Press Releases week beginning 04 February 2019

Excuse our dust!

Hastings Borough Council is starting a large 5 year programme of refurbishment to the play spaces within the town. Phase 1 work is scheduled for completion by the end of March this year.
The spaces which are scheduled for work are:

• Waterside Close Play Space 
• Alexandra Park larger Play Space 
• Redmayne Drive Play Space
• Bexhill Rd - Sophie's play space

Some play spaces are being resurfaced deep cleaned redecorated, or provided with new fence panels; others are having new equipment, some of it with funds raised by the local residents association. Other play spaces are scheduled for refurbishment in the next few years.

Colin Fitzgerald, lead councillor for environmental services said,
"This is an essential programme of work, and our play spaces are a vital feature of our neighbourhoods. Without them some children would have nowhere to go for fresh air and exercise."

He added that,
We have consulted with residents on the larger projects. Resident associations have undertaking some fundraising so that we can make our money go that bit further, and provide great spaces for our children to play in."

The Council will keep residents informed about the opening and closing of play spaces while the work is being carried out, with signage at the play space, on their website and through Facebook.

Work experience offer at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery

Hastings Museum & Art Gallery would like to hear from school students who  are looking for work experience between 13th-17th May and 1st-5th July and would like to try their hand at working in a museum.

The museum is joining a growing list of employers offering work experience to pupils in Hastings and across East Sussex promoted by the County Council's work experience team.

The museum is giving pupils the chance to experience life behind the scenes of the museum. During each placement pupils will get to work on a range of projects alongside staff. Including chances to work with collections, on exhibitions and planning events, as well as work with visitor services and learning teams. By the end of the week pupils will have a better idea of what it is like working in a museum today.

Kim Forward, lead councillor for culture said,
"Work experience is an important way for us to engage with secondary-aged pupils. Well already offer work with East Sussex College Hastings to offer work experience and other placements for Supported Education students. Doing the same for secondary schools is the next logical step. These work placement offers will form part of the museums programme for 2019 and beyond."

For details on how to apply check the museum website: https://www.hmag.org.uk/see-and-do/placements/

The benefits of mindfulness

Hastings Museum and Art Gallery welcomed over 50 children for a day of free activities introducing them to mindfulness. The day was organised in partnership with Occupational Therapy students from Canterbury Christchurch University. 

Occupational Therapy students Ami Smallwood and Amy McDonnell have been working on developing mindfulness activities for children because of the benefits it can bring to their mental health and well-being.

The children took part in a range of workshops included making mindful windmills, glitter bottles and creating their own superheroes. Each of the sessions combined fun, hands-on activities with elements of mindfulness to support the development of positive mental health and well-being.

Mindfulness promotes positive mental health by encouraging children and adults to pay more attention to the present by focusing on their thoughts and feelings and the world around them. Mindfulness has been shown to improve people's mental health and well-being and can help people to enjoy the world around them more and understand themselves better.

Ami Smallwood said, "Mindfulness can be difficult to engage children in as it is a passive activity but there are activities which promote mindfulness and its principles. Teaching children to have a thought or feeling and be able to let it go and refocus on the present can be of great benefit."

Kim Forward, lead councillor for culture explained, "Mindful people are better able to deal with difficult situations, by focusing on positive solutions and improving resilience, so it is a fantastic tool in education. I am delighted that the council was able to support this workshop at the museum and art gallery.

Hastings Council to work with Surviving Streets UK

Hastings Borough Council and Surviving Streets UK are working in partnership so they can use Churchwood House as offices and a base for their foodbank.

Peter Chowney, leader of Hastings Borough Council said,
"I am delighted we've been able to come to an agreement with Surviving the Streets UK to use this building for the next year. The help they offer to homeless people and households in our more deprived communities is invaluable. It's shocking that in the fifth richest country in the world more and more people are having to rely on food banks and charities to survive, and that the welfare system fails to ensure that everyone has enough food for their family. Without these efforts and donations from volunteers, many families would find it impossible to cope. They provide a vital service."

James Robinson co-founder of Surviving Streets UK said,
"After receiving great support from Hastings Borough Council, Surviving the Streets UK are very proud  we now have offices to help support our mission to help as many homeless and vulnerable people with even more much needed support across Hastings, St. Leonard's and around East Sussex. From us all, thank you so much, the support from you really does mean a lot to us all."

Surviving Streets UK is committed to supporting and helping homeless and less fortunate people with hot food, warm clothes and other support. Run by volunteers, they also help support children's centres, food banks and outreach teams around East Sussex. You can visit their website https://survivingthestreets.uk/ to find out more.