In May, we visited the East Sussex College training hub in Eastbourne, to speak to students and jobseekers about the PA role and what Independent Lives can offer.

The session, hosted by the East Sussex Job Centre team, generated some great interest in PA work, with several attendees keen to find out more. If you're looking for a PA in East Sussex, keep an eye on PA Pages as new profiles come through. 

We're also excited to welcome Hayley Wallace, who is joining our Direct Payments team as our new East Sussex Adviser. Hayley will be working to support people across Eastbourne and the surrounding areas. It's great to have her as part of the team. 

In May, our Wiltshire team headed to Warminster for the town's Health & Wellbeing Fair, and it was well worth the trip.

The fair brought together 44 exhibitors covering health, exercise, and local services, with a strong turnout from the local community. Notable guests included Warminster MP Dr Andrew Murrison and Olympic gold medallist Kate French MBE.

For us, it was a great chance to connect with other organisations in the area. We had useful conversations with Carers Together, Age UK, and the Warminster Wellbeing Hub, and came away with information about local groups and advice hubs, particularly for people living with MS or Alzheimer's. We also met some volunteers who expressed interest in paid PA roles, so watch this space.

If you're based in or around Warminster, a free wellbeing booklet is available to pick up from Warminster Library, the Athenaeum information centre, or Warminster Garrison Welfare Centre — or you can download it online.

If you're a West Sussex resident with experience of social care, as a service user or a carer, West Sussex County Council has several ways for you to share your views and help shape local services.

You could join one of their regular involvement groups, which cover areas including general adult social care, autism, learning disabilities, and diverse communities. There's also an opportunity to contribute to the training of student and newly qualified social workers. Meetings are held between four and six times a year and are designed to be accessible and inclusive.

To find out more or register your interest, email WorkingTogetherAS@westsussex.gov.uk or call Lydia on 033022 26144 or Kiri on 033022 22731.

If you have children aged 9 and under, this one's worth knowing about. The Librarians is a fun, accessible 30-minute theatre show performed in both BSL and spoken English, following the quirky Miss Book and Mr Page as they bring stories to life through playful, physical performance. Afterwards, children can take part in an interactive workshop and create their own tales alongside the characters.

It's free to attend — just book your ticket in advance. Upcoming dates in West Sussex:

• Littlehampton Library — Wednesday 24 June, 3.45pm
• Crawley Library — Thursday 25 June, 11.00am
• Broadfield Library — Thursday 25 June, 3.45pm

Children must be accompanied by a parent or carer. Book your free ticket here.

Ioana Cerasella Chis, a researcher at the University of Glasgow, is looking for disabled people across the UK to take part in a research study exploring rest and free time — and the barriers that get in the way.

The project, Bread and Roses: Rest, Free Time and Disability, welcomes anyone who self-identifies as disabled, chronically ill, learning disabled, d/Deaf, neurodivergent, or experiencing mental distress (aged 18+).

Responses will feed into a Manifesto for Rest and Free Time to be shared with Disabled People's Organisations and local decision-makers.

You can take part by:

• Completing the online questionnaire
• Downloading a Word Document version and emailing it to ioana.chis@glasgow.ac.uk
• Audio responses can also be uploaded via the online form

The questionnaire is open until end of November 2026 and can be completed in multiple sittings.

More information: breadrosesdisability.uk

Got questions about payroll or banking? We've added a new FAQ page to the PA Pages Advice Hub, covering common queries for both employers and employees, from submitting hours and holiday calculations to what to do if you haven't been paid. Take a look here.

Direct Payment Employer Support Group (Sussex)

8 July @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Are you a Direct Payment employer looking for friendly, reliable support?

You’re in the right place!

Our DP Employer Support Group offers a safe, welcoming space where you can share ideas, talk through challenges, celebrate successes, or simply ask questions. We understand the unique experiences that come with being a Direct Payment employer, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.

We meet regularly online for relaxed, open conversations on a wide range of topics — plus plenty of friendly chit-chat.

Join us on 8th July 2026, from 12pm to 1pm on TEAMS.

Book your place here 

We’d love to see you there!

Moving and Handling People (theory only)

📍 Crawley

📅 15 June 2026
⏰ 12:00pm- 4:00pm

An Introduction to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

📍 Online 

📅 22 June 2026
⏰ 1:00pm – 2:00pm

First Aid (theory and practical)

📍 Worthing 

📅 23 June 2026
⏰ 9:30am - 1:30pm

Empowering Choice: Mental Capacity Essentials

📍 Online

📅 28 May 2026
⏰ 2pm – 3.30pm

Safeguarding

📍 Online 

📅 24 June 2026 
⏰ 2:00pm – 3:30pm 

Medication Support and Administration

📍 Online 

📅 25 June 2026
⏰ 10:30am - 1:30pm