What does an evening of cooking, drumming and music, an annual multi-cultural football tournament and an interpreting course all have in common? They're all happening in Hastings and respond to the needs of the multi-cultural community, asylum seekers and refugees. Hastings Trust co-ordinates a number of multi-cultural activities through its Community Regeneration Unit which is part-funded by the Hastings Regeneration Partnership. Here are a few highlights...
The Asylum Seeker and Refugee Drop-In on Monday evenings is a mix of cooking, games and music. The drop-in is a chance for the participants to cook dishes from their own countries, chat over their life stories and their lives in Hastings as well as have fun drumming, singing and playing games. Sharing cultures and spending time together is bonding for all in the group. Other organisations come along and provide activities which have even included computer music making, which enabled the group to produce and save their own original music onto CDs.
Because members of the drop-in showed an interest in drumming, singing and dancing, the group formed the band 'Meli Melo' (meaning mish mash). The band has been involved in charity events and is pleased to be able to give something back to the local community, which has made them feel so welcome. For the third year running, the Community Regeneration Unit held its five-a-side multi-cultural football tournament. The two-day event brought together ten teams from many cultures including the European, Kurdish, Bengali and African communities. The tournament was divided into those playing for the Cup and those for the Plate. Kurdistan United were the worthy winners of the Cup, having been runners-up for the previous two years. The winners of the Plate being Kivu Peace Initiative. Kyle Munhawa from Ekota Seniors revealed his talent and was named 'Man of the Match'.
The community interpreting and translation course which the Community Regeneration Unit funded last year, was such a success that it is being run again. The ten-week course enables people from the Black and Ethnic Minority communities in Hastings and St Leonards to be trained in interpretation and translation skills. The course provides much needed professionally trained local interpreters and opens up opportunities for employment.
For more information about any of the Community Regeneration Unit activities, please telephone 01424 446373.
Thursday evenings in the town centre for shopping, meals out and free live entertainment are growing in popularity. Since its launch at the end of March this year Thursday Late & Live, with its street theatre and musical events every second and last Thursday of the month, has become a regular feature in the town's activities.
The Town Centre Manager is very pleased with the way Thursday Late & Live is going. He says the public response has been most encouraging and many of the shops tell him that their business on Thursday evenings is growing. He said:
"The street theatre and musical entertainment are fun. People really enjoy themselves while they shop in comfort and enjoy a meal in town".
Talking about places to eat, he also says:
"I wonder how many people realise just how much the restaurant choice in the centre has improved this year. In the last 12 months Tempo in Queens Road has opened as well as Eat-At in Claremont, Jali in the Chatsworth Hotel, Gap in Robertson Street and Cosmo in Harold Place. And there are more still to come! Hastings certainly is a great town growing."
The Priory Meadow car park is now free to anyone leaving it on Thursdays after 7pm and the wardens have had their duties extended to support the extra activity throughout the town centre. The Hastings Regeneration Partnership contributes to the funding of the evening wardens. The new SEEDA funding process, the 'Area Investment Framework', pays for the organisation and the entertainment at the Thursday Late & Live events.
Local residents like the wardens at the event. One resident said:
"I feel happy bringing children to Thursday Late & Live, knowing that the wardens are here looking out for them."
Another said:
"It's good to see you here, can you be here everyday?"
Our visitors also like the wardens being present. One German student mistook one of the wardens for a policeman and said:
"We don't have this sort of thing back home. It's marvellous you're here and the Lunatic Agents (street entertainers) playing tonight are great fun."
An attractive wide, open, lit and landscaped path with good CCTV coverage has transformed the neglected, narrow and dark path that linked the bus route at London Road with Warrior Square station. The new path was opened in August by Cllr Jeremy Birch and was immediately used and appreciated by members of the public while Sussex Brass played on.
The new path is just one of many projects in the area funded by the Hastings Regeneration Partnership and its numerous partners. Other projects in the immediate area of the station have included creating a new play park nearby, landscaping both the station entrances and regenerating the station building, improving the flats and shop buildings in Kings Road as well as creating two new community centres both sides of the railway line. As Council leader, Cllr Birch, portfolio holder for regeneration, and vice chair of the Hastings Regeneration Partnership, said:
"These improvements came about after we talked with St Leonards residents and asked them what they wanted."
To support one of the first officially recognised environmentally-friendly fishing fleets in the UK, the Hastings Regeneration Partnership contributed £10,000 of Single Regeneration Budget monies to fund a new coldstore. European Union Fisheries contributed a further £11,300 and the remaining £1,300 was contributed by Hastings Fishermen's Enterprise Ltd. Hastings fishermen will reap the rewards of improving the quality of seasonal locally-caught seafood. Even more reason to buy your fresh fish locally.
Area Investment Framework:
A new process to determine the most effective way of deploying regional resources to regenerate its economy. In our case, the combined areas of Hastings and Rother.
Community Cohesion:
A situation in which a community is bonded by a shared commitment. This commitment can be based on shared, social and cultural understanding, but can also emerge through proactive action or activity.
Community-Based Regeneration:
Activity initiated by the community for the community, in order to improve its economic, environmental or social lot.
Skills Gap:
A shortage of adequately skilled individuals in the labour market.
Hastings Regeneration Partnership brings together the voluntary, public and private sectors to spend £26 million Single Regeneration Budget money provided through South East England Development Agency. With matched funding, the 100 local projects pull in a total of £128 million for social, economic and physical regeneration.
The Partnership can be contacted on 01424 781781.
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This page last updated: 29/09/2005