Sussex & Surrey Soapbox

Send us Fan Mail This is not a typical episode - sharing a brief soundbite of a Roundtable discussion which aired on Mother’s Day... **jump to the last 90 seconds where Iqbal shares a heartfelt message to his sister, partner and mum!  We discuss upcoming St Patrick's Day compared to St George's & St David's Days along with the state of national pride and reflect on Ramadan. A li...

Send us Fan Mail What does teaching really look like in a modern secondary school? In this episode, Amanda, a passionate teacher from Surrey, shares an honest look at life inside today’s classrooms. From 30+ student classes and rising SEND needs, to the behaviour challenges that emerged after COVID, she explains what teachers are really dealing with and why the story is far more complex than headl...

Send us Fan Mail On International Women’s Day 2026, this roundtable with special guest Maggie Chen (Founder of GIC, www.girlsincharge.co.uk) goes far beyond celebration. Under this years IWD theme “Give to Gain,” the panel explores what equality really looks like — at work, at home, and in the everyday moments that shape confidence and opportunity. From career-defining champions who opened doors,...

Send us Fan Mail Are weekend trains in Sussex and Surrey actually fit for purpose—or are passengers being short-changed? In this lively roundtable, a train driver pulls back the curtain on why weekend rail travel feels so broken. 10 key aspects we tackle: Why weekends feel worse than weekdays Delays, cancellations, diversions, overcrowding—listeners’ lived experience clashes with “acceptable” offi...

Send us Fan Mail We challenge the UK student loan model, from £66k thresholds to RPI-linked interest, and ask whether mass university still delivers value. We compare degrees to trades, examine apprenticeships and graduate schemes, and explore fixes that align education with real jobs. • Plan 2 loans, thresholds, and interest mechanics • Uneven outcomes between elite degrees and low-return courses...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is in two parts, first Neil Munday and Clive Hilton speak to Claire Coutinho MP for East Surrey since 2019 (and Shadow Minister for Equalities since 2024) - It’s been a year since the infamous Godstone Sinkhole suddenly opened up on the High Street, closing the A25, triggering a major incident, and forcing dozens of residents from their homes. In this episode, we hear...

Send us Fan Mail Fireside Chat: Henry Smith and Stephen Pritchard - Local Elections are back on! People, Politics & Power What really drives a politician to switch parties? Do local elections still matter to the communities they’re meant to serve? And who actually holds the power when it comes to decisions that affect your day-to-day life? In this fascinating fireside chat, recorded a few hour...

Send us Fan Mail Is Flag Flying Patriotic — or a Message to Others? The diverse roundtable take on the meaning of flag flying today — pride, patriotism, and the mixed signals it can send the wider community. Is it a celebration of identity, or does it risk making others feel unwelcome?  From flags across Turkey to St Patrick’s Day vs St George’s Day, and the surge of national pride around football...

Send us Fan Mail SPOT: a slightly different format to the Roundtable discussions where we Spotlight St Catherine's Hospice. On Thursday 12th February, St Catherine’s Hospice celebrated the official launch of its new flagship superstore in Crawley town centre, marking a major milestone in community fundraising and engagement. Hundreds of dedicated volunteers transformed the former Sainsbury’s...

Send us Fan Mail The Crawley Museum Is Celebrating British Caledonian Airways (BCal) The Crawley Museum is delighted to celebrate the story of British Caledonian Airways (BCal), one of the most recognisable names in British aviation and an airline closely linked to Crawley & Gatwick Airport. Founded in 1961, BCal grew to become the UK’s leading independent airline, connecting Britain with dest...

Send us Fan Mail Gentle Parenting: Are We Raising Resilient Kids? A lively, honest debate on gentle parenting — what it gets right, where it falls short, and how to balance empathy with boundaries. The panel tackles discipline, the evolving role of parents, and how to prepare kids for a tough adult world where not everyone wins. Thought-provoking, fun, relatable, and real.   Highlights also air on...

Send us Fan Mail A brilliant community initiative for people to meet, chat and enjoy refreshments whilst getting their household items fixed and working again! It’s completely FREE and run by volunteers every 3rd Saturday of the month at Handcross Hardware and Craft, High Street, Handcross. RH17 6BL. Clive Hilton went along to find out more. Initially understanding how Repair Cafe got started 2yrs...

Send us Fan Mail Our roundtable explores two big topics for Sussex and Surrey - Isolation in the community followed by immigration (a starter for ten, with more to come next week), plus some ideas for next Saturdays Valentine’s Day!  Featuring: Georgie, James Tidy, Iqbal Khan, Aga Es and Micaela Leal, sharing diverse perspectives & hosted by Clive Hilton. Many thanks to the team at Prezzo, Cra...

Send us Fan Mail Thank you for checking out this first episode with Georgie, Stephen, Aga & James. We reflect on January and some of the topics that matter across Sussex & Surrey. As it's our first group discussion we picked an easier topic - painful potholes and the infamous Godstone sinkhole that’s almost a year old! In the future we will tackle more challenging matters shaping Suss...