Community round up
Relaunch of Hastings Dial-A-Ride Service
Following the recent closure of Hastings Community Transport Ltd, CTLA (not an acronym) is pilotting a new community transport service for Hastings. The trial that began last month will run for six months. Subject to sufficient use and help from volunteers, it is hoped the dial-a-ride scheme will become permanent.
The service will initially operate every Wednesday and Thursday between 10am and 3pm. All vehicles are wheelchair accessible.
CTLA is a member of the Community Transport Association and one of the largest community transport providers in East Sussex. It operates a fleet of 17 vehicles, providing transport for those unable to use public transport due to disability, ill health or other accessibility issues. The Hastings dial-a-ride scheme is financially supported by East Sussex County Council.
Membership of the dial-a-ride scheme is free and can be arranged over the telephone. Once membership is granted, service users can book trips within Hastings and St Leonards at £3.50 for a single journey and £6.50 for a return. For more information and membership applications, call CTLA booking centre on 01273 517332.
CTLA are also looking for local volunteers based in Hastings or St Leonards to get involved. These include volunteer drivers (D1 licence required) and passenger assistants, for which additional training will be provided. Help is also required to help with publicity and fundraising.
• If you can spare a few hours please telephone 01273 517332 or e-mail [email protected] or visit www.ctla.org.uk for more information.
Clifton Centre in need of a lift!
The newly rebranded and relaunched community venue, the Clifton Centre (formerly the Southwater Area Community Centre) by Warrior Square Station, needs your help to get a new lift. Up to 400 local people use the centre each week. However, the upstairs space currently has limited access.
The centre is now raising funds to replace the broken and outdated platform lift. The new modern platform lift will meet current safety regulations, with safer walls and a better door function that can be used more easily by people with mobility impairments. Given the centre’s 25-year lease, the lift is essential to the functionality of the venue – now and in the future. A Southwater representative said: “We want our community centre to be known as a good quality venue, where everyone in our town is welcome.”
Award-winning author, poet and disabled activist Penny Pepper, a resident in Hastings for 12 years, is adding her voice and energy to the campaign. She shares the St Leonards Inclusive Crafty Creatives (SLICC) studio with her friend and fellow disabled activist, SLICC founder Theresa Hodge.
“With SLICC we have dreams and ambitious plans for the future! How we’d love to run larger group activities in our upstairs hall, and go to the wide range of events offered by others. But it’s all on hold until the new lift is in place,” says Penny.
Theresa is the campaign manager and oversees the crowdfunding page, which launched on November 17, the day after the start of the UK’s Disability History Month.
“This is how I’m celebrating Disability History Month”, Penny adds. “The lift can be replaced. With the fantastic support of our community of vibrant creatives and local independent businesses, I know it can happen. What a great party we’ll have upstairs when that day comes!”
• Donate or find out more at: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/a-new-lift-for-the-clifton-centre
Bohemia Creative Quarter Christmas Special
From 11am to 4pm on Sunday 4 December, Bohemia Creative Quarter will be hosting festive fun, food and song in various venues. Along Bohemia Road and London Road the whole quarter will be coming out for celebration and Christmas shopping that supports local creative businesses.
Attractions include an Extinction Rebellion activity centre; tarot readings at Gyre and Gimble; stalls at Bank House Studio, and Irish drumming! Food and drink will be available at Sugarpie Honeybuns and the Hoxley. It promises to be a real winter warmer.
• Find out more on facebook.com/Bohemia.Creative.Quarter and Instagram @bohemia.creative.quarter
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article. The future of our volunteer led, non-profit publication would be far more secure with the aid of a small donation. You can also support local journalism by becoming a friend of HIP. It only takes a minute and we would be very grateful.
Leave a Reply