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PLUS… Nature…LearnPlay……Older People Business

Nº 1 Winter 2014/15

INSIDE: OUR COMMUNITY CENTRES…

infoLocal

ORE BROOMGROVETHE BRIDGE DOWNS FARM

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Throughout this booklet you’ll see local projects that have been supported by the Big Local Small Grants fund.

Applications to the Small Grants Fund are considered by a panel of local residents which decides whether a project should be funded.

Do you know about the Big Local North East Hastings Small Grants fund?

Grow your idea with

a Big Local Small Grant

If YOU have an idea for a scheme which will benefit North East Hastings, please contact us:Email: jan.papworth@orbit.org.ukBy post: Jan Papworth, Big Local c/o Orbit South Unit 2, Station Parade Ore Valley Road Hastings TN34 3FH

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Are you

a BIGLocal?

This is the North East Hastings Big Local area. If you live or work in this area, you can get involved with the Big Local project and influence how we spend £1 million to improve our neighbourhood.

This magazine lets you know about some

of the Big Local activities and encourages you to get involved in improving North East Hastings.

The Local Plan setting out how residents want to spend their £1m is

on the Big Local website: www.biglocalnortheasthastings.org.uk

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Welcome to Big LocalNorth East Hastings is one of 150 areas across the UK selected for Big Local. The project is an exciting opportunity for those who live and work in the area to make a lasting positive difference to their community.

Big Local brings together talent, ambitions, skills and energy from individuals, groups and organisations that live and/or work in the area – people like you. It enables you to identify and

develop the resources, skills and confidence you need to make a difference in your area. The result is that your community becomes an even better place to live, work, socialise and relax.

This magazine tells you about some of the work Big Local is doing in the area and gives information about the main community centres. The centres work together, supported by Big Local and the Sussex Community Foundation.

Ore Community websiteTo find out what’s going on in and around Ore Valley and North East Hastings, visit www.orecommunity.org.uk

The website has up-to-date information about local events and developments, academies, Big Local project, jobs, volunteering, the Councillors report, community services, things to do, out and about and news updates.

This website

is funded by Big Local Small Grants

Find out more at: www.biglocalnortheasthastings.org.ukFacebook: Big Local North East Hastings

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43 Brightling AvenueHastingsTN35 5EG07749 584388

The area Downs Farm was built after the war and some families have been here for three generations. It’s a close community where people look out for one another.

Downs Farm Community Centre

Meet the manager I’m Suzy, I’ve worked here for four years. My background is working with children in schools and I still do this, fitting in my work at the Centre around my job.

I help children gain essential skills to succeed at school, such as their ‘pen licence’ and table skills. I also enjoy working with other members of this close knit community and am keen to get the over 50s involved more.

“The big hall can be hired for children’s parties and more.”

Our Education Zone was funded by Big Local

Small Grants

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The Centre The centre has been here for thirty years and was built after the rest of the estate. It was originally used by residents as a social club for bingo, family activities and lunch clubs. Now the club has a new direction and a fully functioning committee. The whole community is invited to get involved in a range of activities.

FacilitiesAs well as a large hall with tables and chairs, there’s a kitchen, toilets and an outside play area. The hall can be hired for children’s parties, meetings and more.

What’s on?The centre hosts a range of activities for all ages, many provided by other organisations, like the Youth Training Scheme, Kings Church and the Salvation Army. Activities include:

Sports for Youth • Kids Church • Karate Playgroup • After School Club • Sally Tots Pre-school Playgroup • Youth Group • Youth Session • Messy Church • Alternative Workshop • Education Zone • Store Cupboard Cookery • More!

Classes and activities vary – to get involved, or for more info, pop in or call Suzy on 07749 584388

Downs Farm Community Centre

Everyone is welcome at Downs Farm if they follow our simple rules:‘RESPECT EACH OTHER’ and ‘BE KIND’.

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85 Chiltern Drive Hastings TN34 3PY 01424 712764

The area Broomgrove is a fairly quiet community, with around 600 households and 2,000 residents.

Everyone knows each other and there is a strong community spirit.

Broomgrove Community Centre

“All the spaces are available for hire, for parties and functions”

Meet the manager I’m Gill Fulton, the Centre Manager.

We are always looking for volunteers to help with day-to-day support at the centre. If you are interested in getting involved, contact me on 01424 712696.

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The Centre In 2003 the old centre, which had been on this site since 1969, was knocked down to make way for the current centre. It’s the residents’ centre – it belongs to them. It’s a lovely light and welcoming building. Originally another level was planned, but funding was cut halfway through building work so now the main hall has a very high ceiling!

Facilities There’s a large sports hall, fully equipped teaching kitchen, children’s soft-play area, two meeting rooms, a large projector, disco equipment and toilets. All the spaces are available for hire for parties, meetings or other functions.

What’s on?Activities at the centre are always being updated and there are often new things to try, so remember to pop in for the latest information:Fusion Street Dance • Bingo • Circuit Training (sometimes with a crèche) • Street Games • After School Club • Baby and Toddler Group • Sewing Group • Community Chef • Messy Church • Jumble Sales • More!

Classes and activities vary… To get involved, or for more info, visit the centre or contact Gill or Georgiana on 01424 712696

Broomgrove Community Centre

Our Sewing Bee Club is funded

by Big Local Small Grants

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The building This place was going to be knocked down for flats. Now it’s a vibrant place for everyone and there are activities galore! I can’t imagine Ore without it.

Trustees were handed the building by East Sussex County Council in 2011. Its 150 years old and used to be the area’s poorhouse, then a school. Sometimes older visitors say ‘that’s where my desk used to be when I was a child.’ Now we’re working night and day to make it the community centre Ore needs. We’ve added new toilets, updated the café and we’re aiming to get solar panels put in soon.

Drop in or get in touch to find out more about us.

Ore Community Centre

Meet the manager I’m Mags. I spent 39 years working in a bank before I started this job five years ago. Nowadays the Ore Centre is my passion. About two years ago I found Barney, or rather he found me. He’s a rescue dog and had spent a lot of time on his own. Nowadays he has a much better social life!

455 Old London Rd Hastings East Sussex TN35 5BH 01424 432719

Our Seniors Lunch Club is funded

by Big Local Small Grants

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Facilities As well as a delicious and affordable café, there’s a stage, dance studio, family history room, therapy suite, art studio, artist in resident, playgroup and countless classes and activities. The various spaces can be hired for your own meetings and events too.

What’s on?There are lots of great spaces in this fabulous old building and they get used for everything from playgroup to dance, life drawing, parties, wakes, meetings, lessons, therapy, mediation and more. The centre is ‘home’ to about 40 groups. There are jumble sales, plant sales, record sales, you name it!

Life Drawing • Portrait Painting • Rainbow Playgroup • Puppet Shows • Therapy Suite • Bingo • Family History • Sparks Dance Crew • Karate Club • Fitness Group • Zumba • Stroke Group • Jewellery Making • Yoga • Tai Chi • Creative Writing • Brownies • Weight Watchers • Jumble Sales • Weekly Seniors’ Lunch Club • More!

Pepperpot Cafe opening times:Tuesday to Saturday, 9am–3pm

Ore Community Centre

455 Old London Rd Hastings East Sussex TN35 5BH 01424 432719

Classes and activities vary – To get involved, or for more information, call 01424 432719visit the website: www.orecommunitycentre.co.uksend an email to: orecentre@hotmail.co.ukor just pop into the centre to pick up the latest leaflet!

The Pepperpot

Cafe is funded by Big Local

Small Grants

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361 Priory Road, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 3NW Tel: 01424 433611

The Centre The Bridge is situated in Tressell Ward, an area of high deprivation.It is run by volunteers, who aim to provide a dynamic centre at the heart of the community, where individuals are able to learn, develop and contribute within a safe environment.We are a friendly local centre, open

The Bridge Community Centre

Meet the manager I’m Vince and I’ve been Centre Manager at The Bridge for about a year.

Our Polytunnel

was funded by Big Local Small Grants

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for advice, information, a piece of cake, activities and gardening. The Bridge is all about growing: growing community relationships, growing potential and growing vegetables (which get used in our café and in veg bags).

What’s on?There are a range of courses to help you gain new skills and achieve your goals. There is advice and information, support with computer skills, healthy activities, exercise, children’s activities and fun/leisure sessions.

Play Sessions • Alcohol Advice • CV Support • Antenatal Support • Gardening Group • Smoking Cessation • Singing Group • Post Natal Group • Citizens Advice • Laughter Yoga • History Group • After School Club • Choir • Art Group • Youth Club • Weekly Seniors’ Lunch Club • More!

To get involved or for more info, call 01424 433611www.thebridgehastings.co.ukEmail: admin@thebridgehastings.co.uk

The Bridge Community Centre

Facilities There are four rooms available for hire, a training kitchen, a café and a crèche play area. There are 20 laptops for hire, an interactive smart board, a projector, scanning or printing. There is cheap internet access in the café.

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LEARNPLAYOre Valley Adventure Playground is an exciting space for children to play. The former coach house now contains a kitchen, music and sensory rooms, toilets, changing rooms and a staff room.

Outside in the playground and woodland areas, children can build their own structures using storage containers full of tools and equipment. There are quiet areas, wild nature areas, water play, a fire pit, slides, zip line and places for digging and making dens. The play area was designed by architects, ‘East’, with young people at Sandown School, Broomgrove Community Centre and The Bridge.

Children aged 8 to 13 who are registered with the scheme can come and go after school, free of charge.

Opening times are: 3.30–5.30pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays.

Hastings Academy (OFSTED rated GOOD) is a friendly, vibrant school for 11–16 year olds, in fabulous new buildings with state of the art learning spaces, IT provision, sports facilities (including a floodlit football pitch) and a wide range of extra-curricular clubs to meet the needs and interests of all students.

Hastings Academy supports each student to realise their potential and develop the skills and attributes required to succeed in post 16 studies and in the 21st century workplace. www.thehastingsacademy.org

Horizons provides FREE learning and support for adults of all ages including: confidential advice and guidance, courses with qualifications, crèche, support for dyslexia and dyscalculia, volunteering and work placements, help with computers, healthy lifestyle advice, information about fuel poverty and energy bills. www.horizonscommunitylearning.com

Our Volunteering

Day was funded by Big Local

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NATURENorth East Hastings is wonderfully positioned as a gateway to the countryside, with easy access to miles of beautiful Sussex landscapes. To the west, St Helen’s Wood is a peaceful haven for grazing ponies, butterflies and birds, to the north stretches the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and to the east, Fairlight Road and Barley Lane lead out to Hastings Country Park with its unparalleled vistas across to the English Channel.

At 575 feet above sea level, North’s Seat is the highest point in town – get there by footpath from the picnic area on Fairlight Road. The windmill that once stood on this spot was destroyed by fire in 1872 and a look-out platform was erected by Frederick North, former Mayor of Hastings. The platform no longer exists, but the views are fantastic – to the west you can see for more than 60 miles across the Downs and Weald and on a clear day, you can see France.

But before you even set foot beyond Ore, you’ll find all sorts of nature on your doorstep in the Speckled Wood, a tranquil valley in the heart of Ore Village, which has been home to foxes, jays, woodpeckers and many other species for over 50 years.

Speckled Wood is also rich in wild plants and is a beautiful place for residents to walk and relax. The wood is disappearing in small chunks, for business or residential use.

Saving and enhancing urban woodland and green space for community use, the Ore Community Land Trust campaigns against

development plans that threaten the natural environment of Upper Ore Valley, with a particular focus on Speckled Wood. The Trust has recently been given a grant of £1,000 from Big Local for the Village Green Project.

Friends of Speckled Wood also work to protect the wood. www.orecommunitylandtrust.org.ukwww.speckledwood.org.uk

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The Conservation Walks were

funded by Big Local Small

Grants

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OLDER PEOPLEBritain’s over 65s now outnumber under 16s for the first time and the average lifespan is around 81.5 years. Luckily there are plenty of opportunities to keep you occupied for as long as you’re willing and able!

LEARN/TEACH: Look out for part-time classes at Sussex Coast College and Community Centres, or share skills at the University of the Third Age. www.sussexcoast.ac.uk www.u3asites.org.uk

TRAVEL: You may be entitled to free off-peak travel on local buses and you can save 1/3 on many train fares. Bus passes: www.eastsussex.gov.uk Rail cards: www.senior-railcard.co.uk

CARE: Caring for grandchildren or partners can be rewarding, but demanding – support is available: www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect www.grandparentsplus.org.uk

EAT: There are weekly seniors’ lunch clubs at the Ore and The Bridge community centres.

WORK: You don’t have to stop working at 65. Those past state pension age don’t pay National Insurance. If you keep working, you can receive your pension or defer it. www.nidirect.gov.uk

VOLUNTEER: If you have the time and energy, why not give something back? Ask if you can help out at one of our four community centres, or contact Hastings Voluntary Action. www.hastingsvoluntaryaction.org

KEEP HEALTHY: Stay active – try walking, gardening, pilates, golf or even circus skills! Find out which activities are available at your local community centres. www.hastings-strollers.blogspot.co.ukwww.beauportparkgolf.co.uk www.chances4change.org.uk

“There’s more opportunity to get to know one’s neighbours, and the wider community.

I help with jumble sales and our lunch club every Thursday. I enjoy both activities.

Volunteer for something you enjoy – at a community centre maybe, or dog walking... whatever!

And make time for something you’ve always wanted to do, activity weekends with a theme – canals, opera visits with a group – the list is endless. The internet is great tool for researching such things.”

Local resident KAREEN says…

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BUSINESS

STAR PEOPLE AWARDS: Social entrepreneurs who have ideas that will improve their area and the vision, drive and commitment to make them a reality, can win funding and support.

Star People Award winners in North East Hastings: • Carbon Creative Arts• Little Gate Farm• Mosaic Malarky• Hastings Independent Press

You can apply for an award if you:• are 16 years old or over• live, work, volunteer and/or have

an established business in North East Hastings Big Local area

• are passionate about improving the local area and gaining skills for yourself

• apply as an individual or as a not formally constituted group

You’ll need to fill out a form, which you can find at www.unltd.org.uk/expression-of-interest

Earl’s Bakery‘We’ve been here for 16 years. Ore is a friendly place. I’d recommend a sausage roll… or our Belgian buns are great!’OPEN: 7.30am–4pm (Mon–Fri) 7.30am–2pm (Sat)

Catch 22A relatively new addition to London Road, tasty fish ‘n’ chips without setting foot on the seafront!OPEN: 4–9pm (Mon–Thu) 4–9.30pm (Fri–Sat) 4–8.30pm (Sunday)

Carroll’s “We’ve been here for 18 years – The people in Ore are loyal and good customers. Despite Tesco opening over the road, they still shop with us.”OPEN: 8am–5pm (Mon–Fri) 8am–1pm (Sat)

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If you are looking to start a social enterprise or you want help applying to UnLtd, you can get advice and support locally from Social Enterprise East Sussex by visiting www.socialenterprisees.org.uk

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GET INVOLVED

I want to join North East Hastings Big Local

Name:

Address:

Postcode:

Email: coNTAcT INFormATIoN WILL BE HELd IN A dATABASE ANd uSEd oNLy For THE PurPoSES oF BIG LocAL

If you work in the area please say where you work:

What other groups do you belong to and what is your role?Group: Role:

How would you like to get involved?

Delivering leaflets Join a committee receiving updates Help with events

other – please state:

The more local people who get involved with Big Local, the greater impact we can have on making North East Hastings a great place to live, work and play!

Please fill in this form and take it to your local community centre,email it to: jan.papworth@orbit.org.ukor post it to: Jan Papworth, Big Local, Orbit South, Unit 2, Station Parade, Ore Valley Road, Hastings TN34 3FH

Orbit South are the locally trusted organisation that manages Big Local funds on behalf of local residents