Welcome to our June 2025 newsletter
Supporting our local environment
Our local Arun councillors took part in Arundel’s Great Big Green picnic this month, and attended a range of events during the town’s Great Big Green Week. And over in Chichester, our councillor Sarah Sharp also attended the Energy Day organised by Transition Town Chichester.
These were great opportunities to meet local residents and talk about the important environmental issues that are impacting us all. Thank you to everyone who came along!
Our councillors have also been talking with the Western Sussex Rivers Trust, who are looking for river guardians for the Arun and tributaries. Councillor Mel Penycate is taking on Binsted Rife, and looking forward to updating local residents on the quality and progress of this important waterway. If you’re interested in getting involved, please let us know.
Act now, Change forever
As you may have already heard from the many environmental organisations involved, there is a mass lobby for the climate planned in London on Wednesday 9 July. Are you planning to be there?
The Climate Coalition / Zero Hour group are expecting thousands of people to come to Westminster with a clear message for our MPs. Now is the time to protect what matters the most – our health, nature, communities, climate and future.
Our local party covers the constituencies of several MPs, and many of our members are planning to attend or take part. If you’d like to join them, please contact us.
Marching for Palestine
Local members recently united with our neighbours in the Havant Green Party and anti-war campaigners, to protest outside the Lockheed Martin factory. Hundreds of people marched through the town centre to demonstrate against the company’s part in the genocide being conducted against the citizens of Gaza, and to demand an arms embargo on Israel.
According to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the company’s Langstone Park operation has sent at least six shipments of spare parts and components to Israel’s F35 fighter jet fleet since October 2023. During that time hundreds of 2000lb bombs have been dropped: each of those bombs causing death and destruction across a 720m distance.
The entanglement of British and US financial interests in arenas of war and war crimes is increasingly disturbing to many Green Party members and the wider public. On Sunday 29 June, our friends in Worthing Green Party will be joining a range of other community groups on a March for Palestine. This protest is calling on all MPs to stand up and take meaningful, public action – posting daily about the situation, asking questions and taking effective actions in parliament to demand an immediate end to the blockade and an immediate arms embargo. If you would like to attend with other Green Party members, please contact us.
Beach clean and social meet-up
You are warmly invited to join other local members for the next regular litter pick on Littlehampton beach on Sunday 29 June. This is followed by a coffee and a chat in The Beach Cafe, Sea Road, Littlehampton (opposite The Wave leisure centre).
To join the beach clean, please meet at 9.30am. All the grabbers, gloves and bags are kindly provided by the Beach (as part of Surfers Against Sewage), and a member of their team usually leads the clean. Afterwards, we’ll be in or outside the cafe, from around 11am.
We’d love to see you – please sign-up here so we know to look out for you:
Campaigning for your local party
Our group of Party volunteers are regularly attending events, speaking to local people about Green issues, and supporting the excellent work of our elected councillors. There’s a huge variety in local volunteering – everything from taking on an officer role, helping with events, delivering leaflets to your neighbouring streets, or even standing for election yourself! You’re guaranteed a friendly welcome, and we can always use an extra pair of hands – if you’re interested in getting involved, please click the button below to get in touch.
We know that volunteering isn’t always for everyone, but a regular or one-off donation could also make a huge difference. We don’t have billionaire backers and dodgy business relationships to call on for our resources! Your local party relies on the generosity of supporters just like you. If you’re able to contribute, thank you for anything you can give.
Members updates
Every month we get together online for an informal chat on Green Party policy, and what it means for us locally. You are invited to join us for the next discussion on Thursday 26 June, from 7pm.
This will be a chance to discuss the upcoming government plans for local devolution. There are big changes coming – next year we will be voting for a Sussex mayor, who will have control of transport, housing, public services, environment and climate change and much more. In the following years our local government structure is also then set to change, and instead of our District and County Councils we will have a new Unitary Authority.
How exactly these changes will take shape is still being decided. But Greens across the county are already working together, to make sure we get the best outcomes we can.
Sarah Sharp our Green County Councillor will be joined by some of our District Councillors to present the plans and options so far. You’re very welcome to join these discussions and make your opinions heard.
Our next branch meeting, to discuss current actions and events, will be on Tuesday 8 July, 7pm on Zoom. All members are welcome to join us, and non-members can also be admitted by prior arrangement. We look forward to seeing you there.
Can we help you? Want to join us? Have skills to share?
Keep in touch with your local Chichester and Arun Greens
Join the party: join.greenparty.org.uk
Ask a question: contact@chichesterarun.greenparty.org.uk
Keep up to date: Find us on Facebook, You Tube, TikTok, Threads and BlueSky
Help us grow: We rely on one off donations or regular standing orders to help us cover the cost of our local campaign work. All support is very gratefully received. Please always include your last name and postcode as a reference, so we know who to thank.