Community: Alive and Well in St Leonards
FIONA MCGARRY
On 7 December, members of the Progress Network packed out Concordia Hall for their fourth Big Celebration, this year entitled The Big Takeover. This is a hugely popular annual gathering – multi-cultural and full of children, mums, dads and proud grandparents – not to mention leading lights from the local community.
The Progress Network is a community-based initiative for the whole community, particularly those of African and Caribbean heritage for whom it was originally set up. It provides family classes and other bespoke and creative projects to empower families in Hastings & St Leonards. Their annual Big Celebration aims to give them recognition – and especially the children.
Their website points out that “St Leonards is in one of the most deprived council wards in East Sussex with inequalities caused by various socio-economic factors, lifestyle, and poor access to services.” The Big Celebration reaffirms the Network’s core belief: that all individuals regardless of age, ethnicity or humble beginnings should have the opportunity to become “the best version of themselves”. It is also an opportunity to connect with neighbours and community members and to celebrate and reflect on the achievements of the past year.
The evening started with some joyous celebratory samba rhythms from the Dende Nation drumming group. It continued with a kick-boxing demonstration and some motivational speeches, while snacks were handed out to the other excited children. Two young girls delighted the crowd with a duet encompassing shy hesitation, audience encouragement and final triumph.
Entertainment was interrupted for the great community ingredient of shared food (delicious hot food courtesy of Mama Putts). This was followed by the presentation of awards to the young people in recognition of their contributions to the community and a video compilation showing the activities of various groups over the past year. Their achievements were impressive, and they clearly had enormous fun; younger audience members laughed and cheered when they saw themselves and their friends giving short on-screen presentations.
I spoke to Claire Oram and Kirsty Gipsom, who told me that the network was formed several years ago after several parents got together and started the Sparks Football Club for children aged five to 15. After that, they came up with more ideas for activities: art, drama and skin care workshops; drumming groups; mental health and well-being activities, as well as camps and day trips – this year’s outing was to Bewl Water.
A lot of the Network’s activities take place in open spaces such as Warrior Square Gardens. As well as sport and games, they bring art and creative workshops to these spaces, courtesy of their Great Work Creativity Club, and this year they have completed the renovation of a neglected open space behind the shops in Kings Road. Adults and children have worked together to clear the area and fill it with painting, bunting, plants and seating areas. It’s now a great venue for art activities, storytelling, movie and pizza nights.
Another focus area this year, Kirsty tells me, is helping the young people gain skills in entrepreneurship (hence The Big Takeover). At the Big Celebration, some of the kids were organising the sale of handicrafts they made themselves – taking the money and recording their sales.
Aaron Hosannah has now stepped down as Chair, but the positive energy continues as he is replaced by Jerome ‘Jerry’ Odibi, the owner of Mama Putts: see Issue 189 Mama Putts the Man Behind the Menu, for an interview with Jerry, where he first mentions his involvement with Progress Network.
Find out more about The Progressive Network, the people behind it and what they do, by visiting progressnet.org or their Facebook page @progressnetworkcic.
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