Blog

We’ve been working to deliver a design resource commissioned by the De La Warr Pavilion, as part of the Care & Citizenship programme. Beginning in Spring 2021, Care & Citizenship is a lively series of commissions, online talks, workshops, events and resources co-devised with organisations and individuals committed to creating social change. Examining varied approaches to care and active citizenship, the programme invites us to find new ways to act with care in our own lives, collaborating with those around us to create a more equitable society.

Sarah Macbeth and Anna Locke have produced a shareable resource to support people to be designers of local, place-based community action.

Read more on the project page.

We’re very happy to announce that we’ve secured two small grants from the Transition Network via The National Lottery Community Fund.

Our Warrior Square Station community garden project has needed more visibility within the local community. Passers-by are always complimentary but forever asking who’s responsible. To help better communicate who we are and what we do (and why), the first successful Bounce Forward grant will pay for the installation of a community noticeboard. As well as raising awareness of the garden, it will promote the garden sessions to potential volunteers, and advertise other town-wide activities promoting more sustainable living locally.

In the spirit of supporting a circular economy – an economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources – TTH’s second successful Bounce Forward grant is going to help them initiate a brand-new-to-town event – a Jumble Trail. As its name suggests, a Jumble Trail is a community-based, neighbourhood-led jumble sale where a ‘treasure map’ helps local residents buy, sell or trade their pre-loved stuff in the convenient location of their own front garden. The first Jumble Trail will hopefully take place as a prelude to our flagship event, Sustainability on Sea 2021, next autumn.

The Common Treasury, Transition Town Hastings and others have been talking about a Library of Things for some time and now the conditions are right, and it’s happening!

What is a Library of Things – how does it work?

As its name suggests, it’s a library – but instead of books, you borrow common household items! It’s a way for people to borrow, not buy, things they only need every so often. It’s a way to save money, save the planet, and build community.

The Library will have an inventory of things – garden things, tool things, party things, camping things. (You can suggest things we should stock).

Members join for a small annual fee, then borrow things like a chocolate fountain, a drill or a tent; use them, then return them to be used by somebody else.

Who are we?

We are a new group, supported by Heart of Hastings (HOH) and others, which is why your email is coming via Transition Town. HOH is providing some infrastructure so the Library of Things group can get on with the fun stuff.

The LOT is community-led and community-run …essentially, a group of volunteers inspired by mutual aid. There are no leaders, but there are organisers and everyone can get involved.

When can we start using the Library of Things?

The Hastings Library of Things opens in the Spring of 2021, in Claremont, Hastings.

How can you find out more?

We will be updating our Facebook group regularly, and will add a website soon, but you can get in touch any time.

How can you help?

1. Get the word out! Get people to join our facebook group or, even better, the mailing list. Ask people to email shelley@heartofhastings.org.uk with Hastings Library of Things in the subject bar.
2. Get involved. There are no leaders, just organisers, so ask a question, make a suggestion, arrange a call… team “LOT” would love to hear from you

Thank you, Transition Town Hastings!

And, a huge thank-you from “Team LOT” to Team Transition Town Hastings for the generous donation to help us on our way. We will use the money to buy a PAT (electrical safety) testing device and to train a couple of volunteer Librarians to use it. This will mean we can lend drills, candyfloss machines, and all sorts of other electrical appliances safely time and time again.

The local council are proposing a 5 storey development, to house 152 units, which the West Marina Group believe is unacceptable and overlooks the massive potential the site has to offer. There are already several sites in the immediate area with planning permission sitting dormant and also the large area of land adjacent to the site is already earmarked for residential development.

The West Marina Group are petitioning the council to genuinely and urgently engage with the local community in West St Leonards and other interested parties to develop a clear community-led action plan for the former Bathing Pool site and the area around it.

Help the group to be heard by the local council but signing their petition at Change.org today: https://www.change.org/p/hastings-borough-council-save-the-st-leonards-bathing-pool-site-before-it-s-too-late