Spring Newsletter ‘24
We have been catapulted into Spring with lots of good news that we’d like to share with you, some great volunteer opportunities and the ever grateful nod to all of you that have been volunteering. Thank you and lets get on with it…
We are back in the main room of the Community Info Hub and have helped over 500 people since we re-opened in late January. A big thank you to Hastings Borough Council for fixing the floors, giving us new carpets and kicking the boiler back in to action. It’s warm, welcoming and open to everyone, whether you need help with finding support, get stuck digitally or could do with a friendly listening ear.
A huge “Welcome!” to our new Info Hub desk advisor Katrina, fab to have you on board! We’re always looking for more Info Hub volunteers – full training and support is given, you don’t need any prior knowledge, just the willingness to listen. The shifts are only 3 hours long (am/pm), choose a slot when you’re free with no regular commitment – Our Info Hub team really love the work they do.
On Saturday 9th March the Info Hub hosted an Anti-hate Crime LGBTQ+ event supported by Sussex Police who awarded HEART a grant of £700. It was a bustling, fun day with loads of great organisations and people chatting, laughing and discussing the challenges and support there is for our LGBTQ+ Hastings community.
We have been waiting to tell you and very excited to reveal that Macmillan are joining us in The Info Hub! They will be building a bespoke community-space pod with a discreet private room for personal consultations and an open plan area where you can chat to Macmillan, browse their information and find out about cancer services and support.
Floods dominated our headlines last year in Hastings. It shut the Info Hub down for a bit, businesses had to close and it unfortunately meant that some people had to be evacuated from their homes. In the true sense of HEART’s name this has been the catalyst to really stride forward in developing our Emergency Responders Team. The Hastings community always show up, help and get stuff done.
So we’re really pleased to announce that we have secured funding from The Sussex Resilience Forum to build and train our Responder Team, buy some kit to make sure we can keep our community warm and safe plus create a plan of co-ordination with the emergency services and our fantastic volunteers. And… Yes, there’s walkie-talkies involved.
We’d like to welcome the Library of Things, Shelley and her team, into their new home at the Info Hub. You’ll be able to borrow an eclectic mix of equipment from Karaoke machines to tea urns, lawnmowers to curling tongs - We can’t wait!
This also means that we will see the return of ‘Fixing it’ Fridays on April 5th in the Info Hub, where you can bring electricals, fabric, toys, and ornaments to be fixed or if in doubt - bring something along to be looked at and they’ll see if they can help!
Tech Resort are back with us on April 8th for a Digital Train-the-Trainer workshop where you can build your confidence in digital know-how and pass it on to the people around you. It’s a FREE “not scary” two hour session from the masters in the business.
“I’m Perry, originally from South Carolina in USA. I’ve been in the UK since 2006 and moved to Hastings just over a year ago. I saw on Facebook that HEART was looking for new volunteers.
Since I’m new to the area, I’ve been looking for ways to get more involved in my local community, as well as to find ways to give something back. Both of these are very important to me.
Thus far, I’ve collected a few people in my car and driven them to either ‘Get Chatting’ or to medical appointments.
It’s been really great getting to meet new people, most of whom have been here for much of their lives! It’s been a great way to hear stories about Hastings and St Leonards. It’s also always great to meet new people and hear their personal stories aswell.”
