Residents of Hastings, St Leonards and Bexhill can now tune in to a new local radio station from 1 September. Seahaven FM, already broadcasting to East Sussex for more than 16 years, is extending into the area via its new DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) licence, adding to the many coastal towns already receiving the station on FM.

Listeners can hear its signature mix of hit music, join in with the daily quizzes, including the Mystery Tune and Bird-Plant-Fish, and receive vital local information, particularly during travel disruption and adverse weather.

Nick Mallinson, founder of Seahaven FM, says: “We’re excited to be bringing our unique music selection of eight decades of hits to Hastings, St Leonards and Bexhill. Our music, local news, weather, sport, travel and local personality features have been enjoyed by listeners from Saltdean to Pevensey Bay for many years. We’re pleased to be increasing our coverage to welcome a new audience.”

David Crozier, Managing Director of Seahaven FM, adds: “As a not-for-profit organisation, mainly powered by local volunteers, we’re proud to bring our service to people in our new DAB area. We play a vital role in promoting local charities and community organisations and their events, as well as providing affordable radio advertising opportunities for local businesses.”

The station’s website seahavenfm.radio has details of Seahaven FM’s programmes, presenters and the station’s free events listing. As it extends its footprint, Seahaven FM welcomes new advertisers and sponsors.

You can hear Seahaven FM on DAB+ (you may need to re-scan or re-tune your DAB+ radio). All programmes are also available online, on smart speakers and by using your free mobile apps (OIS and Android). Further details on how to listen can be found on the station’s website.

As well as spending time by the sea, the family paid a visit to the aquarium and sampled some traditional fish and chips..

Seaside trips have long held happy memories for Marjorie, as her frequent visits were accompanied by her late husband Albert.

Linda, Marjorie’s daughter, explained: “Once Mum and Dad retired, they would often head out for weekend trips to the coast. Southend was the closest for them as they lived in East London at the time, but they would visit different beaches around Kent and Sussex too, including Hastings.

“If they fancied a trip to the seaside they would pack up the car and go, whatever the weather, so it wasn’t unheard of for them to be sat on the beach in their coats with a windbreak around them eating their fish and chips on a cold and windy day!”

The Hastings trip was made particularly special by the presence of Marjorie’s 15-year-old great-granddaughter April. Although April spends time with her great-grandmother, it was the first time the pair had enjoyed a proper day out together.

The two shared a particularly special moment at the aquarium, with April pointing out the different fish to Marjorie as they explored. She repeatedly commented on how wonderful it was to be able to see creatures she would otherwise never have had the opportunity to encounter. She particularly enjoyed the brightly coloured tropical fish, which she’d never seen before, as well as being treated to a special display from an octopus which slid across the tank directly in front of her.

Talking about what a lovely day out she’d had, she said: “It’s amazing that we can get so many of these things here for us to see because we’d never get the chance to see them otherwise.”

For Linda, having four generations together for the day made it especially meaningful. “It was such a memorable day. It’s something I wouldn’t have been able to organise and do with Mum myself, so we’re incredibly grateful to Hannah and everyone at Heathfield Court for making it possible. It was particularly special for April to have her first proper day out with her great-grandmother.”

Hannah Tribe, lifestyle lead at Heathfield Court, said: “Bringing four generations of the family together made this trip incredibly special, and seeing Marjorie and April enjoying the aquarium together was a lovely moment.”

“Days out like this are about so much more than simply going somewhere different. They give our residents the opportunity to revisit happy memories while continuing to have new experiences and make new memories with the people they love”.

The programme of events has been created by East Sussex County Council, in collaboration with East Sussex Seniors Association and seven local senior forums, to celebrate the contribution of older people and change the way people think about ageing.

Cllr Mark Estcourt, East Sussex County Council’s lead member for adult social care and health, describes the festival as: “a great opportunity for anyone over 50 to try a new activity, learn a new skill, get active and meet new people. He points out that it showcases the range of activities on offer across the county and all the benefits they can bring to people’s health and wellbeing, and with many of the activities free and not requiring booking, “it’s the perfect time to give a new hobby a go and meet new people.”

With more events on offer than ever, the festival promises to offer something for everyone over the age of 50, with events and activities available in every district and borough.

A full programme of events and more information about the festival is available: eastsussex.gov.uk/community/over-50s/full-of-life-events. The Full of Life Festival brochure can also be picked up from libraries, leisure centres, and council offices. 

CHRIS WATKINS

Back at the start of this long, hot Summer, at The Bowl Play Park on Wishing Tree North, Hollington celebrated itself. The Hollington Community Spirit group worked with Tornado Twirl Stars, Hastings 1st Scouts Hollington, Women’s Voice, Gozmina’s Circus Skills and Just Jam/Ark in the Park to programme a day of play activities, the like of which many residents reported not having seen since the early 2000s.

Volunteers from Craig’s Cabin cooked up free food for the crowds, and community organiser Andrea Cowhig explained how Hollington had come out in their masses to celebrate the community and speak up for their play spaces and how they feel about them. Families that remembered using the play parks when they were better maintained talked about what they would like to see from their housing associations and the local council.

Andrea emphasises that as well as raising local spirit and community connection, the event was intended to highlight how resources are spent locally. “Most were aware that there has been a big grant given from the government for new play provisions and are hopeful that we’ll see some of that here in Hollington and Wishing Tree including The Bowl, Blackman Avenue, Kent Road and Willingdon Avenue. There was also discussion of more sports and activities being put on in the area, like other areas have in their parks.”

Andrea and her mother experienced a long-running disagreement with Southern Housing over the condition of their accommodation and, a couple of years ago, joined with other residents to form Hastings Area Southern Housing Tenants Association to better organise, pressure and work to improve conditions in local housing.

After a significant medical diagnosis, Andrea says stepping up as a community organiser provided her with a new confidence and motivation. “I know what it’s like to struggle, and it’s better to struggle together than alone. Especially working in a community that is struggling with things like loneliness, the cost of living, addictions, disability and a massive housing crisis. Standing up for myself gave me my voice again. I’ve always been someone who stood up for the underdog and been very passionate about what’s right.”

In the face of significant socio-economic challenges in the Hollington area, Andrea argues that problems like antisocial behaviour are best addressed by involving residents in regular activities and developing a shared sense of community responsibility. She formed Hollington Community Spirit group to organise events and, following the release of significant Government funding for community development, the group has recently applied for a Pride in Place grant.

As well as hoping to organise meetings, craft days for young people and community events several times a year, the grant application includes a plan for an ongoing six-week cookery course to help families learn more about healthy eating, budgeting and gain confidence making fresh food. Each course would end with a community meal, shared with family and friends of the participants.

Andrea says: “There’s pocket parks in Hollington which have been closed down – little parks which were intended for the roads around them, and we’re hoping to open one of those up to grow fruit and vegetables which will eventually be used to provide ingredients.”

Whilst recognising the danger of anti-social behaviour, Andrea is positive that involving often under-employed young people in community projects can create better community ownership. Since 2022, one of these ‘pocket parks’ has already been successfully developed into Craig’s Cabin, a community garden created within a small patch of fenced and otherwise unused land off Tile Barn Road.

Granted a lease by Southern Housing but otherwise run by volunteers, this charitable venture serves as a wellbeing garden, runs foraging walks, hosts men’s support meetings, regular social activities for children and monthly Community Spirit meetings.

Both groups are involved in the second part of the Pride in Place application, hoping to establish a location where young people can be taught practical trade skills and vegetable gardening to increase their resilience, community engagement and self-belief.

Andrea is not currently keen to repeat her recent unsuccessful run at the recent local elections. “I’dd rather be out there caring about the community. I think I can get more done not being a councillor.”

The 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence was marked with separate events in Hastings, Rye and Bexhill, bringing Ukrainians together with local residents, civic representatives and friends of Ukraine.

The celebrations began in Hastings on 22 August, as part of the Hastings Multicultural Festival at The Stade. Members of the local Ukrainian community took to the stage to speak about Ukraine’s Independence Day and its significance. The programme also included a Ukrainian national song, introducing the wider festival audience to another part of Ukrainian culture.

Throughout the day, the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB), Hastings and Rother District Branch hosted a Ukrainian Community Stall. Visitors were able to meet and talk to local Ukrainians and learn more about Ukrainian culture and traditions.

Two days later, on 24 August – Ukraine’s Independence Day itself – Rye held its own ceremony. Rye Town Crier Paul Edward Goring delivered a specially prepared proclamation in Ukrainian. Colonel Anthony Kimber MBE was also involved in the event, alongside representatives of Rye Town Council, including the Deputy Mayor.

For Ukrainians attending, hearing the Town Crier deliver his proclamation in their own language was a particularly moving gesture. They were also touched by the thought and care that had gone into the ceremony and by the warm welcome from the local community.

Among the Ukrainian symbols brought to the ceremony was a flag covered with handwritten messages and signatures collected during the years of war. Many of the signatures belong to Ukrainian servicemen – some of the soldiers who signed the flag have since lost their lives.

Bexhill also marked the Independence Day on 24 August, with Ukrainians gathering alongside residents and community representatives. Rother Voluntary Action (RVA), which supports the Ukrainian community across Rother, was also represented at the event.

Lieutenant Colonel Peter Swanson MBE, who has longstanding connections with the Armed Forces and veterans’ community, addressed those gathered and delivered a speech in Ukrainian.

Although the events in Hastings, Rye and Bexhill were organised separately and were very different in character, they all highlighted how Ukrainian people have found a place within local communities across Hastings and Rother.

This year marks 35 years since Ukraine restored its independence in 1991. For Ukrainians, however, the anniversary represents a much longer history, culture and national identity – something that was reflected in the celebrations across all three towns.

Across Hastings, Rye and Bexhill, that celebration was shared with the communities around them – sometimes, quite literally, in the Ukrainian words spoken by their neighbours.

Bexhill Community Garden is encouraging people to visit and discover what it has to offer – whether they want to volunteer, learn how to grow food or simply spend time outdoors.

The garden, in Preston Road, Bexhill, forms part of Bexhill Family Collective, which also includes Dragonflies Nursery and a community pantry at Sidley Family Hub. The 0.8-acre garden grows fruit and vegetables for a local community pantry and provides space for activities, workshops and events for all ages.

Richard Best, garden manager at Bexhill Community Garden, says: “We want people just to come down and enjoy being here. There’s no obligation to work, but if you want to do some gardening, or if you want to learn and you’ve never done it before, you can come and we can teach.”

Despite the sloping site, the garden includes polytunnels, sheds, a yurt, pond, amphitheatre and growing beds. Richard emphasises that its purpose goes beyond producing food. “Bexhill Community Garden is an allotment space for growing fruit and vegetables in order to feed our local pantry,” he explains, “but the garden also provides a space for holding activities and workshops for all ages.”

There is a particular emphasis on encouraging children and young people to connect with nature through gardening and creative activities. Previous events have included pumpkin carving, Christmas wreath-making and creating headdresses for Jack in the Green in Hastings. Produce is also used in cooking activities; last year, cherries from the garden were turned into jam on site.

During August, the Collective started running Give an Hour, Grow a Garden sessions on Tuesday mornings to allow people to try volunteering without making a regular commitment. Volunteer coordinator Leanne Deedman is keen to welcome more volunteers: “It might be to pop down to do a bit of watering, help us with a bigger project, do something regularly or just donate a day or a few hours of your time,” she says.

Families with young children can also attend Little Hands, Big Help sessions on Tuesdays from 9.30am to 11am. Children and their grown-ups can help with small gardening jobs or simply enjoy the outdoor space, which includes a pond and mud kitchen.

Leanne stresses that the aim is for local people to see the garden as their own community space. Richard adds: “You can come and take part, or you can come and volunteer. You just come and use the garden as you want.”

For activities or volunteering, visit the Collective Facebook page: facebook.com/BexhillFamilyCollectiveCIC. For volunteering enquiries, email  leanne.dedman@bexhillfamilycollective.org.uk.

Five volunteers took part in the head shave at the Emmaus superstore in St Leonards, with residents and colleagues cheering each other on. The head shaves were kindly carried out free of charge by local hairdresser Sue, from Hair and Beyond, who wanted to donate her skills and time to the cause.

Zoe, the former counsellor whose cancer diagnosis motivated many of the group to take part, came along to support and watch the head shaves take place in person.

Some of the residents who took part have experienced homelessness and wanted to give something back to others facing difficulties. Cancer is a cause close to their hearts, and the group felt strongly about supporting those affected by it.

Janine Woodland, Support Lead at Emmaus Hastings & Rother and one of the brave participants, says: “One of the most important aspects of the Emmaus ethos is solidarity – standing alongside people who are vulnerable or facing difficult circumstances. Through solidarity projects, we work with charities, causes and community initiatives to help make a positive difference to people’s lives.

“Zoe was a counsellor to our residents here at Emmaus Hastings & Rother. She’s recently been diagnosed with cancer and said she didn’t mind what they did to her; she just didn’t want to lose her hair. We wanted to raise money in acknowledgement of what she, and so many others, face every day.”

The group set out to raise £250 and has already smashed this target, raising over three times their goal. They are now hoping to reach £1,000 in donations.

Supporters can still donate via the group’s Macmillan fundraising page at bravetheshave.macmillan.org.uk/shavers/62eb638a-3e84-45fa-889c-dc95e601446a

Would a stairlift or level-access shower make it easier for you or a family member to stay in your home? Did you know that the council can offer disabled facilities grants to eligible residents to make adaptations to their homes?

Applications can be made for multiple adaptations including creating downstairs bedrooms and bathrooms, kitchen adaptations, external access ramps, door widening, stair lifts, level access showers, and electronic door entry systems. To be eligible, you need to intend to live at the property for at least five years, whether you own your own home or rent privately or from a housing association. 

The first step to applying for a grant is to speak to your GP and get a referral to an occupational therapist who will carry out an assessment of your needs and recommend adaptations. A grants officer will then arrange a visit and explain the next stage of the process. The council’s Adaptations Support Service can help you to complete the grant application form and to prepare and draw up the proposed plans.

Between April and June this year, 34 disabled facilities grants and 40 adaptations were completed at a total cost to the council of £376,597.08.

Residents who have had work completed are delighted with the results. One resident said: “I love having a beautiful new bathroom, especially new tiles to the ceiling. The two bathroom fitters were very considerate, they left everything very clean and tidy each day. I have a lovely clean, hygienic bathroom.”

Another said: “Being able to have a shower and washer toilet has helped me so much and really made a difference to how I live. Absolutely amazing. And the front access to my home too. I’m so, so grateful, thank you.”

Cllr Glenn Haffenden, leader of the council and lead councillor for housing, says: “It’s great news that disabled facilities grants have made such positive differences to residents’ lives. The positive comments about the adaptations that have been done are lovely to hear. If you rent your home and think this isn’t for you, please talk to your landlord: they can apply for you, and in many cases, a financial contribution isn’t needed from residents.”

The Supermums Business Hub will be available to women across the UK. But while the ambition is national, Heather believes meaningful change needs to start locally, which is why the first physical Supermums Business Hub will be opening in Hastings in November this year.

The Hub will be a place where female founders, freelancers and women returning to work can work alongside one another, learn practical AI and technology skills, access business support, coaching and consultancy, and build business relationships. They will also have the chance to connect with female freelance AI Champions and technology specialists who have graduated through the Supermums training programmes over the last 10 years – and to become those experts themselves.

AI is rapidly changing how small businesses operate – from marketing and administration to customer service, websites, CRM and business operations. Heather believes that, for many female entrepreneurs, the challenge isn’t whether they should embrace AI, it’s knowing where to start: they need to know which tools genuinely matter and who they can trust to help them implement them.

The organisation particularly focuses on mums returning to work, women looking to reskill or upskill and female freelancers whose existing roles are being transformed by AI. According to the International Labour Organisation, in high-income countries 9.6% of female employment is in occupations with the highest exposure to generative AI, compared with 3.5% of male employment.

For Heather, the mission is personal. She spent 25 years designing and delivering business support and employability programmes and 20 years running businesses of her own so has experienced firsthand how embracing technology could create opportunities for flexible, well-paid and meaningful work. After settling near Hastings to start a family, she decided to use that experience to help other women do the same and launched Supermums in 2016 following the birth of her second child.

Now she believes that AI represents the next major turning point for women. She says: “Ten years ago, technology changed the direction of my own career. I saw the opportunities it could create for women to build flexible, well-paid careers, and I wanted other mums to have access to those opportunities too.

“Now we’re standing at another turning point with AI. It’s transforming businesses and it’s transforming jobs. I don’t want women to be frightened of that change or left behind by it. I want women to be at the forefront of it.”

Visit supermumsbusinesshub.com

Hosted in the Stade Open Space, just a few steps from the sea, visitors will be able to taste an array of local catches, from fresh oysters to crispy fish rolls and seafood paella. Vendors from across Sussex and Kent will be offering up delicious artisan produce, including Judges Bakery, The Albion Pasty Shack and Oui Creperie.

Alongside the food stalls there will be a variety of local vineyards and breweries, showcasing spectacular English wines and craft beer. There will be an opportunity to learn more about local wine-making with a talk and demonstration happening on Sunday.

Over the course of the weekend 13 incredible live bands will perform, following a different musical theme each day, an exciting new addition to the 2026 festival!

The weekend will kick off with a Northern Soul themed night. The Hastings Northern Soul Club will deliver a fantastic DJ set, followed by Buddy Curtess and The Grasshoppers. This brilliant 10-piece band is guaranteed to get you dancing!

On Saturday, country music will take centre stage. Sister Suzie and local band, Wildflowers and Moonshine will offer up Bluegrass Americana and Country tunes to get your toes tapping.

Sunday will be all about jazz, blues and soul. Hastings’ very own world-class jazz musician, Lianne Carrol, will start the day with her Jazz Breakfast, which is bound to be one of the highlights of the weekend. To end with a bang, Bexhill-based band Ska-Per, will bring high-energy Ska and Reggae to The Stade, bringing the weekend to a fantastic close.

Stade Events CIC is offering Weekend Festival Passes free when you buy a ticket for either the Jazz Breakfast or Northern Soul Night.

For tickets and more information visit stadeevents.co.uk

Local foodbanks are calling for donations of everyday essentials as families face extra pressure during the school summer holidays.

To help shoppers support their local communities, supermarket Aldi is promoting the products charities say are needed most, making it easier for local customers to donate while doing their regular shop.

According to Aldi’s charity partner Neighbourly, the most in-demand items this summer are: tinned food, toiletries, tea/coffee, breakfast cereals, juices and soft drinks, UHT milk, laundry and cleaning products, rice and pasta, cooking sauces/oils/condiments, pet food and baby essentials.

Customers can donate any of these items at community collection points in Aldi stores, with all donations distributed to local foodbanks and charities.

Luke Emery, National Sustainability Director at Aldi UK, says: “The summer holidays can be a particularly difficult time for many families, with the cost of keeping children fed while they’re home from school putting extra pressure on household budgets.

“We know our customers are incredibly generous and want to support people in their local communities. Even adding just one extra everyday essential to your weekly shop can make a real difference.”

Steve Butterworth, CEO at Neighbourly, says: “When schools break up for summer, many families lose access to the support they rely on during term time, while household food costs often increase. That’s why donations of everyday essentials are so important.”

Alongside customer donations, Aldi expects to donate an estimated two million meals to charities, foodbanks and community organisations across the UK this summer, helping ensure good food reaches people instead of going to waste.

Donations can also be made at most branches of other major supermarkets.

The Summer Youth Project at White Rock has become one of the highlights of my theatrical year. I am always amazed by what can be achieved in just two weeks with a group of enthusiastic, committed and talented children and young people, supported by their adult production and creative team. This year’s production of Shrek the Musical was no exception.

This time, I was joined by two young budding reviewers, Una, aged eight, and Effie, aged six, who were watching the show with their grandparents. Their verdict is an important part of this review.

The production itself was quite a feat. With around 100 young performers involved, there were moments when the stage was packed, yet the whole enterprise was impressively managed. There were numerous songs, plenty of dialogue and a great deal to learn in a very short rehearsal period, but everyone seemed to know exactly where they were meant to be and what they were meant to say. Above all, there was a real sense of enthusiasm from the cast.

Josh Stevens and Amerleigh Peacock made an engaging central pair as Shrek and Princess Fiona. Both held their characters and accents well throughout, while Amerleigh brought a particularly strong Disney-princess quality to Fiona, combining confident acting with lovely singing.

Una’s favourite was Donkey, played by Jordan Phillips. “He was very funny,” she said, particularly enjoying his take on Eddie Murphy’s distinctive accent. His performance had plenty of energy and warmth and was clearly a hit with the younger members of our reviewing panel.

The familiar world of fairy tales was brought to life with an effective video backdrop, some lovely costumes and, of course, a dragon puppet. Una and Effie particularly enjoyed spotting all the well-known nursery rhyme and fairy tale characters, including Pinocchio, the Three Little Pigs and the Gingerbread Man. Thankfully, the dragon was judged exciting rather than too scary.

The show’s message – that it is okay to be different and that appearances are not everything – came through strongly and seemed to resonate with this young audience.

For Una and Effie, the best moments were the scenes between Shrek and Fiona. They loved the duet I Think I Got You Beat, the burping contest, and, perhaps unsurprisingly, all the fart jokes. Sometimes you simply cannot compete with that level of comedy when you’re six and eight.

Watching through their eyes was a reminder of exactly what the Summer Youth Project does so well: it gives young people the chance to take on a huge challenge, work together and create something that brings real enjoyment to audiences of all ages.

I wonder what the team have up their sleeve for next year? Whatever it is, I’m already looking forward to finding out.

It also confirmed July 2026 as the driest July on record for England and Wales in a series spanning 190 years, with Southern England experiencing its driest calendar month ever.

The Hastings Weather Service has been recording and reporting on weather data like this since 1875. Staffed by volunteers, the Weather Service publishes the information locally as well as submitting it to the Met Office each day, where the data is used to validate their forecasting and contribute to the long-term UK climate record (see HIP article: A Day in the Life of a Weather Volunteer, 21 September 2018).

But this was not an every-day recording. A member of the weather team points out: “In an era of climate change, this is not a record to welcome but is a sign of the times and possibly what the future holds.” And, as Green Cllr Jo Walker says, “Setting a new national temperature record is a reminder that climate change is not a distant issue – it is happening now.”

It is particularly uncomfortable news as it confirms on our own doorstep the crisis we are facing as a town, as a country and, indeed, as a planet. This is why Hastings Commons hosted a free community screening and discussion event featuring the climate change documentary The People’s Emergency Briefing at the Observer Building on August 1. This important film is galvanising people around the country to take action on climate change in the absence of government leadership.

We have also been reminded of how uncomfortable one aspect of global warming can be: high temperatures at night that make it almost impossible to get a good night’s sleep, at least under the current housing conditions in which we live.

In the meantime, here are a few tips for keeping cool as night temperatures stay high.

For Yourself

• Target pulse points: Dab cool water or place a damp cloth on your wrists, neck, or the backs of your knees.
• Wear loose cotton: Choose lightweight, breathable sleepwear or sleep with minimal covers to let body heat escape.
• Chill your pillowcase: Place your pillowcase in a bag in the fridge or freezer for a short time before putting it on your pillow.
• Stay hydrated: Keep a glass of cool water by your bed, but avoid heavy meals, caffeine, and alcohol right before sleep.

For Your Surroundings

• Ventilate strategically: Open windows only when the outdoor temperature drops lower than the indoor temperature, creating a cross-breeze if possible.
• Position fans wisely: Set a fan facing outward directly in front of an open window to push hot air out or place a shallow bowl of ice in front of an inward-facing fan for a DIY air-conditioning effect.]
• Shift locations: If your upstairs bedroom traps too much heat, consider moving your mattress or sleeping on a lower floor or the lowest level of your home where it is naturally cooler.

Speaking with evident passion, he added: “Coastguarding constantly sharpens skills, whether it’s rope rescue, flood rescue, casualty care, or decision-making under pressure. Training and callouts happen in all conditions – dark, cold, wet, tired – and that’s where resilience is really built. You learn to stay calm, communicate clearly, trust your team, and keep going when things are uncomfortable.”

HM Coastguard is currently seeking new volunteers to carry out rescues and assist those in distress around our shores. If you are interested, please contact: gov.uk/volunteer-as-a-coastguard

Nobody will deny that dealing with a cancer diagnosis on your own is very tough. But you’re not alone if you pop down to the Macmillan Information & Support Hub at Hastings Town Hall where, three times per week, you can get free information and emotional support.

The Macmillan team is there to welcome you into a safe, confidential space where they will listen to what matters most to you. They can guide you through the tough days, connect you with financial guidance or link you to local practical help.

Whether you are living with cancer yourself or are caring for a partner, friend or family member, there’s always a welcome. No need to book an appointment, simply drop in whenever you are ready. Opening times are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10.00am to 4.00pm. 

If you are looking for shared experiences, the Hub also hosts an informal Macmillan Friends and Family Coffee Morning on the first Thursday of every month from 10.30am to 12.30pm. It’s completely free, and there’s plenty of tea and friendly faces to help you feel at home. It’s a chance to take a breath and chat with others who truly understand what you are going through. 

Walk for Al-Mawasi

Hastings has had links with Al-Mawasi, a fishing community in Gaza, for several years. Last year, Hastings Borough Council agreed to make it one of our Friendship Link communities abroad.

Every August since 2024, the Friends of Al-Mawasi group in Hastings have organised a walk to celebrate our link, make it more widely known and raise much-needed funds for the town – which has become a shelter for refugees fleeing from the Israeli Army’s attacks all over Gaza.

This year the walk took place on the morning of 9 August. Supporters walked from the Stade along the seafront to Bexhill’s De La Warr Pavilion.

Donate via the online fundraiser at chuffed.org/… /184544-hastings-walk-for-al-mawasi

Sunrise Walk for the Samaritans

Volunteers for Hastings & Rother Samaritans will be walking five kilometres along the seafront on Sunday 11 October to raise vital funds for the organisation and support those who are struggling with their mental health.

They invite the public to gather at Rock‑A‑Nore carpark at dawn to show their solidarity and join in. They say: “By taking part, you’ll be helping our amazing volunteers continue to be there for anyone finding life tough. It’s a beautiful way to show solidarity, support your own wellbeing, and make a real difference.”

Registrations are now open – register or donate at dawnwalk.samaritans.org/branches/hastings-and-rother

Emergency Briefing & Community Resilience Network

Are your food and energy bills too high? Do you think Hastings is prepared for heatwaves and floods? Hastings People’s Emergency Briefing is part of a UK public information campaign featuring a 50-minute film presented by Chris Packham. The film outlines the risks of the climate and nature crisis and the need to build local community resilience and encourage coordinated engagement with local decision-makers and MPs.

The first sold-out screening took place at The Observer Building on 1 August and was followed by group discussions focused on the challenges faced by people in Hastings and St Leonards.

There are two other free screenings in Hastings: at the Electric Palace Cinema, on Thurs 27 August and Sat 29 August, both at 11am. These are hosted and supported by the Quaker Society.

This year’s annual scarecrow competition in Battle invited entries including those inspired by countries and iconic figures. So Battle Town FC Runners’ entry was in honour of Sabastian Kimaru Sawe, the Kenyan runner who achieved a new world record in the London marathon this year.

Sabastian Straw (geddit?) was sporting a mocked-up pair of the branded top-of-the-range running shoes worn by Sabastian Sawe for the race. The scarecrow (Sab for short) stood proud on Battle Green. His shoes had four coats of ‘Dulux kitchens and bathrooms’ so shone brilliant white along with painstaking reproductions of branding and lettering in black. He looked dapper.

Then, one day into the competition, not so dapper. Someone had stolen his trainers! BTFC Runners received no ransom note, and we’ve ruled out theft by another scarecrow. Surely no one thought they were the real item? – retailing at £359 when available, or up to £1,500 on secondary sites.

Anyone hoping to use them for running would have been disappointed. The four coats of ‘kitchens and bathrooms’ made them very heavy and not too breathable. Even after careful artistry, they were not wholly convincing – or were they?

The competition ends on 26 July, and Sab has remained barefoot throughout. BTFC Runners had hoped it was a prank, and that the shoes would reappear. But no. We don’t think we can pin this one on interference by killjoy foreign governments or South American football teams. If only we had a scarecrow Sherlock Holmes to investigate.

The BBC is looking for local children aged 5-8 who love making friends. The casting call is for a brand new six-part series about friendship for BBC One and iPlayer from Five Mile Films, the award-winning producers of Channel 4’s The Dog House and one of the BAFTA-winning producers of First Dates.

We all know what it feels like to try and make a friend. Whether it’s an awkward ‘hello’, turning up to a party alone, or telling a joke that doesn’t quite land, the pursuit of friendship isn’t always easy. Now imagine navigating all of that as a little kid.

Will You Be My Friend? explores the world of friendship through children aged 5 to 8 who are struggling socially. Some are shy, some feel like they don’t fit in, others simply haven’t found their tribe yet. They want to make a friend – but don’t know where to start.

In our post-Covid digital world, 42% of young people say friendships and social life are a daily worry and 47% of parents say they have observed a decline in their child’s social and emotional skills. A survey by the English-Speaking Union found that over 50% of parents of 5 to 9 year-olds say their children now struggle to make friends due to low self-confidence.

Enter The Friendship Centre, where a team of psychologists help children build the confidence and social skills to form real, lasting connections with other kids. Each child is then sensitively matched on a play date with a potential new friend from their local area. Six weeks later, the team returns to see how the child’s new-found courage has helped at school, in the playground and beyond.

The series is a timely reminder that just one friend can completely change your life. And it all starts with one very simple question… “Will you be my friend?”

Filming takes place during July and August and the team is currently casting in Hastings with a final application date of 7 August. They are looking for children aged five to eight who enjoy meeting new people and who might like to take part.

If your child loves making new friends, you can apply now at makingfriends.tv or scan the qr-code

Walking along my road in Hastings recently, I found myself delighting in the abundance of plants growing through the cracks in the pavement. Dandelions, grasses, tiny flowers, plants I couldn’t name were everywhere. This change is due to a local petition many, including my partner, had signed asking the council to stop using weedkiller on the streets. Now I could see how that small act had made space for nature to bloom everywhere. Not planted, not designed, not officially invited, but there anyway.

As a basket maker and craft forager, these pockets of wild mean I can find plants that become materials in my work. What some people see as weeds, I see as possibilities, and this made me think about culture in Hastings.

So much of what makes this town interesting does not wait for permission. It happens in the gaps: in pubs, kitchens, gardens, streets, shared buildings, community rooms, studios, workshops, campaigns, conversations and acts of neighbourliness. Hastings is not a town that waits politely for culture to be delivered to it. People here make things happen, often with very little money, a lot of invention, and a strong feeling that places belong to the people who use them.

Culture is fluid. It constantly changes through our interactions with others: family, friends, neighbours and people we may only just be meeting. It’s something we make together. That’s why Hastings feels like such a natural place for Fun Palaces.

Fun Palaces is a UK-wide movement supporting people to create their own local cultural events. Each October, people across the country make Fun Palaces in the places where they already live, work and gather: libraries, parks, pubs, schools, streets, cafés, museums, community centres and homes. No big budget, no professionals and no permanent building required. It might begin with a recipe, a walk, a story, a song, craft making, a game, a piece of local knowledge, a repair skill, a conversation or an activity. It’s about people sharing what they love, creating something local with and for the people around them.

The theatre director Joan Littlewood was the inspiration behind Fun Palaces. She recognised something radical: people don’t need to be taught how to be creative, or to be given culture, because they already have it.

Along with architect Cedric Price, she imagined the Fun Palace in the 1960s as a ‘laboratory of fun’ and a ‘university of the streets’. It was never built, but the idea behind it remains relevant. Joan believed that creativity did not belong to experts or institutions alone. She believed that everyone had something to contribute. Perhaps that’s why her famous phrase, “Everyone an artist or a scientist”, still resonates today.

As Hastings looks towards its bid to become UK Town of Culture 2028, I hope this breadth of culture is part of the story too: the grassroots, generous custom of people sharing what they know, making things happen together and inviting others in. Not because institutional culture doesn’t matter, but because culture exists in many forms, and we sometimes need reminding to place greater value on the things people are already doing themselves and with others.

When hundreds of these things happen across the country at the same time, with thousands of people taking part, something remarkable begins to emerge. It becomes a collective shout. It reminds us that we are connected to other people and places and that small local acts can become powerful when they are part of something shared.

I would love to see many Fun Palaces happen across Hastings, because the town is so full of cultural activities that are worth shouting about. For me, the power of Fun Palaces lies in recognising what is already here: the knowledge, humour, skills, memories, passions and care that exist in every place.

Like the plants in the pavement cracks, perhaps the work is partly to notice what’s already growing, and make more space for it.

That feels like Hastings to me. And it feels like a good place to begin.

If you like the idea of making a Fun Palace in Hastings or want to talk through what it could look like, I’d love to hear from you: rachel@funpalaces.co.uk. You can also find out more at funpalaces.co.uk

TOBY BULA-EDGE

The ever-popular Summer Reading Challenge returns this month for children aged four to eleven. This year the theme is Read to the Beat and explores the connection between music and storytelling. The Challenge – to read six books during July and August – aims to ignite imagination and creativity. It will also be great preparation for the under-16 social media ban.

The Challenge, organised by The Reading Agency, is backed by Universal Music Group UK. There will be activities in libraries across the county that celebrate the connection between storytelling and sound, including African drumming, making instruments from recycled materials, producing stop-motion animation and soundtracks, and interactive storytelling sessions.

There will also be claymation filmmaking sessions guided by experts from Press Play Films, as well as a chance to take part in set designing.

The Challenge is free to enter. Children taking part can read any library book of their choice, including fiction, non-fiction, picture books, or books they share with parents and carers. If your child struggles to not look at a screen for five seconds, don’t worry, because eBooks, eAudiobooks and CD books – if they know what a CD is! – also count.

Those taking part will receive special stickers and other rewards. Those who complete six books in the timeframe will earn a certificate and a medal.

East Sussex County Council’s Councillor Peter Griffiths says: “I have been an avid reader all my life and there are so many benefits to children being encouraged to read: from building their knowledge and their communication and language skills; to developing self-confidence – not to mention the immense enjoyment that can be experienced whilst getting stuck into a really good book.”

Entry is free. Booking is required for activities running between Saturday 4 July and Saturday 5 September. Children can sign up at their nearest East Sussex library or visit eastsussex.gov.uk/src

A new Community Eco Hub is the next aim of Umbrella Sussex – the group behind the Library of Things, Make and Mend, and Save the Convent Campaign. They are currently crowdfunding for the project and are looking for help from the community. The hub would combine climate action and anti-poverty work, focused on their well-established mending and lending schemes.

The building would provide space for the established Hastings Library of Things and Make and Mend, and would also play host to new initiatives like Hack Space – a shared community workshop for fixers, makers and inventors, and that would repair items, collaborate and develop new ideas, and tackle waste.

From Shore to Shed would combine beach cleaning with creative reuse. Materials collected from local beaches will be sorted and made available to schools, artists, community groups and makers. From these safe and renewable waste materials, creative projects can be born.

Providing affordable meeting rooms, a community kitchen and fully accessible facilities are also central to the building’s conception.

To ensure that the building is never sold and always available to the people of Hastings, Umbrella Sussex plans to put the building into a trust. It would be retrofitted to high environmental standards, to tie in with the group’s aim to tackle the climate crisis – as well as to inspire local residents and businesses to do their part.

Christine, spokesperson for Umbrella Sussex, says: “I started Make and Mend in 2019, and we’ve always struggled with space. Our two regular volunteers work incredibly hard to keep up with demand, but we simply can’t fit in any more volunteers. I’m so excited that, with control over our own space, we’ll be able to open every day and welcome many more people to get involved.”

To find out more or to donate. visit: crowdfunder.co.uk/p/community-eco-hub

As we sweat our way through the third heatwave of the year, it’s impossible to ignore that the climate is changing. That’s why Hastings United FC and Bexhill United FC are part of Gamechanging Futures, a National Lottery-funded project to help six English sports clubs adapt to the new climate.

The effects of the climate on sport are already apparent. Wimbledon has faced delays due to extreme heat, while at the World Cup, players are taking hydration breaks mid-game due to the heat, much to the consternation of the crowd (arguably an absurdity, because in this heat most people can’t even move off the sofa). The hydration breaks, however, do seem to be a flash of common sense from FIFA in a World Cup that is expected to be the most polluting yet.

On the smaller stage, the effect is perhaps more widely felt. Across England climate-related damage and disruptions to grassroots sport have produced a financial toll estimated at £320 million. These disruptions have a knock-on effect for communities, with pitches and sports areas being unavailable for local groups and clubs.

It isn’t just heat that has an impact. Geoff Martin, Media Manager at Bexhill United FC, highlights that: “Pitch irrigation and wildly fluctuating wet and dry spells leave us on a knife-edge with cancellations.” A third of community pitches across England are unplayable for up to two months of the season due to flooding and waterlogging.

Gamechanging Futures aims to help clubs adapt to these changes and help limit their impact on the environment. It’s a three-year project – supported by £1.5 million of National Lottery funding – being led by environmental charities Climate Outreach and Pledgeball. There are six participating clubs across the country, including local Hastings United FC and Bexhill United FC.

Hastings United FC will launch Play It Forward. This will keep football boots and kits in play through donation, repair, exchange and redistribution. Sally Greig, Director at Hastings United FC, says that this aims to “reduce sports kit waste, make football more affordable, and ensure that no player is left out of the game because they lack the right equipment” – as well as contributing, even in a small way, to a more eco-friendly approach.

Just down the road, Bexhill United FC plan to install LED footlights, cutting energy usage in the future as part of their bid to reduce further climate damage.

Rachel Orr, CEO of Climate Outreach, says: “Fans and players of grassroots sport are already feeling the effects of our changing climate. But they are also at the forefront of driving possible change. From installing solar panels to bringing down bills to creating accessible low carbon clubhouses, clubs are taking action to lower emissions and build community pride. We’re really excited to be working with these clubs to see what more we can achieve together.”

A recent report by the Climate Change Committee said that adaptation cannot wait – as evidenced in part by the struggles sports clubs face. That’s why they’re taking action now to change the game for future generations.

Local mental health charity Counselling Plus Community (CPC) will be relocating to the St Nicholas Centre from 1 September. The collaborative move was announced by long running charity the Fellowship of St Nicholas (FSN).

The relocation will bring together the two well-established and crucial charities, strengthening the support services FSN delivers to children, young people and families.

CPC was established in 1992 and provides affordable counselling for people aged 16 and over who are on benefits or low income. They will continue to provide this service from their new home and hope the move will help improve their ability to deliver it.

Verra Papaspyrou, CPC’s CEO, and FSN’s CEO Angelica McMilan both expressed excitement about the move. “Our roots lie in recognising the urgent need for affordable therapy within an area of significant deprivation,” says Verra, “and I believe this ethos will be enhanced and further developed by working closely with FSN.”

“We have been building towards combining our respective strengths at the St Nicholas Centre over the past few months,” says Angelica. “It’s such a great opportunity to enhance the support available to children, young people and families across our local communities. Creating greater access to dedicated mental health services and a more joined-up approach to wellbeing is so needed. We have listened to our community, and this collaboration is another step forward into ensuring families’ journeys in life are happier, one step at a time.”

To find out more about the work of CPC and FSN go to: counsellingplus.org or fsncharity.co.uk

Two local filmmakers were named ‘Filmmaking Champions’ at the Into Film Awards 2026 on 16 June. The awards, which celebrate young filmmaking talent and enrichment, took place at ODEON Luxe in Leicester Square.

The award ceremony was full of ‘big names’. It was hosted by former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq and featured special guest presenters such as: Jodie Whitaker, Peter Capaldi, Bella Ramsey and Jason Isaacs.

On top of that, a big name of Hastings was to receive the award – The Bright Foundation. Will Davies and Sophie Barnard from The Bright Foundation were celebrated for their work with young children. The ‘Filmmaking Champions’ award is for those that use film to support and develop young people.

HIP recently interviewed Will Davies for his work with local schools. He was one of four filmmakers at the foundation who helped pupils make films in time for the Children’s International Film Festival, which took place in Hastings on 18 June. Sophie Barnard is the producer at the foundation.

An increasingly familiar institution, The Bright Foundation was set up by Oscar and BAFTA winning Costume Designer John Bright to inspire creativity in children and young people – especially those experiencing disadvantage. They run events and schools at the Benbow Art Space in St Leonards, as well as The Barn Theatre and Museum. They have an illustrious list of ambassadors, including such celebrated performers as Dame Judi Dench, Dame Helen Mirren and Ralph Fiennes.

Now, Will, Sophie, and The Bright Foundation as a whole, have been celebrated. Will Davies said: “It was an amazing privilege to attend this year’s Into Film Awards. This is an annual award ceremony which celebrates young filmmakers from across the UK. There was so much talent in the room and I’m sure some of them will be household names in the future.

“The Bright Foundation was also there to receive the ‘Filmmaking Champions’ award. It was a really inspiring day and left us feeling really energised to continue with what is the best job in the world – making films with young people in Hastings and St Leonards. Thanks to Into Film.”

The event brought together students, staff, governors, employers, families and industry partners to recognise learners’ dedication, progress and success across the automotive curriculum. Awards were presented by Nick Backstrom, Deputy Principal at East Sussex College, who congratulated students and joined staff in celebrating an exceptional year for the department.

Opening the ceremony, Nick Wood, Deputy Head of Curriculum for Construction, Computing, Engineering, Motor Vehicle, Electrical and Access, praised students, staff and employers for their contribution to the centre’s continued success. He said learners had gone beyond gaining qualifications, developing real-world skills, confidence and clear pathways into the automotive industry.

The ceremony was the final awards event to be held at the Automotive Training Centre’s Northridge Industrial Estate site before the department relocates to East Sussex College’s new Green Automotive Centre of Excellence at the Ore Valley campus from September.

Students were recognised for improvement, academic achievement, attendance and commitment to the automotive industry. Most Improved Student awards went to Josh Cottrill, Joe Shuttlewood, Hermione Elrick and Hayden Foster. Top Student awards were presented to Lewis Ellis, Lewis Jackson, Conner Baker, Jude Foster and apprentice Teddy Clements.

The department also celebrated good results, including a 100% pass rate for both Level 2 Diploma and Level 3 Diploma learners, with the Level 3 group achieving 100% for the second consecutive year.

A highlight of the event was the annual ATC Attendance Raffle, which rewards students for strong attendance throughout the year. Thanks to local employers and industry partners, prizes included vehicles, toolkits, diagnostic equipment and vouchers. Jude Foster won the top prize, a Peugeot 107 donated by Central Cars of Bexhill, while Chloe Walton won a Honda Shadow 125 motorcycle donated by Beeson Motorcycles.

A remarkable night is in store at the Stade Hall on 5 July which will showcase both the breadth of musical talent in Hastings as well as the big heart that beats within the local community of musicians and songwriters. Oh Big Blue in Concert is the brainchild of soprano Chiara Vinci, who has pulled together an array of talent to raise much needed funds for the Al-Mawasi community in Gaza, to which Hastings is officially linked.

Chiara was inspired to organise the concert after seeing an exhibition of poetry and art from Palestinian children in Hastings last year and also the book which accompanied the exhibition.

“I went to the Oh Big Blue exhibition on my own,” she remembers; “I came away silently and profoundly moved and full of hope. The book and the artwork captured my imagination, and my heart – these poems were songs. Something to be created and held in consciousness for all time. But I needed collaborators.”

Stepping up to help Chiara realise her vision was the Hands Up project (an organisation that works – using art and theatre – with Palestinian children), the Hastings and District Palestine Solidarity Campaign as well as a slew of local musicians, singers and composers, all of whom have adapted the children’s poems into music.

At the concert people can expect a variety of music from acoustic to classical, from established names like Bev Lee Harling, Frank Moon and Chiara herself, to promising new artists like Ruby Colley.

Funds from the event will go to the Hands Up Project and Hastings friends of Al-Mawasi, which for the last three years has offered friendship and practical solidarity to the community in southern Gaza, enabling them to install solar panels on roofs, construct a bakery inside a war-damaged building as well as other initiatives.

People from the Al-Mawasi Resilience Committee hold Zoom meetings with their supporters in Hastings to give updates on their projects and their lives in general. The work of the Resilience Committee, and of Hastings Friends of Al-Mawasi, only grows more vital as Israel tightens its siege on Gaza. In May there was confirmation that a ban by the Israeli government on 37 foreign organisations operating in Gaza, including Save the Children and Oxfam, will be enforced. Summing up the situation in Gaza since the ‘ceasefire’ began last October, Oxfam states: “Civilians in Gaza continue to face the horrors of a genocide. Indiscriminate attacks on homes, schools, hospitals, and refugee camps continue by the Israeli military. And life-saving aid is still being blocked.”

Speaking of the concert, Chiara says: “As a collective of artists and musicians from Hastings, we deeply feel the urge and the desire to keep showing up in solidarity and support for Palestine.” She promises the concert will be ‘an evening to remember’.

Oh Big Blue in Concert will take place at the Stade Hall, on Sunday 5 July at 7pm. Tickets are available from Eventbrite.

The grant was launched as part of the Age-Friendly Hastings programme and will support projects that bring generations together and help wellbeing. These can include projects such as gardening, storytelling, music, physical activity and digital skills. Projects that help people learn from one another – no matter their ages. Projects that challenge ageism and age-related stereotypes.

Grants of up to £500 are available for those who need an extra boost to fund these projects. All with the objective of bringing people and communities closer together.

Cllr Solly Solamito, lead councillor for Corporate Services, Communities and Equalities, Hastings Borough Council, said: “Intergenerational activities create opportunities for people of all ages to connect, share skills and build stronger communities. I am delighted to launch this grants programme and encourage local groups to come forward with ideas that will help bring generations together across Hastings.”

The deadline for application is 5.00pm on Friday, 31 July 2026. A further round of grants will be launched in Autumn 2026.

For further information go to hastings.gov.uk/my-community/Age-Friendly-Communities/

After the Samphire Sauna’s annual summer break for overhaul, the UK’s only sauna on a pier will be back on 5 July, bigger and better!

Owners Zoya Jordan and Nell Monck have been at the helm of this Hastings success story. Four years after opening it has become an all year round attraction for visitors as well as a hub for locals, with a regular clientele and a reputation for community involvement. As it turned out, they have been riding the crest of a wave already in the making.

“We’ve been lucky in that we started the business at a time when sauna culture was really taking off,” Zoya says. “At that time there were about forty mobile saunas in the UK, and now there are 650, so the expansion has been insane. It’s no longer just about going somewhere to get warm after a swim. Sauna has become more of a way of life in the UK, whereas once it was something you only did at the gym. It’s also part of ‘contrast therapy’ using hot and the cold to naturally raise serotonin and promote well being.”

The Samphire Sauna (the name was dreamed up as a play on alliteration coupled with natural sea connections) began as a pop-up enterprise, moving around between Eastbourne, Bexhill and Bodiam, staying for short residences. Zoya and Nell initially intended the sauna to be on the beach, but local restrictions ended up working in their favour.

“Being halfway between Hastings and St Leonards makes us easily accessible to a wide range of customers, and also being on the pier has big advantages. Often beach saunas have to remove their mobile units each night, whereas we not only have the security of keeping them behind locked gates, we also have access to electricity and running water. We have an office space and, importantly, changing rooms, something we wouldn’t have been able to offer customers had we been down on the beach. Winter is our busiest season and when the weather’s cold people really want somewhere they can get changed in comfort.”

Despite this (and who wouldn’t love to luxuriate in the wood fired heat while gazing down at the crashing waves on the icy beach below) I sampled the sauna on a very hot day. The sun loungers, overhead shower and plunge pool out on the terrace would have been welcome even without the need to experience a bracing contrast, but of course that’s not all it’s about. Attention to detail – the way the space is laid out, it’s rustic components and brightly painted horse box units, each containing a spotless and inviting interior, the scent of both the wood and availability of natural skin products (I sampled the ‘Samphire Sauna’ own brand of seasonal body scrub) and the friendly and attentive attitude of the staff, are all part of it.

The sauna may be on the pier but it’s close enough to the beach to nip down for a sea plunge halfway through the session – something I took advantage of – thereby adding a saltwater addition to the sensory experience before lying back in the sauna for one last infusion of deep heat. As a single, I also had lovely conversations with other customers.

“The communal aspect has really taken us by surprise,” Nell told me, “with like-minded people using the Samphire as an alternative low-fi healthy environment in which to meet up instead of maybe going to the pub. Customers have connected here, started up friendships, businesses and even boyfriend and girlfriend relationships. Healthy hen-dos, family bookings and friends down for the weekend are all typical of the clientele.”

Being able to employ people (eleven at the moment) is also something Zoya and Nell are proud of. “We began the business doing absolutely everything ourselves, including running all the sessions, looking after the maintenance and doing all the marketing. But each time we’ve expanded, we’ve reinvested that money back into the business, providing a better service for our customers and contributing to the town’s economy, particularly during the slow winter months.”

Sessions are forty-five minutes, allowing time for the staff to go in and clean thoroughly in between. Those interested can also be reassured that the daily ‘deep clean’ each morning is done using natural, non-toxic cleaning products, and the Samphire Sauna’s environmental footprint is carefully monitored.

“We use sustainable sources of wood from a local supplier in Battle,” Zoya says. “Our electricity is derived from solar panels, we have LED lighting, and frankly the biggest electrical outlay is boiling the office kettle for a cup of tea in the morning!”

Sessions can be booked as a group or as individuals, but the revamped, reopened Samphire Sauna will have a new regular feature: special women only, men only and queer/trans sessions. Deals can also be had on multi-sessions booked in advance.

Replacement of one of the saunas with a larger, improved unit will also have the welcome innovation of a steam room option, something very much in demand at the moment. A slightly larger space will also give the opportunity for bigger group bookings and possibly sauna-inspired events, such as introducing a visiting ‘sauna master’!

Watch this space?

Molly Dowling of Douglas Mercer & Son Funeral Directors will be running the 5k course in full funeral attire in aid of four local charities: Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team, Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), Dragonflies Bereavement Project and Winston’s Wish – giving hope to grieving children.

Not put off by the prospect of running in warmer weather, Molly knows the extra layers of clothing won’t hold her back. She’s dedicating her run to the memory of her dear friend Andy who sadly passed away in 2024.

Molly says: “Andy was a very good friend, personally and professionally, and always inspired me to achieve my goals, no matter what.

“As a funeral arranger and director, helping families during one of the most challenging times of their life is extremely rewarding, and being entrusted to care for loved ones is one of the highest honours.”

Molly has been in the funeral industry since leaving school and has recently passed her Diploma in Funeral Directing.

To donate to any of the charities mentioned, search “Molly, running in memory of Andy” to find her JustGiving page, or scan the QR codes on Molly’s flyer, which will be available at the event and at Douglas Mercer & Son Funeral Directors premises on Sedlescombe Rd North. 

For volunteer Coxswain Mark Tewkesbury and his daughter, Grace, the RNLI has always been part of family life. Next January, Mark will celebrate 20 years as an RNLI volunteer, dedicating two decades to helping protect the local community at sea. Now, his daughter Grace is following in his footsteps in her own way, as an RNLI lifeguard during a landmark year for the service.

Grace, 17, grew up around Hastings lifeboat station. Some of her earliest memories are of evenings spent at the lifeboat house drinking hot chocolate while waiting for her dad to return safely from service calls at sea.

“The pager going off was just part of life,” says Grace. “I remember family gatherings, birthdays and barbecues suddenly changing because Dad had to run to the station. Coming home from school and finding out he’d already gone out on the lifeboat was completely normal for us.”

Grace knew from a young age that she wanted to help others too. A keen swimmer growing up, she joined the RNLI lifeguard service as soon as she turned 16. After completing fitness assessments, interviews and advanced first aid training, Grace qualified last summer and served throughout the busy peak season on local beaches.

Now studying PE, psychology and geography at A-level, Grace also teaches swimming and is passionate about RNLI water safety education, particularly the charity’s ‘Float to Live’ campaign – an initiative where children are shown how to lie on their backs and ‘float like a starfish’ if they ever find themselves in difficulty in the water.

The family’s connection to the RNLI was tested during Storm Ciara in February 2020, when Hastings RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat launched into severe conditions and suffered a knockdown just off the Hastings harbour arm.

Grace was 10 at the time, and her little sister Flo was eight. “I remember being frightened because Dad was out there’ Grace recalls. “We were at home waiting to hear he was safe. At the time, I don’t think any of us realised how severe the conditions really were until we later saw the footage.”

Mark remembers the night differently: “When you’re dealing with a situation like that, your focus is completely on the crew and the lifeboat. We just wanted to get everyone safely ashore at Eastbourne. The relief came once we knew everyone was safe and I could finally contact my family.”

Despite the challenges of volunteer lifesaving and a high-level career, Mark continues to serve as Coxswain and recently passed his latest RNLI operational competency framework assessments. RNLI crew regularly revalidate their training and operational skills in all roles, to ensure they remain ready to respond.

While Mark heads to sea aboard the lifeboat and Grace patrols the coastline as a lifeguard, both share the same purpose, helping keep people safe in and around the water.

ECLECTIC BEAUTY

The season began last week with the well-established St Michael’s Hospice fundraising event covering Sedlescombe, Winchelsea Beach and Battle. It continues with Bexhill Old Town at the end of the month. July will be an opportunity to visit gardens in Cooden Beach/Little Common (7 July), Hastings (14 July), St Leonards (18 July) and Sandhurst (8 August).

Running throughout the summer, these Open Garden events bring together an eclectic mix of outdoor spaces. From compact courtyards to sweeping coastal plots and wildlife-friendly havens, each garden reflects the personality, creativity and passion of its host, many of whom will be on hand to answer questions, share tips and talk about the stories behind their gardens.

This year’s season also features a special highlight for gardening enthusiasts. On Saturday 18 July, the Hospice will welcome Jean Griffin, BBC gardening expert and much-loved radio broadcaster, for an exclusive live Q&A session. Known for her warm, practical advice and decades of horticultural expertise, Jean will be answering gardening questions of every kind. From tiny balcony dilemmas to ambitious landscaping plans.

Open Gardens offer a unique chance to learn from passionate gardeners and enjoy the beauty hidden behind Hastings and Rother’s garden gates, all while supporting the essential work of St Michael’s Hospice, which supports local people to live well with dying, death and loss.

EDIBLE INGENUITY

A separate initiative, Edible Open Gardens, is organised by Town Grown, the Hastings and St Leonards food-growing network. Taking place over the weekend of 28 and 29 June, it will see 27 local growers open their gardens, allotments, community plots and productive spaces to visitors.

The weekend is designed to celebrate local food projects, share practical knowledge and show how productive growing can thrive in almost any setting. Visitors can meet fruit and vegetable growers, pick up ideas for their own spaces and see first-hand how window boxes, small gardens, allotments and scraps of land can produce an abundance of fresh, seasonal food.

Highlights this year include tours of Phillip Harris Wine, a commercial no-dig organic vineyard, and the walled garden at Fairlight Hall estate, led by Head Gardener Tony Howard.

Other spaces to explore include organic farms and smallholdings, community gardens and orchards, allotments, and inspiring private kitchen gardens such as The Knowle and St Benedicts. Immerse yourself in a growing culture and the many ways local people are making fresh, low-impact food part of everyday life.

For more information, maps and dates of each Open Garden event go to stmichaelshospice.com/event/opengardens Information on Edible Open Gardens and interactive map visit towngrown.co.uk/edible-open-gardens-2026

Described by one participant as ‘a beautiful and emotive wander through a woodland theatre’, Canopy invites walkers to reconnect with nature through a 90-minute guided route that blends ecology, word, sound and live performance beneath the trees.

Along the carefully designed route woven through the wider woodland estate at Boldshaves Garden in West Kent, you might encounter surprise performances of song, dance and poetry by nationally recognised artists who appear among the trees, weaving narrative into the landscape before fading once more into the woodland. Guided by experts in the natural world, passionate nature lovers share compelling stories and insight as the walk unfolds.

Canopy Walks create space to spend time outdoors and share a sense of wonder. Each walk is different, shaped not only by the location and surroundings, but also by the people who take part. Produced by a small, friendly team, each walk is developed in collaboration with experienced creative event planners, brilliant ecology experts, volunteers and performers to ensure a gentle and memorable experience.

Canopy Walks at the Wealden Festival marks the third in an acclaimed series of woodland walks following earlier events in East Kent and North Norfolk. With plans to tour more woodlands across England it is evolving into a model for community connection, environmental engagement and creative expression.

Feedback from past audience-walkers suggests that it might just be worth considering hopping over the county line to celebrate this longest day of the year. “I felt a childlike delight in not knowing what was going to happen next,” said one. “It took me back to childhood when the world was full of wonders…transformative,” said another. And one participant said simply: “Wow. Still feeling the magic.”

Wealden Festival, launched in 2015 as the Wealden Literary Festival, brings together writers, thinkers and nature lovers in celebration of stories and the natural world. Set in the stunning 7-acre Boldshaves garden and surrounding woodland, there are talks, camping, food and views overlooking the Kent Weald, all within a designated Dark Sky Zone – a fitting backdrop for this collaboration with Canopy Walks.

Suitable for anyone aged 12+ who can navigate slightly uneven terrain. Wildflower Field & Woods, Boldshaves, Woodchurch, Kent, TN26 3RA Saturday 20 June: 2pm or 4.30pm start For more information and to book, visit Canopy Walks at Wealden Festival

On 5 June, the White Rock’s Studio 27 opened its doors for the 20th anniversary of Millie’s Nightclub, a space for adults with disabilities and neurodiversity to come together and dance the night away.

Born in 2006, Millie’s Nightclub resulted from frustrations with the inaccessibility of nightclubs for disabled adults such as Charlie, who has cerebral palsy. When they reached the age when others were able to start safely going out, sisters Charlie and Millie were prompted to start conversations about what a safe environment would include – beyond physical accessibility for customers. Having worked with nightclubs before, Millie was able to start hunting for venues and found support with the White Rock, where their monthly events are now hosted.

Having run for twenty years, Millie’s Nightclub has evolved alongside both its customers and the public. Millie herself shared how it’s become a ‘rite of passage’ for the local community, growing the confidence of attendees and the understanding of others. The nightclub has earned its reputation as an inclusive space, going beyond accessibility and aiming to remain as affordable as possible while budget-friendly nights out in Hastings continue to disappear.

Millie’s Nightclub engages with conversations around accessibility in a matter that goes beyond box-ticking. As stories such as the case of Club Tropicana emerge over the country – of venues failing to adequately support disabled customers – Millie’s emphasises safety and comfort. By operating between 7pm and 10pm, considering noise and light levels, and accessible toilets, Millie herself advocates the importance of fluid conversations, not just for themselves, but for nightclubs everywhere. “Nightclubs need an awareness of who is attending, how, and what reasonable adjustments can be made,” she states.

As for the nightclub’s future, Millie’s intends to keep going the way it’s going. It seeks to secure the future while operating as a not-for-profit, continuing to provide a safe space for the local community to come along and dance away. Millie herself suggests doing just this:  “If people are unsure, they should come down and give us a try!”

For more information, visit millies-nightclub.co.uk/events

JOEL CHESHIRE

On 16 May, members of A Band of Brothers Hastings came together for a remarkable Community Day at Warming Up The Homeless on Priory Road, where they rolled up their sleeves to revitalise the shelter through an inspiring show of service.

Across the day, 15 to 20 men volunteered their time to carry out a full-scale transformation of the space. Armed with paintbrushes and tools, the group sanded and painted walls, deep-cleaned communal areas, tackled garden work, cooked meals in bulk and completed a wide range of repairs and improvements to the area. By the end of the day, the shelter had been given a new lease of life, becoming more welcoming for the people who depend on its support.

More than just a practical project, it stood as a powerful reminder of what can happen when people come together in service of something bigger than themselves. A one-day initiative became a visible act of care and community spirit, leaving a lasting impact on the building and on those involved.

A Band of Brothers supports young men aged 18–25 who are involved in, or at risk of entering, the criminal justice system. Through mentorship, rites-of-passage experiences, emotional support and community-based projects, the organisation helps young men build confidence, accountability and a sense of belonging.

The Hastings chapter has earned a strong local reputation for creating meaningful connections between men of different generations and backgrounds. Alongside mentoring and youth support, the group regularly steps into community projects that put their shared values of compassion into practice.

The Community Day at Warming Up The Homeless was a perfect reflection of those values in motion. Ordinary men came together to support vulnerable people in Hastings, where collective voluntary action strengthened our community.

The outdoor project transforms part of Alexandra Park into a living storytelling trail that encourages people to slow down and step into nature. Using only a smartphone, visitors can access a series of short films inspired by the trees; all created by a new generation of filmmakers working with mobile phones.

Eight selected trees have a QR code linking to a short mobile-friendly film created by a diverse group of participants aged 8-70. To take part, visitors to Alexandra Park can follow a map which takes them to the selected trees (all within a short walk). Scan the QR codes with your phone to watch the films instantly. Alternatively, watch them at home by visiting askthetrees.world .

The films vary – playful, poetic or reflective – but share a common curiosity and care for the natural world. The tree species represented have origins across the globe, including Australia, the Mediterranean, Ireland, China, the American Northwest and the UK, reflecting the international roots woven into Hastings’ landscape.

Ask the Trees was commissioned by a cohort of refugees participating in a project run by OBX, part of Hastings Commons. The Initiative supports people who rarely get opportunities to shape artistic programming where they live. The group developed an artist’s brief to explore community, connection and the natural world.

Rebecca E. Marshall was selected from the 16 artists who responded, chosen for her collaborative approach, emphasis on the natural environment and links between Hastings and other parts of the world. The project is supported by Arts Council England National Lottery funding, with recruitment support from The Refugee Buddy Project.

With no tickets, schedules or special equipment – only a phone – Ask the Trees offers an accessible, uplifting way to spend time outdoors, discover something unexpected and view familiar surroundings with fresh eyes. OBX and Dear Future Films hope the project encourages more people to visit the park and connect with these stories.

Watch the film about Ask the Trees here for more information: youtube.com/watch?v=tp_W1rCchnw&t=1s

Anyone involved in Hastings’ voluntary sector will know how well served the town is. Local research suggests that regular volunteering is far more common here than in much of the country, and the sheer number of organisations responding to local need speaks volumes about the community’s energy and compassion. But alongside that strength comes a fair question: with so many groups pursuing overlapping aims, is there enough communication and collaboration between them?

It was therefore inspiring to attend the Mr Hastings & St Leonards Community Health & Wellbeing event, which brought together organisations working in the area of men’s mental health. In the introduction, Maz of Mr Hastings joked that this could be the first time so many related organisations had come together in the UK “but don’t quote me on that!”

Also attending were: Talk Club, Yaybox, The Samaritans, A Band of Brothers, Andy’s Man’s Club, Take Action Man and Keith’s Activity Finder (linked to Active Hastings), the Art Studio with Keith, Hastings Voluntary Action and Rother Voluntary Action.

The setting was the beautiful Hope Farm Community Garden, and the day turned out to be so warm, the beginning of the current heatwave, that the stalls had to be relocated from the greenhouse to outside. The informal atmosphere and clear timetable of events enabled those attending to make maximum use of the four-hour event.

Throughout the day there were presentations by the key men’s organisations, interspersed with a supervised cooking session, a men’s circle experience around a fire in the woods led by Luke Fennel of Take Action Man, two sessions of Pilates and a tour of the extensive Hands of Hope grounds. The packed schedule was then unpacked over lunch (the outcome of the cooking session), food being one of the fundamental pillars of community wellbeing, “a primary catalyst for social connection, mental health support, and community resilience” (research from the University of Oxford).

I attended presentations by Mr Hastings and Band of Brothers, both including professionally made films. I’d already seen the first film, Men Don’t Talk, it was well worth a second viewing; the Band of Brothers film, It Works, coming from a very different angle, was equally engaging and thought-provoking.

I also attended The Men’s Fire Circle. An extract from their Facebook page sums this up: “You don’t have to talk. You don’t have to explain yourself. Just show up and see what happens”. I showed up and something happened: a moment of calm and connection.

Mr Hastings was initially funded for three years, but its success has prompted East Sussex County Council to expand the approach into other parts of East Sussex, beginning with Rother, backed by a further three years of funding. That next phase will inevitably involve working with a wider range of stakeholders, which is why the event in May was so important.

It’s a great initiative, particularly the work to encourage collaboration. And for anyone that feels men are getting too much attention, their mental wellbeing is a key component of everyone’s wellbeing. Congratulations to all those who took part – including several key female figures.

Find more about all the organisations attending by going to their websites. To watch the two films, go to abandofbrothers.org.uk home page for It Works and search Men Don’t talk on Youtube.

Badger gives young creatives freedom to explore their passions and ideas whilst supported by an experienced music industry network. It champions emerging talent, represents authentic scenes, and empowers the next generation of music, media and creative leaders.

With free venue hire and PA support, they also offer tailored workshops in tech, marketing, event management, songwriting and artist development – lowering barriers of entry and empowering young people to develop and deliver their skills and ideas.

Founder Kate Jaggers shares her vision for the community: “The concept of Badger was to provide a home for underrepresented scenes and young creatives in Hastings. The underground vibes and existing youth social-change attributes of The Source Park made this a natural fit. Whilst Hastings provides many cultural opportunities for creatives, a dedicated 16–24-year-old outlet for the ideas of young music creatives didn’t exist.”

She explains, “We’re home to regular nights curated by young people but open for all ages to attend – including UK rap, world and electronic music. We aim to be the talent incubator for the wider local music industry; young creatives flourish when heard and supported – feeding music venues on the south coast and beyond. Increasingly young creatives can’t afford to live in cities so we need to connect the talent that exists outside major cities to a new regional music industry network that offers stability and long-term careers in music.”

As Badger marks its first anniversary at The Source Park, it can look back at an exceptional year. Regular nights include Artist Showcase, a bi-monthly ‘mini- Great Escape’ style evening that showcases emerging talent and EMOM, an open-mic format for electronic music producers and DJs. There are also regular rock, indie and dub nights from local promoter duo Bring Your Nan and delights from further afield via a partnership with the Eastbourne Music Collective.

Badger is becoming a trusted voice for young people – a place where talent grows and industry partners come to discover what’s next. It also runs a youth music conference, ACTIVE 8, a two-day event that returns this autumn with free workshops from major youth music organisations. Last year’s contributors included the BBC, Reprezent Radio and Live Nation and speakers such as the head of artist welfare from Dua Lipa’s world tour and Radio 1 presenters.

Building on their success, Badger recently launched their Advanced Promoter Programme: a three-month, Arts Council England-funded scheme designed to accelerate the ideas and careers of established local promoters. The culmination of this programme is four free outdoor terrace events (5–10pm) at the De La Warr Pavilion, spanning electronic, indie, rock, UK rap, and world music – celebrating underrepresented subcultures across the South Coast.

Badger can have a lifelong impact on its participants; assistant venue manager Jazz explains that she discovered the Badger music community during an extremely challenging final year at college: “Badger provided a home and a space to grow, not only for me but for so many others within my creative field. It provided a safe space to share and get a response to my ideas without the barriers and limitations I faced within traditional education – ideas were met with enthusiasm, encouragement and insight.”

Her band has subsequently gone from strength to strength, and their debut track Anywhere was recently featured on BBC Introducing. Badger’s mentor support has also helped develop her passion for music programming, and she now has a bi-monthly slot at The Source Park, while documenting the artists Badger showcases through her photography – work she credits with helping kick-start her career in music.

For live updates and information go to instagram @badgeruk or email badgerenquiries@gmail.com.

Taking place on Saturday 23 May at the Stade Open Space, the Marketplace is part of the wider Good Grief Hastings festival (22–25 May). Offering a free, drop-in programme designed for all ages, it brings together performances, hands-on activities and community organisations in a space that gently opens up conversations around grief, love and loss.

Throughout the afternoon, visitors might encounter a miniature puppet show (experienced one person at a time), step into a silent disco or pause to join in a singing workshop with local charity Soundcastle. For younger audiences, The Thing About Goats by Baby Panda offers a playful introduction to themes of loss and new beginnings, followed by a hands-on bell ringing workshop.

Elsewhere in the space, local actor Ben Watson presents The Griefcase, which invites participants to follow a trail of lost words, clues and challenges, helping piece together emotions that are often hard to express. Visitors may encounter The Story Collector, gathering moments and memories and turning them into shared narratives. There are also opportunities to take part in a collaborative weaving project or experience how Tai Chi can be a support in navigating grief and loss.

Alongside the creative programme, the Marketplace plans to bring together organisations, practitioners and local makers offering information, support and discussion around grief, loss and wellbeing.

There will also be hard copy packs of the new online Bereavement First Aid resources being launched by St Michael’s Hospice to help people feel more confident supporting those experiencing grief. Developed in partnership with Hollington Primary School, Little Gate Farm and Rainbow Kitchen Magic, these resources are designed to normalise conversations around dying, death and loss, and strengthen community connection as well as increase understanding of bereavement.

Explore the full Good Grief Festival programme and book at: 18hours.org.uk/good-grief -festival. Download the Bereavement First Aid Packs from the St Michael’s Hospice website: stmichaelshospice.com 

Record-breaking May Day RNLI Fundraiser

At the heart of Hastings’ Jack in the Green festivities, the RNLI Hastings May Day Bank Holiday fundraiser was one of the station’s most successful recent events. Despite a busy weekend operationally, with the station’s Shannon-class all-weather lifeboat launching on both Friday, 1 May and Sunday, 3 May to assist yachts in difficulty, the team found time to join the town’s festivities in style. Volunteers donned leafy JitG headwear, served tea and cakes to visitors in the sunshine and joined the parade to raise vital funds for the RNLI.

The lifeboat station volunteers welcomed hundreds of visitors eager to learn more about the charity. The team also raised a total of £2,226.18 through collections during the JitG parade and refreshments at the open day.

Sara Lee Trust celebrates 30 Years

The Sara Lee Trust is marking 30 years of supporting local people affected by cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

Founded in 1996 by local resident Sara Lee after experiencing the benefits of therapy while living with cancer, the charity has helped thousands of patients, carers and loved ones. It offers free specialist counselling, complementary therapies and group activities including massage, yoga, and creative and social sessions. CEO Dan Redsull said the 30th anniversary is “a proud milestone” and thanked supporters, volunteers, therapists and partners for helping the Trust support people through some of the hardest times in their lives.

Volunteers’ Week 2026

Hastings Voluntary Action (HVA) has several events planned for Volunteers’ Week 2026, including an organisation and volunteering information stand in Hastings town centre on Tuesday 2 June from 10.00am to 2.00pm. Groups interested in joining the stall can complete the short form at forms.gle/o6sJginnreLqwov16.

On 3 June, HVA and Rother Voluntary Action (RVA) will host a Volunteers’ Week Celebration Picnic at Ashburnham Place in Battle from 3.00pm to 6.00pm, inviting local groups, organisations and volunteers to attend. 

Booking details: eventbrite.co.uk/e/rother-and-hastings-volunteers-picnic-tickets-1986196823165. Volunteers’ Week events: hastingsvoluntaryaction.org.uk/news/volunteers-week-2026-plans.

Sussex Tree Festival

CPRE Sussex is running its annual Tree Festival from 23 to 31 May, a county-wide celebration of trees, nature and the environment featuring talks, walks, poetry and music.

Events include Meet Hastings Ancient Trees Fossils at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery on Tuesday 26 May, where children can explore giant prehistoric tree fossils and hear from the museum’s geologist and fossil hunter.

Art in the Park’s Yoyo Club will also take part on 26 May, offering activities about insect life around ancient trees and insect-inspired art with artist Marta Munoz and the Yoyo Club team.

Family-friendly guided walks will also take place in Alexandra Park on 29 and 30 May, and in Church Wood on 6 June, with chances to identify ancient woodland and rare trees.

cpresussex.org.uk/tf26/

Make a Fun Palace!

Fun Palaces is a nationwide movement for community-led creativity and culture, now back for its thirteenth year. A Fun Palace can be anything from a few neighbours sharing skills at a kitchen table to a massive, free community event.

Fun Palaces is currently looking for like-minded individuals and groups to join free local workshops in the hope they will be inspired to create their own event for this October’s Fun Palaces weekend.

Workshops will be taking place across the UK from late May, with a local workshop taking place in Eagle House (The Common Room) with Hastings Commons on the 30 May. The aim is to support individuals, local communities and venues and give tips and tricks to those wanting to get involved, get creative and have fun.

funpalaces.co.uk/whats-on/laboratory-of-fun

The Taking Cover Initiative will establish 14 self-contained flats within a dedicated veterans’ centre in Hastings and mark a significant milestone for the charity, homeless veterans and those in need of medium-term support from across the county. It will also ease the burden on the local authority’s temporary accommodation.

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund, representing the Office of Veterans’ Affairs, is part-funding the joint venture between East Sussex Veterans Hub and Daisy’s Property Management Limited. The funding will enable the conversion of existing offices at 45 Robertson Street in Hastings town centre into supported accommodation, above the existing charity offices and their community coffee stop, all within a single building. This will be a long-term feature of the townscape, not only because its design is relatively modern compared to surrounding properties, but because ESVH will be signing a 20-year leasehold for the property, demonstrating both the government’s and ESVH’s commitment to and recognition of those who have served.

ESVH will work with local authorities, other charities and local agencies to target homeless veterans and move them from rough sleeping or sofa surfing to independent living with a purposeful quality of life. This will involve participation in a comprehensive support package to redevelop living and coping skills, create recovery pathways involving professional agencies such as Operation Courage for mental ill health support and CGL for those challenged by substance or alcohol, all underpinned by support worker monitoring and mentoring for up to two years.

ESVH hopes that once this pilot initiative becomes fully operational in 2027, there will be the potential to develop similar projects elsewhere, both locally and further across the South East.

Bernard Stonestreet, CEO of ESVH, said, “We are most grateful to the Office of Veterans Affairs and the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust for their consideration and for awarding this grant, and for their financial support in achieving the appropriate design and technical input, leading to planning permission from Hastings Borough Council.

“This is a turning point for the charity and will add a much-needed dimension to the holistic support we can provide for our veterans in need.”