Volunteers Still Needed
Volunteers’ Week was from 1st to 7th June, a time to thank volunteers for all their hard work. But the work goes on, so HIP is spotlighting Hastings Voluntary Action (HVA) as the hub of ‘voluntary action’ in Hastings. As…
Local Labour at Odds with Party’s National Policy?
Why is Hastings Borough Council (HBC) intent on building on green spaces within the borough when there are extensive brownfield sites in the town that could be developed instead? That was a question put to Cllr Colin Fitzgerald, deputy leader…
Census 2021: Snapshot of Modern Society
Households in Hastings will soon be asked to take part in Census 2021. The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. It has been carried…
BAME Survey in Hastings:
“When can I be just ‘British’?” A survey undertaken in recent weeks to report the impact of Covid-19 on “the BAME community” of Hastings and St Leonards includes among its principal findings that people labelled with this description do not…
Turning the Lights Back on at the IB Centre
The closure of the much-loved Isabel Blackman day centre in Winding Street reduced many of its older users to tears 17 months ago. Now it could soon reopen its doors if a community bid to buy it is successful. Volunteers…
Deal Us In!
West St Leonards community groups seek share in Town Deal to fund development alternatives Since October last year, Hastings Borough Council (HBC) has been insisting that it is on the point of signing a lease agreement with developers for the…
Isolation Station Hastings
Live Streaming & Good Vibes By Fiona McGarry At the beginning of lockdown, Dan Matthews was concerned that there was “nothing to connect people”. He got together with Andrew Davies, Sherry Clark and Susanne Currid and they decided to “keep…
Post Pandemic Planning for Hastings
How to benefit the whole community In Issue 150 of HIP, HEART Looks Beyond Lockdown, we talked to Alastair Fairley, co-founder of HEART, about the organisation’s post lockdown plans and how to use the energy generated by the large pool…
HEART Looks Beyond Lockdown
Huge numbers of selfless residents have stepped up to help isolated people cope with the Coronavirus pandemic according to Hastings Emergency Action Response Team (HEART). Established by volunteers Kim Batty and Alastair Fairley, HEART has now seen over 1,000 people…
HEART Doesn’t Miss a Beat
As I wrote in my previous article (HIP Issue 48: Hastings’ Response to a Crisis), the Hastings Emergency Action Response Team (HEART) has emerged as a galvanising force for action. The initial impetus has evolved into a collaboration with Hastings…