Community Groups in Selsey
Clubs, societies and local organisations
Selsey has an active community life that belies the town's modest size. The relative isolation of the peninsula, the settled population and the high proportion of retirees with time and energy to contribute all combine to produce a community that is well organised, well connected and quietly self-sufficient.
The Selsey Town Council provides the framework for local governance, managing the town hall, allotments and community events. The town council is the first tier of local government, below Chichester District Council and West Sussex County Council, and deals with matters specific to Selsey's needs.
Voluntary organisations are the backbone of community life. The RNLI lifeboat station, crewed entirely by volunteers, is the most visible example, but the volunteer ethic extends across the town. Charity shops are staffed by volunteers. The churches run coffee mornings, lunch clubs and pastoral support. The Selsey Pavilion provides a venue for community events, performances and social gatherings. The library at the Selsey Centre offers reading groups, children's activities and information services.
Sports clubs include the bowls club, the cricket club, the football club and the tennis club. The Selsey Country Club provides sports facilities and a social hub. Walking groups take advantage of the coastal paths and the flat lanes of the peninsula. Birdwatching groups use the exceptional habitats at Pagham Harbour and Medmerry as their regular patches.
For older residents, the social groups are particularly important. Coffee mornings, lunch clubs, art classes and craft groups provide regular contact and combat the isolation that can affect people living alone in a small town. The Age Concern and similar organisations provide support services, transport and advocacy for elderly residents.
The Selsey Life magazine, a monthly community publication, provides local news, event listings and features about the town. Community noticeboards in the shops and public buildings advertise events and services. The informal networks of a small town, where people know each other, also ensure that information travels quickly.
The community spirit in Selsey is genuine and well sustained. The annual Selsey Festival, the Christmas lights switch-on, the lifeboat open day and the various fundraising events throughout the year bring people together and reinforce the sense of a community that looks after its own.