Good morning, Brighton. What a happy bunch we are at the moment :) Unbelievably, 6 years ago today we went into national lockdown with its zoom calls, clapping for carers and drinking on our own. So lets celebrate how free we are now and go make some plans for the week. 🥳

In today’s Brighton Scoop:

- Phil Reynolds

🏉 A new outdoor exhibition at Brighton & Hove’s Seafront Gallery celebrates women’s rugby as part of the city’s push to become the UK capital for women and girls in sport. Launching Monday 23 March, to coincide with the women’s world cup trophy visit, it features powerful images of players from Hove Rugby Club and the University of Brighton by photographers Bx Webb and Mo Tyrrell. The show supports the Strive ‘25 legacy project and the council’s Sport Lifts Her Higher campaign, which aim to tackle gender gaps in sport and inspire more women and girls to get active. Since the World Cup, over 2,600 women and girls have joined more than 70 local rugby sessions, backed by 20+ clubs and organisations.

The exhibition, part of the city’s 10-year Let’s Get Moving strategy, runs until 26 April between Brighton i360 and the upside-down house.

🏊🏽‍♂️ Another swimming legend visited Brighton this week when Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew has launched the 40th annual Swimathon at Sea Lanes, where 30 swimmers took part. The event, now the world’s largest annual pool-based fundraising swim, has involved over 750,000 people and raised more than £55m since 1986.

Swimmers choose distances from 500m to a triple 5km, with 550 pools involved this year, raising money for Marie Curie and Cancer Research UK. Goodhew called swimming “a sport for life”, and long-time participants praised the event, the Brighton pool, and its charitable purpose. And they even managed to score the Brighton sunshine for the event, a feat unto itself.

🚌 Good news for families in town this week with Brighton & Hove Council planning to spend around £9m in the next year to improve bus services and keep fares affordable, especially for families, young people and low-income residents. £5.5m will go on fare offers and supporting key and socially necessary routes, plus Breeze Buses to the Downs and longer customer service hours. A further £3.1m will fund accessibility upgrades at stops, better key corridors, express services, cameras to protect bus lanes and strategic hubs like Park & Ride, building on one of the strongest bus networks outside London. A great move in light of price hikes in energy and food in response to recent economic situations.

Brighton Speed Dating (30-45yr) | Brighton Music Hall | Tuesday 24th | 7pm | More Info

☀️ | 📈 13 | 📉 8 | ☔️ <5% | 🌬️ S 5mph | 🌊 <1ft

☁️ | 📈 13 | 📉 5| ☔️ <5% | 🌬️ SW 15mph | 🌊 2-3ft

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Brighton has endless festivals, conventions and get-togethers year round for everything from coffee, music & trees, to animation, food, Pride and of course the mighty Fringe. Be sure to scan over this each week to see what’s’ on the beautiful horizon. Full List of Festivals in Brighton.

Great to have you follow the Scoop today. If you liked it, do share us with an enemy. They might become a friend! There’s a beer on me if you spot me in town.