Hastings Big Conversation Workshop report published

Community leaders came together earlier this year to discuss and develop principles for community engagement that could guide the Long-Term-Plan funding to support the regeneration of the town. The goal was to lay the groundwork for Hastings' Long-Term Plan, which will set out a three-year investment plan and ten-year vision to allocate £20 million of funding to address local priorities over the next decade.

The workshop was organised by Always Possible and held as a Hastings Community Network (HCN) event, which is part of Hastings Voluntary Action (HVA).

The Big Conversation was commissioned by the Hastings Board and the report has now been published.

Rebecca Conroy, Chief Executive Officer and Principal for the East Sussex College Group and Chair of the Hastings Board, said "I am so grateful to everyone who joined us, giving us their time, knowledge, and extensive experience of working in our town. The workshop was oversubscribed, an indication of how strong our voluntary and community sector is here in Hastings. We are aware that there have been some delays due to the changes in central government, but we are keen not to lose momentum and support we have built up within our community because this will be the key to delivering a successful Long-Term Plan".

Cllr Julia Hilton, Leader of Hastings Borough Council, said "I think the Big Conversation workshop was positive step to setting out best practice for community engagement in our town and can be used for any future opportunities that might come to the town. The Hastings Board will continue to meet so that we can be ready to deliver much needed funding promised to Hastings to help build a better future for our residents."

Hastings Borough Council and the Hastings Board would like to thank Hastings Voluntary Action and the Hastings Community Network (HCN) for giving up one of their events for the workshop. Also thank you to the facilitators, Always Possible, who captured the key outputs of the workshop in this report.

The report was discussed at the recent Hastings Board meeting on 4 October.

You can read more information about the Hastings Board.

Notes:
Under the former government, Hastings was one of 75 towns selected to receive a share of the £1.1 billion funding announced in September 2023 for Long-Term Plan for Towns.

For more information about the funding please see the information published via the links below:

Long-Term Plan for Towns

Long-Term Plan for Towns: guidance for local authorities and Town Boards.

If you have any questions, please email hastingsboard@hastings.gov.uk