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Uckfield Bonfire and Carnival
Society - Uckfield Carnival originated 185 years
ago and was organised by shopkeepers on a Wednesday afternoon, early
closing day, latterly moving to the first Saturday every September.
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.
The Uckfield Society for the parades wears Mexican costumes. Everyone
is welcome to join and attend the meetings on the second Tuesday
of each month at Uckfield Civic Centre at 8.00pm. For further information,
contact the Secretary Tel: 07761730746
Email: carolwattsarnold@aol.com
Uckfield Citizens Advice
Bureau - The CAB is located at The Hub, Civic Approach.
They 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, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (closed Tuesdays)
9.30 to 3.30pm or telephone on 01825 764940 during the same hours.
Or just drop in! They are also open some Saturdays. Please phone
for details.
Uckfield Chamber of Commerce
- The Chamber is a vibrant, active and lively group
of local businesses with a current membership of around 170, 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 Blackaller - Secretary, Uckfield Chamber of Commerce, Cedar
Lodge, 39 Church Road, Newick, East Sussex BN8 4JX
Telephone: 01825 722607 Email: enquiries@uckfieldchamber.co.uk
Uckfield FM -
Broadcasts on 105FM 24 hours a day, every day of the year, from
its studio at Bird in Eye Farm to the town and the surrounding villages.
It plays excellent music from the last 5 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 is also
very keen to talk to anyone with a story or any organisation with
a plea, so please contact them for an interview slot which are held
weekdays between 10am and 12 noon.
The station also attends local events, school fetes, sports days
and fairs at a reasonable cost. Further information can be obtained
by calling 01825 890150 or by visiting www.uckfieldfm.co.uk . The
station can also be contacted via facebook or studio@uckfieldfm.co.uk
 Uckfield
Farmers Market - Uckfield Farmers Market operates
on the first Saturday of each month in the lower end of Luxfords
car park. The market operates from 9.00am and continues through
until 1.00pm. The market is very popular with both the local community,
and out of town visitors. It is also a major supporter of the town’s
surrounding agricultural community. There is a regular attendance
of 30 to 40 stalls offering a very wide range of fresh, locally
grown or prepared products, including meats, cheeses, preserves,
bakery and pies, plus plants and flowers, so there is something
for everyone. The market was considered by the BBC Good Food Guide
as the most successful farmers market in Sussex, and won the prestigious
Sussex Food and Drinks Awards in 2008 and 2010 as the “Best
Farmers Market in Sussex.”
Due to the market’s rule that all products are supplied from
local resources, customer’s carbon footprint is reduced, as
the average mileage from farm to table is just 8 miles. Samples
are regularly offered to taste prior to purchase!
Uckfield Festival and Art
Trail - The Uckfield Festival Association has been
going since 2000 and celebrates and promotes the skills and talents
of Uckfield residents and fosters a sense of community spirit. The
Festival takes place in July and includes the ‘Big Day Out’,
with street entertainment, displays of dancing, music, a European
Market, an amazing High Street procession and a host of stalls with
representatives from the Uckfield societies and businesses. The
Festival Club provides a varied selection of entertainment during
Festival Week to suit all moods and tastes - modern jazz, traditional
jazz, country and western music and cabaret style songs from the
shows; Classical and pop music also feature in the programme at
different venues around the town. Art exhibitions, displays, photography,
musical and theatrical productions are an important part of the
week. In the past story telling and poetry have featured in some
shape or form. For those interested in local and natural history,
a number of fascinating and interesting town walks to whet the appetite
and satisfy the curiosity are arranged. Whatever your interests
or preferences, there is something for everyone. If not, then join
the Festival Committee, they are always seeking pro-active support.
Contact: www.uckfieldfestival.co.uk
Uckfield Leisure Centre -
Uckfield Leisure Centre in Downsview Crescent offers
the best leisure facilities for the town.
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 and steam room and a café.
If you want some time to yourself to exercise, book your children
into the crèche - open five mornings a week. Kid’s
holiday activity clubs, birthday parties and swimming lessons are
also available.
For further information Tel: 01825 761160 or visit the website www.freedom-leisure.co.uk
Uckfield Phab Club -
Uckfield Phab Club is a social club for people with and without
disabilities. They meet fortnightly on a Saturday at the Community
College Youth Club. Phab is all about inclusion; their activities
are available to all and are decided by the members for the members.
They have regular cooking, arts and crafts, days out, Playstations
and Wiis, pool, air hockey and lots of fun. Please contact Janine
Williams on 01825 749826 for more details or email: Janine.williams@phab.org.uk
They are always interested in new volunteers, or if you have any
skill or hobby you would like to share, please get in touch.
Uckfield and District Lions
Club - Uckfield and District Lions Club undertake
many fund raising activities in the Uckfield area to enable them
to fulfil their motto - ‘We serve’.
They are committed to providing help and service to groups and individuals
in the local community wherever possible. This is done through financial
help and by purchasing services or goods as required. Uckfield and
District Lions Club also run a community mini bus which is available
to hire for local groups and organisations. They are always interested
to hear of ways they can help in the local community and will consider
all requests for help. For further information please contact -
Lion, Lynne Ireland Telephone: 0845 833 984 or visit www.uckfield-lions.co.uk
Community Mini Bus Information: Telephone: 01825 763154
Email: minibus@uckfield-lions.org.uk
The Rotary Club of Uckfield
- Rotary is more than 100 years old and the Rotary
Club of Uckfield is one of more than 30,000 Clubs worldwide (1,840
in Britain). It is a “Service Club”, open to men and
women in the district, which meets every Monday (except Bank Holidays)
for dinner at The Halland Forge Motel, Halland (Tel: 01825 840456)
The Rotary motto is “Service above Self” and the Club
members are actively involved with local, district, national and
international projects. Recent undertakings have included the hugely
popular Kit Car Grand Prix, the annual Senior Citizens Christmas
party, Uckfield Festival, Carnival, the Christmas Ribbon Scheme,
Riverside Walk, Elizabeth Gardens, town clock and sign, Junior Chef
of the Year, RYLA, Polioplus, Phab, Stroke Awareness, and helping
to send Shelter Boxes to disaster stricken areas, for example following
the earthquakes in Pakistan and the 2004 Tsunami. They also raise
money for good causes in the area. St. Peter and St. James Hospice,
Uckfield Theatre Guild, Chailey Heritage, CAB and the Girl Guides
are some of the many organisations and individuals who have benefited
from the generosity of local people.
As well as fundraising and supporting district events the Club enjoys
a strong social network with BBQs, theatre outings, quizzes, and
indoor games evenings to complement its “friendship and fellowship”
ethos. Many of these gatherings link with the Uckfield Inner Wheel
Club (for wives and partners of Rotarians).
For further details please contact the Secretary, Jeff Holman, on
01825 761145 or www.rotary1120.org/uckfield
Uckfield and District Twinning
Association - Is an active association with over
100 members of all ages. They have strong links with two 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 since1989 and
local residents have regularly been welcomed in this northern German
town for the annual Eulenfest celebration, while we host German
visitors to the Uckfield Festival.
2011 sees the formal twinning with the new French partner town of
Arques-la-Bataille 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 have made friends and
enjoyed hospitality on both sides of the Channel.
They also support 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, France, Germany, 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 us in a visit to France or Germany; host visitors
from other countries; recommend a young person to attend the subsidised
youth camps here or abroad or come to one of our social events.
For more information email: davidsudbery@hotmail.com or telephone:
01825 733318.
Uckfield Volunteer and Information
Centre - The Volunteer and Information Centre acts
as the focus in the community for those wanting to do voluntary
work, and also for those needing help in some way that volunteers
may be able to solve. Much information about voluntary groups and
local services is held, as well as information about the local area,
including bus timetables, etc.
79 High Street, Uckfield. Tel: 01825 760019 Email: uvic@btconnect.com
web: www.uvic.org.uk Open: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10am - 1pm
Tuesday and Thursday 10am - 4pm.
Uckfield and District Preservation
Society - The Society was formed in 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 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 environmental fields. Within the Society,
there is a Local History Group who organise a series of Winter talks.
Their Nutley Mill Group focuses on maintaining the 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 open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays throughout the
year. Plans have now been agreed which will make the building more
accessible for community use and provide storage space for their
archives. 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 Membership Secretary Tel: 01825 733711.
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