Active Hastings named finalist at this year's Sussex Sport & Physical Activity Awards

Active Hastings are delighted to announce they have been shortlisted as a finalist for the Community Engagement category at this year's Sussex Sport & Physical Activity Awards. Across the categories sees finalists from a plethora of Hastings based activity providers, which celebrates and showcases the outstanding contribution to sport and physical activity throughout the town.

The Sussex Sport & Physical Activity Awards (previously known as the Sussex Sports Awards) is run by Active Sussex. It is one of the most prestigious events in the Sussex sporting calendar, celebrating the hard work, dedication and successes of individuals and community groups both on and off the field.

The Community Engagement Award shines the spotlight on an exemplary organisation, project or initiative which has tackling inequalities in physical activity at its heart. The three finalists include Active Hastings, The Y.E.S Project and Hastings Rounders, who have all demonstrated they have engaged a group in physical activity who would otherwise have been physically inactive.

Active Hastings is hosted by Hastings Borough Council, in partnership with East Sussex County Council, and brings together a wide range of local and national partners to ensure that everyone in Hastings can get active. The team creates a range of courses and classes for adults and children to improve health and wellbeing, and to reduce health inequalities in Hastings by increasing access and participation in physical activity interventions.

The Y.E.S. project is a street dance project run by Dance Hub, which brings exciting and engaging charity funded Street Dance sessions and opportunities across Sussex. Working alongside Dance Hub, Sarah Ruusuvuori, Active Hastings Youth Link Worker, recently brought free Street Hub sessions to the Hollington Youth Hub, with thanks to funding from Sussex Police Crime Commissioner.

Jas Gray and Heather Jury, Active Hastings GP Link Workers, have also been shortlisted as joint finalists in the Health Improvement Award category. The Active Hastings GP Link Worker role is designed to help create a link between the NHS and the community; helping guide patients into being more physically active by creating a support system into exercise and helping them take control of their own health. For more information on the Active Hastings GP Link Worker service, please contact a member of the Active Hastings team on activehastings@hastings.gov.uk. The GP Link Worker role is funded by the Hastings Primary Care Network.

Adding to the list of finalists is Defiant Sports, who have been shortlisted for the Rix & Kay Solicitors LLP Inclusion & Diversity Award. In Hastings, Joel Lock from Defiant Sports, has been running a weekly Inclusive Sports session with Active Hastings to remove barriers for children with disabilities, long-term health conditions or special educational needs to participate in sport. Joel has also been nominated in the Rising Star category. For more information on the Hastings inclusive sport session, visit: www.hastings.gov.uk/sport_play/getactive/activehastings_listings/inclusivesports/

And finally, two of the finalists for the Volunteer of the Year award are from Hastings; Eric Douglin for his outstanding World Club Basketball Tournament and Amy Walker from Hastings Rounders.

The winners will be announced at the Sussex Sport & Physical Activity Awards 2023 on Thursday, November 30 at an award ceremony in Hove.

Cath Donovan, Active Hastings Co-ordinator, said: "The whole team are absolutely thrilled to be named finalists in the Community Engagement category in the Sussex Sport & Physical Activity Awards.

"Our dedicated team works so hard to ensure the residents of Hastings feel encouraged and supported in living an active and healthy lifestyle. To be named a finalist in the Community Engagement category is testament to everyone's hard work."

Councillor Andy Batsford, lead councillor for Health and Culture at Hastings Borough Council, said: "I would like to congratulate the Active Hastings team for being shortlisted for this very prestigious award, and to all the individuals and community groups from Hastings who join them.

"It is fantastic to see Hastings so well represented this year and for everyone's hard work and dedication to be recognised in this way. Good luck everyone!"

For the full list of finalists.

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Notes to editor:

Active Hastings works closely with local providers of physical activity to give you easy, fun ways to get your everyday dose of physical activity. It only takes 30 minutes a day for adults and 60 a day for children to get fitter, healthier and happier. You can even break it down into 10 minute slots!

Active Hastings coordinates the local Community Physical Activity Network, which brings together schools, sport clubs, National Governing Bodies of Sport, health organisations, the voluntary sector and the private sector to work together, unblock barriers to participation and improve the local sport and physical activity delivery system.

Active Hastings is hosted by Hastings Borough Council, in partnership with East Sussex County Council, and brings together a wide range of local and national partners to ensure that everyone in Hastings can get active.

Find out more at www.activehastings.org.uk or follow them on Facebook 'Active Hastings'.

For more information contact Emma Bailey, Social Marketing and Communications Officer, Active Hastings, Hastings Borough Council on 01424 451145 or email emma.bailey@hastings.gov.uk