Support for Migrant and Newly Settled Communities

Summary

This project aims to improve the lives of asylum seekers, refugees, migrants, and wider Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities in Hastings. It will help people access local services, understand their rights, and feel part of the town. The goal is to reduce barriers to integration and make Hastings a welcoming and inclusive place for all.

Why It’s Needed

Many migrants and BME residents face exclusion, poverty, and limited access to housing, jobs, and healthcare. Hastings is a popular place to settle due to its location and housing, and it’s also an active asylum dispersal area—so new arrivals are common.

Different communities have different needs, and support must consider language, culture, religion, and social identity. Without proper engagement, whole communities risk becoming isolated. Migrants often face extra challenges like discrimination, complex referral routes, and lack of English, which can make them more vulnerable.

This intervention will help build trust, improve access to services, and support integration for both new arrivals and established communities.

What the Service Should Do

The successful provider will deliver services that:

• Build trust and support among Hastings’ BME communities
• Improve understanding of local services, rights, and responsibilities
• Support new communities settling in Hastings
• Help people feel part of the town through meaningful integration
• Raise awareness of issues faced by excluded groups at a strategic level
• Train frontline services to better support BME communities
• Support households placed in Hastings through the Resettlement Programme

Applicants should explain what the grant will fund and how it complements existing services, including those funded by other bodies.

Who It’s For

Asylum seekers, refugees, migrants, and BME communities living in Hastings.

Funding

Funding runs from July 2025 to June 2028. There is £12,500 available for this project for 2026-27.

Registered charities, non-profit voluntary or community groups operating in Hastings and St Leonards can apply.

Duration

July 2025 – June 2028

How It Should Be Delivered

Support should be available in accessible locations, with outreach where needed. Applicants should show how they’ve worked with BME communities and how they’ll reach those who are harder to engage. Co-location with other services is encouraged.

Measuring Success

Applicants should define clear outcomes and how they’ll measure them. Examples include:

• Better understanding of the size and diversity of BME communities in Hastings
• Improved awareness of rights and services among people with limited English or immigration status
• Better access to support and advice for BME communities
• More immigration advice available locally
• Increased engagement with both new and established BME communities

Monitoring should include:

• Number of people and communities supported
• Number of people reporting improved mental health