Leanne Rinne

Older adults at CrossFit Uckfield in Sussex are using weightlifting and other strength exercises to improve balance, mobility and confidence, while maintaining independence and social connections. Members including Marjorie Richardson, Carla Halford and Mick Harker say the supportive classes help them manage everyday tasks, stay active with family and challenge assumptions about ageing. Owner and coach Krish Stevens says demand has grown as people increasingly prioritize strong muscles and joints over weight loss.

Sussex Police is adopting the Forcer Protocol, which allows veterans and their families or carers to share information in advance so police can respond more effectively if a vulnerable veteran goes missing. Steve Gallagher, a veteran who experienced alcohol and mental-health difficulties after serving in Bosnia, says the scheme could help police locate people quickly and save lives. The protocol was founded by Claire Lilly in memory of her husband, former Lance Corporal Alan Forcer, who died after going missing in 2020. Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne and the force’s armed-forces lead support the initiative as a way to improve care and emergency responses for veterans.

Thirteen‑year‑old wheelchair tennis player Matt Knoesen credits self‑belief and hard work for victories at the French Open and aims to compete in the Paralympics. Born with a spinal cord injury, he transitioned from go‑kart racing to tennis and quickly rose to prominence, becoming the youngest player to represent Team GB and winning multiple national and international titles. Supported by his family and coach, he continues training for upcoming major tournaments, including the US Open Wheelchair Championships.

A former university student from Groombridge, Izzy White, describes the impact of being raped during her first year at university and her path to recovery after seeking support from a lecturer and specialist organisations. She plans to run more than 400 miles to raise money for The Survivors Trust and aims to raise awareness of support available for survivors. Representatives from the charity praise her efforts, and she expresses hope to work in victim-support services after graduating.

Rising temperatures and more frequent extreme heat events are prompting significant agricultural and horticultural adaptation in South East England. Farmers such as Peter Appleton have shifted to drought‑resistant crops, soil management focused on water retention and minimal ploughing, while horticultural experts warn of reduced plant growth above 30C and increased need for heat‑tolerant, low‑water gardens. Scientific consensus attributes worsening heatwaves to human‑driven climate change, with the Met Office projecting possible peaks of 45C by 2056 without emissions cuts. Data shows UK days exceeding 30C have more than tripled compared with late‑20th‑century averages, making once‑rare 1976‑style events increasingly common.

South-east England faces increasing heatwaves similar to 1976 as climate change drives higher temperatures and more frequent extreme heat events. Farmers such as Peter Appleton have adopted new cropping strategies, improved soil management and grown drought‑resistant crops to build resilience. Horticultural experts warn that high temperatures impair plant growth, requiring gardeners to shift toward drought‑tolerant species. Climate scientists attribute warming trends to human activity, noting that days over 30C have tripled since the mid‑20th century and that future summer temperatures could reach 45C without emissions cuts.