bridge Cottage

Uckfield and District Preservation Society 

The Society was formed 1968, initially to protect and preserve Nutley Windmill and to encourage interest in the local environment. In 1983 it took over and renovated Bridge Cottage, an important Grade II Wealden Medieval timber framed house, as a Heritage Centre on behalf of Uckfield Town Council. Since that time the Society has continued to expand its activities and it has a good reputation as an important source of opinion and advice in the local history and environment fields. Within the Society, there is a Local History Group who organise occasional winter talks. Their Nutley Mill Group focuses on maintaining this mill to a high level of working order and welcomes visits and assistance in running this unique heritage site. In addition they publish a newsletter twice a year and produce information books and leaflets. Bridge Cottage is closed now to carry out restoration work to enable it to be a full community facility by September 2015. To find out how the restoration is progressing visit: www.bridgecottageuckfield.co.uk

Their charity shop (1 Post Office Court) is open every day except Sunday. The Society is a voluntary charity and depends on the support of its members. New members are always welcome. For further information, ring the Heritage Centre Team on 01825 760734 or email: admin@bridgecottageuckfield.co.uk

Uckfield Volunteer Centre 

The Volunteer Centre acts as the focus in the community for those wanting to do voluntary work, and also for those needing help of some kind that volunteers could provide. Much information about voluntary groups and local services is held, as well as information about the local area, including bus timetables, etc.

Contact details: 79 High Street, Uckfield.

Tel:01825 760019

Email: uvic@btconnect.com

Web: www.uckfieldvolunteercentre.co.uk

Open:

Monday10am — 1pm
Tuesday10am — 4pm
Wednesday10am — 1pm
Thursday10am — 4pm
FridayClosed
SaturdayFirst Saturday of the month
10am — 1pm
SundayClosed

 

Uckfield Volunteer Centre logo
Uckfield Library

Wealden (Uckfield) Citizens Advice Bureau 

The CAB is located at the Library in Uckfield High Street. Volunteer staff provide free, confidential, impartial and independent advice on a range of subjects including employment, consumer and welfare benefits rights plus relationship or debt problems to name a few. If they can’t deal with it, they know someone who can!

They are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (closed Wednesday) from 9.00 to 3pm or telephone on 0808 278 7811 from 10am to 2pm on the same days. Or just drop in!

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