Hastings Neighbourhood Board news

Local residents take the lead in Pride in Place funding 

29 July 2026

Hastings Pride in Place Board (previously Hastings Neighbourhood Board) is pleased to announce the appointment of eight new community board members from across Hastings, marking an important milestone as the Pride in Place programme moves from planning into delivery.

Appointed following a rigorous recruitment process, the new community board members bring a diverse mix of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives that reflect the communities of Hastings. 

Their appointment strengthens the community-led approach that sits at the heart of the Pride in Place programme and ensures residents have a central role in deciding how the additional £20 million Pride in Place funding will be spent over the next decade.

The call for community board members earlier this year attracted an exceptional response from people right across Hastings, with more than 120 applications received from residents. The high level of interest demonstrated the passion, pride and commitment that residents have for the future of Hastings.

While only eight appointments could be made, the Board is committed to harnessing the energy, skills and enthusiasm of all those who applied and is exploring the creation of a Pride in Place Ambassador network to help champion the programme, engage local communities and support the delivery of projects across Hastings.

Kevin Boorman, Independent Chair, Hastings Pride in Place Board, said:- "We are delighted to welcome our brilliant new community board members. Throughout this programme, we have been committed to ensuring that local people are at the heart of decision-making. These appointments represent an important step in that journey and will help ensure that the voices of Hastings residents continue to shape how this investment is delivered in our town.

"I would also like to thank our existing Board members for their dedication, expertise and commitment over the past years. Their work in developing our investment plan has been instrumental in bringing us to this exciting next phase."

As the programme moves from strategy into delivery, the Board is changing how it works to ensure that decisions are made by the community members, who know the local priorities and ambitions. 

The revised structure will include voting members comprising the Independent Chair, local MP, local councillor and the new community board members, supported by advisory members who will continue to provide specialist expertise and sector knowledge.

The new community board members will work alongside existing board members and partners to help oversee the delivery of projects, ensuring the money goes to what people across Hastings have said they want it spent on.

Helena Dollimore, MP for Hastings said:- "Local people know our area better than anyone else and that is why this Government has decided to do things differently. With this £21.5 million Pride in Place funding that I have secured for Hastings, we have the chance to improve our town by making the big decisions for ourselves, not letting other people make decisions for us. That is why I pushed to have members of our community on our Pride in Place board. These new appointments ensure that residents have a strong voice in the decisions that affect the future of Hastings, and I will keep pushing for as many residents as possible to have their say."

Cllr Julia Hilton, Deputy Leader, Hastings Borough Council said:- “Hastings is full of talented, committed people who care deeply about the future of our town, and these appointments are a fantastic example of that. As we move from planning into delivery, it is vital that decisions about investment are informed by local knowledge and community ambition. Our new community board members will play a key role in ensuring that local people lead the conversation about how Pride in Place funding is spent and the difference it can make across Hastings.”

The new community board members are:

• Anthony (Tony) Davis
• Darryl Telles
• Frenchie (Alex Justin-French)
• Holly Paramor
• Isaac Solomon
• Lewis Daden
• Malaika Scotney
• Yasmin Ornsby

A new Hastings Pride in Place Board website and social media channels will be launching shortly, giving residents more opportunities to stay informed and get involved. As well as the latest programme updates, the new website will feature profiles of board members, showcasing their interests, experience and ambitions.

Ready, Set, Apply! Hastings Pride in Place Funding Now Live

22 June 2026

Residents, community groups and organisations across Hastings are being invited to apply for funding through the town’s Pride in Place programme.

Backed by up to £20 million of additional government investment over the next decade, funding is available for a wide range of projects, including improvements to community spaces, activities for young people, and initiatives that strengthen neighbourhoods and support local pride.

The programme is led by Hastings Neighbourhood Board, which brings together residents, community leaders and statutory partners to ensure funding decisions are shaped by what people in Hastings have said they want the money spent on and their priorities. 

Kevin Boorman, Independent Chair of Hastings Neighbourhood Board, said: “Pride in Place is all about listening to local people and responding to what they want to see the money spent on. We’ve already heard from thousands of residents, and we are expecting to start work on our ‘Pride in our Streets’ programme, for very small projects such as noticeboards and bins, very soon.

“We now want to hear from those with ideas for larger projects that will make a difference to their neighbourhoods. We have up to £342,000 available this year for the ‘Pride in our Neighbourhoods’ programme, and this will rise to up to £500,000 annually from next year.

“And also next year we will be asking for bids for our flagship ‘Pride in our town’ programme, with up to £1 million annually for larger projects which will benefit the whole town.

“For now, we want to hear from grassroots organisations, community groups and other partners across Hastings for projects that will benefit their neighbourhood. If you’ve got an idea that could make a difference where you live, we want you to come forward and apply.”

Cllr Julia Hilton, Deputy Leader of Hastings Borough Council, said: “We want to support projects that reflect the real priorities of local people, and that means hearing from a broad range of voices across our town. This funding is a real opportunity to turn ideas into action.
  
“We are keen to hear from groups and residents from every part of our community so that funding goes to projects that matter most locally. I’d strongly encourage as many people as possible to get involved and apply.”

Helena Dollimore, MP for Hastings, Rye and the villages, said: “The Government's Pride in Place fund is a once in a generation opportunity to change Hastings for the better with £21.5 million extra funding to spend on the things local people want.

“When we asked you, thousands of you told us that you wanted safer, cleaner, greener streets and more things for young people to do from play to sport. That’s why we have decided to open grant applications now for the Pride in our Neighbourhoods grants so any resident or local community group who has a project that does these things can apply.

“You don’t have to be an expert or have done this before, and nobody should feel daunted by the application process, so find out more today and do call or email if you need any support with the process. Applications close on the 31st of August, and we want as many people to hear about this opportunity as possible.”

A total of £342,000 is available this year which includes £110,000 of capital funding and £232,000 of revenue funding.

£100,000 of capacity funding is also being made available to ensure neighbourhoods and communities across Hastings can access and apply for funding and for any preparatory work which may be required for future applications.

People interested in applying can find full details, eligibility criteria and how to submit an application online. 

Applications close at 11.59pm on Monday 31 August 2026. 

Notes for editors:
Hastings was selected by the government’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to receive up to £20m of funding through the Pride in Place programme to revitalise local areas and fight deprivation at root cause by focusing on three goals: thriving places, stronger communities, and taking back control.

In March 2026 the UK Government approved Hastings Neighbourhood Board’s ten-year regeneration plan, ‘A Hastings for Everyone’, unlocking up to £20 million of additional investment for the town over the next ten years.

Developed with input from thousands of residents, the plan sets out a long term programme to improve Hastings’ streets, neighbourhoods, and public spaces. 
Investment will be delivered through three key themes:

•    Pride in Our Streets – up to £250,000 a year for public realm improvements such as bins, bus shelters, benches and murals 
•    Pride in Our Neighbourhoods – up to £500,000 a year for projects such as improvements to community centres, sports facilities and youth activities 
•    Pride in Our Town – up to £1 million a year (from year 2 of the programme) for heritage projects, infrastructure, town centre or seafront improvements.

Find more information and read the plan.

Find more information on the national Pride in Place programme.