For more information, see www.hastings.gov.uk/community_strategy
In 2003 we put together a 10 year Community Strategy for Hastings, which set out our vision and our mission and set clear targets for improving our town. The 21 targets were for:
Now the strategy has been in place for three years, it’s time to review and update areas to meet the changing needs of our town. Last year we looked at our progress against the milestones we set in 2003 and we also asked you how you thought we were doing. Now we are able to update and refresh our targets to best meet the needs of Hastings in 2006 and beyond.
We are the Hastings & St Leonards Strategic Partnership, which brings together the public, private, voluntary and community sectors.
The Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) meets four times a year to review progress and hear from each partner about how they’re working towards the targets. It includes residents, business leaders, people working in voluntary organisations, representatives from both Hastings Borough Council and East Sussex County Council and other key agencies such as the police and health care providers.
To achieve the vision set out in the Community Strategy we decided to group members of the LSP who shared similar responsibilities and interests into partnerships. These ‘thematic partnerships’ take the lead for the Community Strategy targets that are relevant to them. The key themes running through the Community Strategy are health, learning and skills, housing, regeneration and crime.
The renaissance of Hastings through social, economic, cultural and environmental regeneration.
To build on the town’s strong community spirit, culture, diverse population and extraordinary natural environment to create a safer, healthier more sustainable and more prosperous place with lasting opportunities for everybody.
To find out more about the LSP and the Community Strategy contact the LSP co-ordinator on (01424) 451131 or email lsp_coordinator@hastings.gov.uk Or visit www.hastings.gov.uk/community_strategy.
Pictured: Clive Galbraith
The Local Strategic Partnership is currently chaired by two local figures, Clive Galbraith of Green Insurance and John Hodges of General Dynamics. Here’s their shared vision for the LSP and our town:
It is our intention to develop the LSP into a forward thinking organisation for achieving the vision set out in the Community Strategy, and with a series of measures in place to monitor progress.
The LSP will be guided by our mission statement and the values that bind the partnership together. The Community Strategy laid down 21 measurable targets, each one the responsibility of one of the LSP members. At the partnership’s quarterly meetings members report their progress to the partnership and explain how they’re working towards their goals.
Pictured: John Hodges
Much has been accomplished by the LSP, as you can see in this progress report. The business sector now has chairmanship of the partnership, and as their representatives we will be paying close attention to outstanding targets, to ensure that even further progress is made in our year as chairs.
It is so important that our strategy is followed, that it remains sustainable, and that its positive effects can be measured to make sure we are all working towards our vision for Hastings.
Written by John Hodges on behalf of both chairs
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Launched in April, Area Coordination is a new way for service providers, residents and local councillors to work together to ensure that services meet the needs of individual neighbourhoods. Under this new approach service provision within Hastings & St Leonards will be organised around four areas, each containing four wards. These are North St Leonards, South St Leonards, Central and East Hastings.
Coordinated by Hastings Borough Council’s Neighbourhood Renewal team, this way of working will help to narrow the gap in quality of life between neighbourhoods. The aim is to tackle crime and raise levels of education, health, and employment and improve housing and environmental standards across the town, focussing on the areas in need of most improvement.
Each of the four areas will have a strategic board that allows residents and other partners to work together towards achieving improvements in the area. The board will monitor a strategic plan, which will set out the work needed to achieve the targets within the Community Strategy and Local Area Agreement.
To find our more about Area Coordination, please contact the Neighbourhood Renewal team on 01424 451339 or email neighbourhoodrenewal@hastings.gov.uk
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The Community Strategy Progress Report 2005/2006, can be viewed here: www.hastings.gov.uk/community_strategy/progress2005_2006.aspx
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Here, each of the thematic partnership chairs tells you what you can do to make a difference.
The architecture of Hastings is beautiful, but unfortunately there are many homes in poor condition. Our town also has a higher proportion of rented homes than most other places in the country, many of them flats. So what can you do to improve your situation, Hastings Housing Partnership offers the following advice:
If you’re hard up and need help paying your rent or housing costs, then you may be entitled to housing benefit. Make sure you claim what you are entitled to. Hastings Borough Council’s friendly staff will be able to help – phone 0845 274 1080 for more information. Visit the Council’s website or call into Hastings Information Centre in Queens Square for where to go for independent housing advice.
If you are a landlord and want to attract the best tenants, join HALO, (Hastings Accredited Lettings scheme), email halo@hastings.gov.uk to sign up or visit the website for all of the benefits of the scheme www.hastings.gov.uk/halo
If you have your own home, keep it maintained. A little work done regularly will prevent big bills for major repairs in the future.
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Men and women in Hastings & St Leonards have life expectancies that fall short of the national average. There are key lifestyle risk factors for cancer and circulatory diseases – the big killers in Hastings. Good physical health and mental wellbeing help people live longer, healthier lives. Below are a few ideas of how to avoid these risks and improve the health of you and your family.
Visit www.activeinhastings.org.uk to see the directory of physical activity opportunities in Hastings to help you to take part in a minimum of 30 minutes a day of physical activity if you’re an adult or an hour a day if you’re a child.
Visit Hastings Farmers Market (held on the second Thursday of every month, 9am to 2pm on Robertson Street) and eat at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables a day. Or visit the community fruit and vegetable stalls, which are located throughout Hastings & St Leonards. Always check the nutritional information on food labels to ensure convenience foods are not high in salt, sugar or fat.
Last, but not least, if you smoke – STOP. Hastings and Rother Stop Smoking Service offers free advice, contact them on 01424 457153. Smoking is one of the biggest avoidable risk factors for cancer and circulatory diseases like coronary heart disease and strokes.
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Reductions in crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour are something we all want to see in our community.
The aim of the Safer Hastings Partnership is to reduce crime and the fear of crime. You can help by joining your local neighbourhood forum, giving your feedback at public consultation meetings and via our annual fear of crime surveys and, of course, by reporting crime and anti-social behaviour.
Anti-social behaviour is more than nuisance neighbours and noise. Our partners, including the Warden Service and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) can also deal with graffiti, litter,dog fouling, fly-tipping, fly-posting and abandoned or untaxed vehicles. You can report any of these issues by calling our dedicated reporting line, on 0800 085 4500.
Visit www.saferhastings.co.uk for more information.
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Regenerating Hastings is not all about buildings; it’s as much about the people of Hastings and the community projects and enterprises on your doorstep. As a resident of Hastings, there are many ways you can play a part in regeneration. In your community, there are countless projects and activities that offer a chance for you to have your say and play your part. Whether you develop your skills or start up a business, your contribution counts.
Education and vocation project offer the chance to gain skills for a new job or a change of lifestyle. Courses in IT, media, construction, foreign language, childcare, music and more could be the key to your new future. Drop into University Centre Hastings for more information.
If you’re a budding entrepreneur, 1066 Enterprise offers support for new businesses, contact them on 01424 205500. There’s help on offer for anyone looking to set up social and community enterprises too, call the Community Regeneration Unit (CRU) on 01424 446373 for more information.
You really can play a real part in regeneration and the future by getting active and doing your bit.
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Although there have been a number of really positive changes to education since the Community Strategy was put together, there are still a few areas for improvement.
People in Hastings are missing out on higher salaries and better prospects, as they are less likely to get degrees and other higher qualifications.
Standards in primary schools are improving above the national average and the number of people staying on in education at 16 is rising but we are yet to see an increase in take up of education post 19.
As a parent there are many ways you can help your child to become engaged in their education. Before primary school the Ore Valley and Hastings SureStart programme offer a range of support services, and children’s centres are developing in other areas.
Family learning programmes are available through many schools and are also provided in community centres during term time and holidays.
As an adult there are many ways you can improve your qualifications and employment skills. Hastings College offers a great range of programmes, and this term began to offer short courses as well. Visit www.hastings.ac.uk for details of courses. And organisations like Horizons and Hastings Voluntary Action can help you decide what direction you want to go.
Now Hastings has an expanded range of higher education opportunities, why not contact University Centre Hastings or Hastings College to find out how you can make the most of them.
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When we put the Community Strategy together we invited a group of residents to be our ‘community voices’. They tell us about the changes that are happening within communities, and what they’d like to see happen.
Pragma and Rama featured in the original Community Strategy document as part of the “community voices”. Three years on they tell us about the changes they seen in Hastings & St Leonards.
We have seen some changes but obviously there is still some way to go. The seafront is looking better but the real problem is still the A21 and the fact they’ve cut the train service.
Hastings is improving and getting better. We have noticed that the park is much better for the children, especially during the summer.
Elizabeth is an active campaigner for the South Saxons Wetlands and like Pragma and Rama featured in the original strategy with friend Carol, talking about their work. Elizabeth said:
"I do think Hastings looks better, though I am disappointed with the state of the pavements around town. I’ve been working for the South Saxons Wetlands for many years."
"I think everyone can get involved in improving the town and we’re organising a big clean up"
"for the wetlands. We all need a green space within ten minutes of our front door. People find there’s always something to see and hear. If you walk around South Saxon Wetlands you always feel a lot better."
"There have been a number of improvements since 2003. The seafront looks much better, when you walk along there now there are almost no derelict buildings. I think there is also a general feeling of more prosperity in the town."
"I am contributing to the town’s improvements by having a positive upbeat attitude and trying to encourage others to do the same. I am also a member of the Art Forum, and so am contributing to the development of Hastings’ cultural community."
"I think the town feels a lot safer now, I feel more comfortable walking around my area than I used to. The Old Town seems to have more life in it and is attracting more people. In general I think residents have more positive attitudes towards their town."
"I help to improve the town by being a member of the Young Persons' Council, and encouraging other young people to make sure their voices are heard, and to use their vote. I am currently setting up an exhibition of young people's art, working alongside the Art Forum to highlight the importance of art to regeneration and also to convince the people in power how important our town's culture is."
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This page last updated: 12/07/2006