March’22 Newsletter
As this is being written the sunshine is streaming through the window and making the sea glitter with the optimism of a summer’s day and, for sure, there’s a few of you actually swimming or bobbing about in it.
This month’s newsletter is in two parts, the first focusing on the emergency in the Ukraine and the second looking at HEART news…
The awful situation in the Ukraine is never far from most of our minds, followed quickly by “What can I do to help?”.
Here at HEART we are calling on volunteers to help organise our Ukraine Emergency Team. At first the team will be connecting with organisations and charities around the town who have been part of the Hastings response, finding out where and how HEART volunteers could be helpful and impactful. This may be help that’s needed now, or preparations for the future emerging refugee programme.
Let us know if you would like to help organise our Ukraine Emergency team or be one of the pool of HEART volunteers that are called on to get stuck in. Please click HERE to fill in a quick form.
One of the best ways people can help right now is to donate money. If you’re able, here’s a link to the excellent Legacy of War website (one of our partner organisations) detailing how you can give aid directly to help people in the Ukraine plus lots of resources and ideas on how to be helpful and stay informed.
Or you can buy one of their “No More War” t-shirts where all the profits go to local grassroots Ukrainian organisations that have an immediate impact on the communities that need the most support. https://lowfshop.com/
Last week some of the HEART team went and got their hands dirty with Andy (Head of the grounds team), at the Conquest Hospital. Plans to transform Courtyard No. 21, next to the discharge lounge, are in full springtime flow. Stories of mink stealing fish from the ponds by crawling through the hospital's drainpipes kept us chuckling away as we got our spades and chisels out.
Soon we will be launching our fundraising campaign and telling you all about how you too, can get amongst it. It's going to be sweaty, fun and will involve resin bound paving!
Many charities and projects are looking for a group of volunteers to come in and do a one-off, more physical task that would make a world of difference to their project or the people they support. We also know that we have HEART volunteers full of enthusiasm and energy that would like to get out there and use their talents to make a difference but may only be able to offer a bit of time when they can.
HEART’s Team Go are set up to get stuff done. Maybe clear a garden for Age UK, paint a bedroom for a Demelza end of life client or give one of Hastings’ well-being centres a bit of TLC. They are one off tasks that the team blitz in a day.
If you sign-up to be part of the team, we will send you each opportunity directly and you can choose to get involved when you’d like to. It’s as simple as that. Click HERE to fill in a simple form.
HEART are offering a free Introduction to First Aid training workshop for our volunteers this covers basic treatment of injuries like burns, bleeds, fractures and more. You will be taught by a fully qualified ESCC trainer and each candidate will receive a booklet and certificate on the day.
Our first session is on Saturday 30th April between 10am - 2pm @ the HEART offices in St Leonards. If you would like to find out more about what the course covers and sign up please click HERE.
We only have 12 spaces and it's first come, first serve - so don't delay!
It can be hard venturing out, especially after a couple of years of lockdowns, not seeing as much of friends and family and feeling more isolated. Sometimes you just want a chin wag, a laugh and a large salted caramel brownie.
So HEART are teaming up with Egg Tooth to run “Chatty Café’s” in The Nest, their new alcohol-free bar and café in the Old Town. This is a chance for people to get together and chew the fat, maybe talk to someone totally new and feel a bit of community connection. The first Chatty Cafe will be in April, details to follow…
A big ‘Thank You’ to all our volunteers that have been helping out with the Town Centre Vaccination Centre – you really are a hard-working crew and hats off to HEART’s Kerry who makes it all run so smoothly.
Here at HEART we are constantly inspired by the commitment and quality of work our volunteers provide. Keep on with the good vibes and remember to get out in the sunshine - if you can.
