Observer Column 13 December 2024

Last weekend saw busy art and craft fairs popping up at Hastings Museum and Art Gallery and the Observer Building, as well as Old Town Christmas, where Father Christmas was tucked into a hastily created basement grotto to shelter him from Storm Darragh. It was great to see people still venturing out despite the wild weather, supporting all our wonderful local creative businesses. As usual, I managed to find many of my presents among the local independent shops, open studios and art and craft markets, which make such a lovely start to the Christmas season. This weekend there will be more art and craft fairs across the town, including the postponed one at The Yard off Queens Road, so do look out for them. You can make a huge difference to our local economy by buying from local shops.

Meanwhile there’s a new opportunity to act on those New Year resolutions to take more exercise and live a healthier life. On Monday 16 December, Cllr Glenn Haffenden, Deputy Leader of the council and Lead Councillor for Community Wellbeing, will host a Facebook Live with some of our award-winning Active Hastings team. From 11 to 11.15 am you’ll hear about how you can be more active, especially if it’s not something you do naturally. Heidi and Jas, two of our Active Hastings team members, will be on hand to answer questions around adult weight management and being active if you have a long-term health condition. The session will be recorded if you can’t watch it live. Please send any questions for the team to communications@hastings.gov.uk by 9am on Monday 16 December. We should be proud that the Active Hastings team won ­­­­­­­­­­­­­the Health Improvement award at the recent Sussex Sport and Physical Activity Awards.

As the weather gets wilder and colder, it’s important that all pensioners that are eligible should check if they qualify for pension credit, which also means they would receive the winter fuel payment. There are hundreds of thousands of people missing out. Please check in with your loved ones and older friends and help them to see if they are eligible. Pension Credit: Eligibility - GOV.UK

This week applications opened for grants from The Foreshore Trust which are available for smaller voluntary and community groups who benefit the local community. Grants of up to £6,000 come from the Foreshore Trust’s income. Applications are now open and will close at noon on Friday 17 January 2025.

Finally I want to say how sorry I was to hear that a homeless man in Silverhill had died this week. My thoughts are with all those who knew him. Council officers were working with the man and had been trying for some time to find him safe accommodation. We continue to work with our partners on finding accommodation for the rough sleepers in the town. If you see someone you are concerned about, please report it online to Streetlink.