Joy Carter

Do you “put your face on” before leaving the house?

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Make Up Recycle

Do you “put your face on” before leaving the house?

Most of us do. Going out bare-faced still feels like a bold move. Yet from Pamela Anderson and Alicia Keys to Helen Mirren and Bella Hadid, more people—including plenty of Sussex shoppers—are choosing to skip the make-up and embrace what’s already there. 

At the same time, the beauty industry has been quietly having a glow-up of its own—but not always the good kind. As demand has soared so has the environmental footprint. Self-care, it turns out, isn’t always kind to the planet. 

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Small but Mighty: Our Charity’s Ripple Effect Across Sussex in 2025

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Small but Mighty: Our Charity’s Ripple Effect Across Sussex in 2025

2025 was truly a bumper year for our small but mighty charity, one that has created powerful ripples of positive change across East and West Sussex. Guided by our three pillars – conserving resources, making food sustainable and restoring biodiversity – we’ve shown what a dedicated community can achieve with passion, collaboration and a shared vision for a greener future.

At the heart of our work is a highly effective team: seven willing trustees, several environmental educators, the equivalent of two full-time employees and a grant writer (not in a pear tree!) This brilliant team is strengthened by an incredible network of volunteers who bring our mission to life in towns, villages, schools and public spaces across Sussex.

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Don’t Go It Alone This Year: Find Purpose in Community Action

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Don’t Go It Alone This Year: Find Purpose in Community Action

As the calendar turns, many of us feel the familiar pull of fresh starts and good intentions. New Year’s resolutions promise change, yet they often fade as winter wears on. A recent survey by YouGov plc found that one in five Britons say they intend to make New Year’s resolutions for 2026. While four in ten say they managed to keep all of their 2025 resolutions, most people admit they give up by February – often because goals are too vague or there’s no clear plan to support lasting change. 

Perhaps it’s time to rethink what a “successful” resolution looks like. Instead of drastic overhauls, this year could be about mindful, small, consistent habits that last a lifetime. Sustainable change is rarely loud or dramatic; it grows quietly through daily choices. Incorporating elements of mental and physical wellbeing, finding ways to connect with family, community and nature, and focusing on learning and kindness can make resolutions feel nourishing rather than punishing. This approach shifts us away from the pressure of a “new year, new you” mentality and towards sustainable personal growth, community connection and self-compassion. 

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Try the Kindness Challenge: Why Veganuary is the Perfect New Year’s Resolution

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VEGANUARY is a straightforward concept: challenging non-vegans to eat a vegan diet for the whole month of January. It’s the ideal New Year’s resolution for anyone interested in adopting a kinder and healthier way of living. And best of all, with all the support and resources available today, this is a resolution that’s easy to stick to!

The journey to veganism often begins with an increasing awareness of the ethical issues surrounding factory production and the exploitation of animals for meat, fish, and dairy products. For others, the primary motivation is personal health, as mounting evidence shows that a thoughtfully planned, plant-based diet can unlock significant long-term health benefits.

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National Emergency Briefing held in Westminster 

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On 27 November 2025, Central Hall Westminster, London, was buzzing with an invite-only audience of around 1,250 politicians, scientists and leaders from business, culture, faith, sport and the media. Also in attendance were familiar faces like Chris Packham, Deborah Meaden, Jennifer Saunders, Mark Rylance, Brian Eno,  Roger Harrabin and four of the Sussex Green Living team.

They learnt about the latest implications for health, food, national security and the economy. They weren’t there for show. They came because the National Emergency Briefing, convened by brothers Simon and Nick Oldridge, brought together some of the UK’s most respected scientific voices to share the latest evidence on nature and climate risks — with the solutions already proving effective.

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New art hub at the Sussex Green Hub

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We are excited to announce thanks to a National Lottery Community Fund grant we have launched a new activity at the Sussex Green Hub led by ‘Em Makes’ read on….

As the weather turns colder, with the first signs of snow, December is fast approaching.  Shops are filled with bright baubles and tinsel and everywhere we go, there are signs that Christmas is coming.  At each shop we are encouraged to buy this, buy that, spend more!!!

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Swap, don’t shop: Find fun ways to refresh your festive wardrobe the sustainable way

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Christmas is a time of joy but also a time of overspending and overconsumption. But this year could be different, starting with your wardrobe. What if this festive season, you bought nothing new to wear?

Before you panic about party season, hear me out. The fashion industry produces 100 billion garments annually, yet we wear items an average of just seven times before discarding them according to The Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Meanwhile, recycling that glittery party dress isn’t the solution we imagine – mixed fabrics are virtually impossible to separate and recycle effectively.

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Stress Awareness Week: finding balance through everyday choices 

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As Stress Awareness Week (3 to 7 November) begins, Sussex Green Living says concern about the environment is becoming part of the pressure many people feel in daily life. 

Many worry about our changing weather, plastic pollution, air quality and the loss of biodiversity. These concerns have become part of the background to modern living, adding to the usual stresses of work, family and finances. For some, it can feel as though the problems are too big to change. 

Sussex Green Living (SGL), a registered UK charity working with schools, community groups and businesses across West Sussex, believes that practical, positive action can make a difference. The organisation helps people find balance through small steps that connect personal wellbeing with care for the planet, from spending more time in nature and noticing wildlife in local green spaces to reducing waste or making conscious choices about what and where we buy our food. 

 

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Filtering Out Microfibre Pollution

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Did you know your daily diet might include a helping of plastic? Microplastics have been found in honey, sea salt, bottled water, and even human blood and lungs. While they may be “micro” in size, their impact on health and the environment is anything but small. We can’t see them, but they’re everywhere. Every time we wash synthetic clothes, thousands of microscopic fibres are released into the water system. Many of these microplastics end up in rivers and seas and the soil where they can harm wildlife and enter the food chain.  

Our washing machines are a major source of this pollution. A University of Plymouth study (Napper & Thompson, 2016) fund that an average 6kg load of laundry can release more than 700,000 plastic microfibres into wastewater. Most of these fibres come from synthetic fabrics such as polyester, which now make up over 60 per cent of the world’s textiles.   Read more

National Lottery grant helps local project look to a sharing future

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Sussex Green Living has received a National Lottery Community Fund award to expand its work with young people and families, while exploring the creation of a “Library of Things” for Sussex. 

SGL is best known for running the monthly Repair Café and Green Hub in Horsham. Since the Horsham Repair Cafe launched in October 2017, volunteers have repaired hundreds of household items and garments, saved residents thousands of replacement costs and prevented waste from going to landfill or incineration.  

The new funding will help the group target 17–25-year-olds and families with young children, with extra activities at the Repair Café, family friendly events and skills sharing opportunities. Champions will be recruited to take pop up repair cafés and skill swaps into colleges and community venues.   
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