Pair promote positive action in Sussex with innovative advent campaign

Two friends have come up with an innovative way to encourage positive action and bring people together after a '˜divisive' year.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Dec 2016, 10:22 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 05:02 BST

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Jen Storey (right) and Jo Prior said the calendar promotes tolerance, kindness, respect and sustainabilityJen Storey (right) and Jo Prior said the calendar promotes tolerance, kindness, respect and sustainability
Jen Storey (right) and Jo Prior said the calendar promotes tolerance, kindness, respect and sustainability

Jen Storey, of Falcon Close in Shoreham and Jo Prior, of Pound Lane in Upper Beeding, have created an online advent calendar for their Action at Advent campaign, which suggests one different positive action – such as using less plastic or buying Christmas presents locally – which individuals and businesses can take each day leading up to Christmas.

Jo, 38, who owns Bagelman with her husband Anthony, said: “It’s a way of letting people know what they can do and how they can help.

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“This year in particular a lot of people have become politicised and it can be difficult to know what to do with all that energy, but there are quite small, simple actions people can take in their everyday lives.”

Each December day has a different theme, such as homelessness or recycling, and the website links people to related charities and businesses in Shoreham, Worthing and Brighton – such as Worthing Churches Homeless Project or Shoreham food initiative the Sunflower project.

Self-employed Jen, 37, said: “Sometimes people want to help but don’t know how to and there are many amazing organisations that are so busy, they don’t have time to promote themselves.

“This is a way to sign post them to groups desperately in need of help.”

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The mothers, who met earlier this year when they joined a campaign to make school meals healthier, came up with the nonprofit, collaborative calendar idea in November and said they developed it quickly thanks to their complimentary skills – Jen has experience setting up websites while Jo has contacts among businesses.

Jo said they were ‘really pleased’ with the response so far and plan to repeat the idea next year. Visit their website christmas-mojo.com and follow Action at Advent on Facebook to get involved.

Have you checked out our new Christmas section yet?

It’s packed with ideas and tips to ensure you make the most out of the festive season.

There’s recipes, suggestions for presents and everything from choosing your tree to recycling your packaging and paper.

Go to www.shorehamherald.co.uk/christmas/

Related topics:SussexUpper BeedingShoreham