UK Shared Prosperity Fund Programme 2025 - 2026

Funding programme 2025 – 2026 

In March 2025 the extension of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Programme was approved by Cabinet, following Hastings Borough Council being allocated a further £473,873 additional government funding to support the previous 12-month funding, which was announced in the Autumn Budget in 2024.

The 12-month funding programme will continue with a focus on communities and place and skills in Broomgrove and expand into Northeast Hastings with a particular focus on Downs Farm.

Update May 2025: Broomgrove Community Centre celebrates re-launch with an open day for the local community

On Saturday 17 May, the Broomgrove Community Centre celebrated re-opening after an extensive refurbishment by welcoming members of the community to an open day.

The centre was re-opened with a ribbon cutting by Mo Gardiner, Chair of Oasis Community Project East Hastings followed by speeches by Steve Manwaring, Director of Hastings Voluntary Action and Jackie Gaunt, Oasis trustee and Centre Manager. This was followed by a display by Hastings Coastal Twirlers, who practice in the centre. 

Residents enjoyed activities led by Active Hastings, In2Play, Wriggles and Giggles and Groundwork South’s ‘The World According to Ore’ project. Archives of the Broomgrove estate were on display which were loaned by Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, and residents were encouraged to share their ideas for the future of the area. Many organisations and regular centre users also had displays and offered advice.

The event marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the centre, which is under new management and showcased exciting plans to deliver a programme of activities and services, including Stay and Play sessions for families and under 5s, after school clubs, cultural and wellness events for all ages and the return of the popular Broomgrove Social Supermarket.

You can find more details on the activities at the Broomgrove Community Centre by visiting the Oasis Facebook page.

Update April 2025: Downs Farm Community Fun Day

On Thursday 10 April, Safer Hastings Partnership, together with Active Hastings, Hastings Borough Council and Southern Housing invited Downs Farm residents to a Community Fun Day.
The fun day provided a chance for local people to not only enjoy entertainment and food together, but also share how they feel some of the funding the council has received from the government’s ongoing UK Shared Prosperity Fund could benefit the area.

Cllr Glenn Haffenden, Deputy Leader of Hastings Borough Council and lead for community wellbeing and housing, said: “It’s important that everyone gets chance to have their say on funding for their area. So, it was great to see the success of this community event, with more than 100 families attending, all sharing their interesting ideas about how their area could be improved.”

In September 2025, the council invited a proposal selection process for projects for up to £10,000 funding to be awarded to businesses and organisations already operating in Northeast Hastings. Projects were encouraged to submit either revenue or capital proposals, that demonstrated supporting the local community and had to be completed by March 2026.
More details on the process can be found on the funding proposal process September - October 2025  page. 

Projects

Active Hastings delivers a diverse programme of physical activity sessions designed to engage residents, strengthen community connections and support open conversations about local issues.  Sessions take place in Ore Downs Farm and Broomgrove, based on resident feedback. Activities are open to all ages and abilities and take place community centres and local recreation areas.

The team also delivers larger community events including family fun days. 
Visit the Active Hastings webpage for the latest timetable of activities and events. 

Musical Beacons continues to be delivered by Soundcastle including joining the Under 5’s Stay and Play sessions with Active Hastings in Broomgrove Community Centre every other Thursday 10.45-12.15. You can also see them on their Musical Walk Abouts around Broomgrove. They also run sessions in Downs Farm. Soundcastle continue to bring music into families lives and work with partners such as Spun Glass Theatre and national artists to bring high class performance into communities. They also offer placements to volunteers.  Visit the Sussex Musical Beacons website for details.

Moving on Up is delivered by East Sussex County Council and it’s partners, and provides employability and skills courses across the town, with a focus on Northeast Hastings. 
Support for participants includes one-to-one mentoring sessions, and small group activities, to build confidence and prepare for employment.  
The project has also offers a range of short, skills-boosting activities designed to improve confidence, wellbeing, and basic literacy, numeracy, or digital skills. Further skills booster activities focus on job preparation, understanding employment opportunities, and developing the skills required to work in various industries. Visit the Level Up website for more details. 

Broomgrove Social Supermarket takes place every Tuesday, 10am-12pm at the newly renovated Broomgrove Community Centre.

Local residents can pay £3 for 10 items and enjoy free tea and coffee. Support organisations attend to offer free advice and services to residents too.

The Social Supermarket runs alongside First Tuesdays – a monthly initiative (on the first Tuesday of each month) with a range of activities and services for all ages. This, amongst other work is supported by Broomgrove’s Community Development Worker in a partnership between Hastings Voluntary Action and Oasis Community Project. Check the Broomgrove Community Hub webpage for details. 

Community Green Engagement is delivered by Groundwork South. This project runs weekly environmental volunteering sessions in Downs Farm, helping residents build green skills and connect with nature. Outreach sessions run between 3.30-5pm in Farley Bank on Tuesdays, Downs Farm on Wednesdays and Halton on Thursdays and Downs Farm on Thursdays, and are for all ages and abilities. 

Residents in Downs Farm have also started a community garden with Groundwork South’s support. They have lots of different activities going on which are shared on their Greener Futures Facebook page. 

RISE 2 builds on the success of Let’s Do Business Group’s first UKSPF project, offering business support and advice to new and existing businesses and entrepreneurs in Hastings. Support is free and offered in a variety of one-to-one and workshop sessions. Find more details on the Business Support in Hastings Let's Do Business Group website.

Plumpton College launched their Green Careers Awareness project to inform Hastings residents, particularly those aged 14-16 about their courses that they offer at Education Futures Trust The Firs site. This is a fantastic offer for anyone looking into land-based careers. Find more details on the Practical Horticulture and Estates Skills (Hasting Campus) - City & Guilds Level 2 Qualification in Horticulture Plumpton College webpage. 

Hastings Food Bank have started a satellite site at Downs Farm Community Centre on Friday mornings and they have been allocated UKSP Funding to work up sustainable options, affordable options for ‘social supermarket’ options that are like a community shop for people who may be struggling to afford their weekly shop or as a supportive route out of the food bank reliance. 

Following the recent funding proposal process In September- October this year, the following projects have now been awarded funding and more details will be available soon. 

• Hastings and St Leonards Men’s Shed
• In2Play mobile pay unit
• Ore Community Library Solar Pannel project
• Ore Community Centre roof improvements
• Oasis Community Project, Broomgrove Community Centre Management and Development
• Ore Community Land Trust, Ore Valley Green Spaces
• Play Sport, Walking Football
• Improved lighting in Downs Farm
• Improvements to Ore Cemetery