It's Now December So...

Indeed, I have held off this early seasonal blog until December because, well, just because it was too early for me in November, though apparently not too early for trees and decorations to appear around Hastings town, in shops, and in pubs and bars, so here I am...

Not only does a warm welcome meet you as you come down from from Hastings railway and bus interchange (top), but as you enter the Priory Meadow indoor shopping centre too.

Not to forget the caring bear in front of the Charity Giving Tree in aid of Hastings Foodbank, where you can make a donation by taking a tag from the tree, purchase a suitable gift, and then take the gift to Kids Stuff (website) in Priory Meadow, and many thanks for your kindness.

And a warm welcome also meets you when entering St Andrews Mews after crossing South Terrace from Marks & Spencer, there's a tree placed there since I took this photograph!

And, of course there are many other Christmas Trees, lights and allsorts of decorations around town, so, apologies, but early Seasonal Greetings folks, it's coming nery soon!

It May be Lonely this Christmas, BUT!

Every year Christmas and the 'festive season' sees an increase in loneliness, but remember that the Samaritans can provide 24 hour emotional support; calls on 116 123 are free. They can also be reached in other ways, and their opening hours and further information is on their website. Many thanks to their volunteers and staff.

There are also places offering free Christmas meals to the homeless and lonely in Hastings, for example, on Christmas Day The London Trader at 4-7 East Beach Street is offering a free Christmas lunch to anyone who wants one, in their words "don't go hungry, miserable or lonely, come in, see us and get fed!" (facebook) Nice one! 👍

Also, Dom's Food Mission is providing dinner on Christmas Day (above), and the Council's website shows other help and food available, including Christmas Day and Boxing Day meals at the Salvation Army in St Andrews Square.

As I've also already said (blog), it's more than just a seasonal problem these days, and foodbanks appear to be with us long term now, and Hastings Foodbank (website) is desperate for certain items:

UHT Milk, Full Fat and Semi-skimmed;

Tinned Meat (but not corned beef and pork);

Tinned Vegetables (especially peas and carrots);

Tinned Fruit;

Coffee.

Also required are:  Toilet Rolls;

Toiletries (shower gel, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste);

Tinned Fish;

Tinned Potatoes;

Tinned Rice Pudding;

Jam;

Fruit Juice.

There are Foodbank donation points all over Hastings, and full details of addresses and opening times are at the website, and include the HBC Community Contact Centre (Muriel Matters House), The Hastings Centre (The Ridge), Tesco Extra (St Leonards), Sainsbury's (Station Approach), Asda, Tesco Express (Havelock Road), Morrisons, NatWest Bank (Havelock Road), and Nationwide Building Society branches. 

Stay safe and secure and watch out for each other folks, and much respect to those offering help and charity. Any other places where help can be found, eg free dinners, please feel free to add in comments, cheers!

Hastings Foodbank

I regularly remind myself to make food donations to Hastings Foodbank (website), nevertheless, they continue to remain desperate for certain items, currently:

UHT Milk, Full Fat and Semi-skimmed;

Tinned Meat (but not corned beef or pork);

Tinned Vegetables (especially peas and carrots);

Tinned Fruit;

Coffee.

Also required are:  Toilet Rolls;

Toiletries (shower gel, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste);

Tinned Fish;

Tinned Potatoes;

Tinned Rice Pudding;

Jam;

Fruit Juice.

At the moment they have plenty of  tea, pasta, cereal and baked beans.

There are Foodbank donation points all over Hastings, and full details of addresses and opening times are at the website, and include the HBC Community Contact Centre (Muriel Matters House), The Hastings Centre (The Ridge), Tesco Extra (St Leonards), Sainsbury's (Station Approach), Asda, Tesco Express (Havelock Road), Morrisons, NatWest Bank (Havelock Road), and Nationwide Building Society branches. 

If you'd prefer to donate money instead go to the website.

Let's not forget those less fortunate, also don't forget that people using the service that Hastings Foodbank provides include nurses and other health service workers, people who were heralded during the Pandemic as heroes and applauded on doorsteps... 👏

Respect to those who deserve it👍 

Giving Trees and Christmas Trees...

If you hadn't already noticed the rather large bear in Priory Meadow shopping centre, you may be aware of the return of their Giving Trees Initiative in aid of Hastings Foodbank, if not, now you are; last drop off date Thursday 14th December 20.00 hours (website). To participate, select a tag from one of the trees  by the bear, purchase a suitable gift, then deliver that gift to Kids Stuff in Priory Meadow. For further details go to their website. 🌲🎁🌲

Talking about trees, in the outside part of Priory Meadow is this tree, which I photographed rather early in the morning, with regularly changing coloured light bulbs.

Plus many more colours! 😉

Hastings Foodbank Update

I like to remind myself to make donations to Hastings Foodbank (website), and today is one of those days, but, nevertheless, they continue to remain desperate for certain items, which currently includes:

UHT Milk, Full Fat and Semi-skimmed;

Tinned Meat (but not corned beef or pork);

Tinned Vegetables (especially peas and carrots);

Tinned Fruit;

Coffee.

Also required are:  Toilet Rolls;

Toiletries (shower gel, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste);

Tinned Fish;

Tinned Potatoes;

Tinned Rice Pudding;

Jam;

Fruit Juice.

At the moment they have plenty of  tea, pasta, cereal and baked beans.

There are Foodbank donation points all over Hastings, and full details of addresses and opening times are at the website, and include the HBC Community Contact Centre (Muriel Matters House), The Hastings Centre (The Ridge), Tesco Extra (St Leonards), Sainsbury's (Station Approach), Asda, Tesco Express (Havelock Road), Morrisons, NatWest Bank (Havelock Road), and Nationwide Building Society branches. 

And if you'd prefer to donate money instead go to the website.

Let's not forget those less fortunate than ourselves, also please remember that people using the excellent service that Hastings Foodbank provides include nurses, other health service workers, and other keyworkers, people who were being heralded during the Pandemic as heroes and applauded on doorsteps on Thursday evenings... 👏

Respect to those who deserve it👍 

Hastings Foodbank

Sadly, foodbanks appear to be a sign of the times this century, and Hastings Foodbank (website) continues to remain desperate for certain items, including:

UHT Milk, Full Fat and Semi-skimmed;

Tinned Meat (but not corned beef or pork);

Tinned Vegetables (especially peas and carrots);

Tinned Fruit;

Coffee.

Also required are:  Toilet Rolls;

Toiletries (shower gel, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste);

Tinned Fish;

Tinned Potatoes;

Tinned Rice Pudding;

Jam;

Fruit Juice.

At the moment they have plenty of  tea, pasta, cereal and baked beans.

There are Foodbank donation points all over Hastings, and full details of addresses and opening times are at the website, and include the HBC Community Contact Centre (Muriel Matters House), The Hastings Centre (The Ridge), Tesco Extra (St Leonards), Sainsbury's (Station Approach), Asda, Tesco Express (Havelock Road), Morrisons, NatWest Bank (Havelock Road), and Nationwide Building Society branches. 

Let's not forget those less fortunate than ourselves, especially if some of us have eaten too much chocolate at Easter, not guilty, your honour! Remember that people using the excellent service that Hastings Foodbank provides include nurses, other health service workers whose pay isn't as much as the Government pretends it to be, and other keyworkers, people who were being heralded during the Pandemic as heroes and applauded on doorsteps on Thursday evenings... 

Respect to those who deserve it👍

Seasonal Problems, Loneliness, Shelter, Money and Food & Help

Every year Christmas and the 'festive season' means an increase in loneliness, but remember that the Samaritans can provide 24 hour emotional support; calls on 116 123 are free, and their local telephone number is 0330 094 5717 (local call charges apply). They can also be visited, and their opening hours and further information is on their website. Many thanks to their volunteers and staff.

2 pubs in Hastings are offering free meals over the weekend, on Saturday 24th and in association with Mental Health Help Sussex, The Pig Hastings at 37 White Rock, is offering a Free Wellbeing Christmas Meal at 6.00pm. The event is aimed at "anyone and everyone in the community who may be struggling either mentally, physically, or financially" (facebook).

On Christmas Day, Sunday the 25th of December, The London Trader at 4-7 East Beach Street is offering a free Christmas lunch and glass of wine to anyone who wants one, in their words "don't go hungry, miserable or lonely, come in, see us and get fed!" (facebook) Nice one, helped by "kind donations from locals and local businesses" including "Andy Fraser and Sedlescombe Golf Course, LWC Drinks Ltd, and Rosie Adams the people's champion at Morrisons."

In past years in Hastings & St Leonards, temporary accommodation for homeless people has been supplied by The Snowflake Trust, sadly there are still problems providing overnight dormitory style accommodation, but Hastings Borough Council are providing temporary single room accommodation for the homeless, having leased properties for the purpose. They have asked Snowflake to provide hot evening meals and to be involved still; further details can be found at their website. Help can also be sought via the Seaview Project (website) and for their other services too.

OK, it's more than just a seasonal problem these days, but foodbanks seem to be with us long term now, and Hastings Foodbank (website) is desperate for certain items:

UHT Milk, Full Fat and Semi-skimmed;

Tinned Meat (but not corned beef and pork);

Tinned Vegetables (especially peas and carrots);

Tinned Fruit;

Coffee.

Also required are:  Toilet Rolls;

Toiletries (shower gel, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste);

Tinned Fish;

Tinned Potatoes;

Tinned Rice Pudding;

Jam;

Fruit Juice.

There are Foodbank donation points all over Hastings, and full details of addresses and opening times are at the website, and include the HBC Community Contact Centre (Muriel Matters House), The Hastings Centre (The Ridge), Tesco Extra (St Leonards), Sainsbury's (Station Approach), Asda, Tesco Express (Havelock Road), Morrisons, NatWest Bank (Havelock Road), and Nationwide Building Society branches. 

Finally, from me for now, East Sussex County Council provide advice on their website regarding 'cost of living support' with links to money help and advice, your mental health, help with benefits, your home, food, employment and learning, health, transport, and help for households.

Stay safe and secure and watch out for each other folks, and much respect to those offering help and charity. Any other places where help can be found, eg free dinners, please feel free to add in comments and I'll write another blog, cheers!

Please Don't Forget Hastings Foodbank, Especially Nowadays!

I've just been reminded after reading a post from the Council, that Hastings Foodbank (website) is desperate for certain items:

UHT Milk, Full Fat and Semi-skimmed;

Tinned Meat (but not corned beef and pork);

Tinned Vegetables (especially peas and carrots);

Tinned Fruit;

Tinned Spaghetti in sauce.

Also required are:  Toilet Rolls;

Toiletries (shower gel, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste);

Tinned Fish;

Tinned Potatoes;

Tinned Rice Pudding;

Fruit Juice;

Tea and Coffee.

There are Food Bank donation points all over Hastings, and full details of addresses and opening times are at the website, but they include:

HBC Community Contact Centre (Muriel Matters House), The Hastings Centre (The Ridge), Tesco Extra (St Leonards), Sainsbury's (Station Approach), Asda, Tesco Express (Havelock Road), Morrisons, NatWest Bank (Havelock Road), all Nationwide Building Society branches, and I presume at Sainsbury's (Sedlescombe Road)! 

I realise times are getting hard for all of us, and look like they will be getting even worse, but let's care for each other folks, notably for those worse off, many thanks!

Stay safe and look after each other... 👍

Hastings Foodbank

The Hastings Foodbank, which receives support from the The Trussell Trust (website), provides emergency food and support to people in crisis, and is part of a nationwide network of foodbanks that work to combat hunger and poverty. An increasing number of people have to resort to emergency assistance from foodbanks, even people in work, and consequently emergency food stocks deplete very quickly! 

November was their second busiest month ever, with the equivalent of 10,791 meals given out to people in crisis situations, including 42% of this total to local children, and Christmas is fast approaching!

Indeed, over 90% of the food they distribute is donated by members of the public. Urgently requirements include tinned meat and fish, tinned tomatoes, spaghetti, potatoes and vegetables, tinned fruit, custard and rice pudding, pasta sauce, and UHT milk; go to the Hastings Foodbank website for more details of requirements and donor sites, which are at: 

Community Contact Centre, Hastings Town Hall, Queens Road TN34 1TL; 
Tourist Information Centre, Breeds Place TN34 3AA;

Tesco Extra, Church Wood Drive, St. Leonards TN38 9RB, front of store near exits;

Sainsbury’s, Station Approach, Hastings TN34 1BA, next to restaurant;

Asda, opposite self service points;

Tesco Express, Havelock Road, opposite self service points;

Sainsbury’s Local, Devonshire Road, in main entrance;

The Hastings Centre, The Ridge, in main entrance;
Nat West Bank, Havelock Road, in main entrance;
Nationwide Building Society, in main entrances to 40 London Road, 395 Old London Road, and 15 Wellington Place.

Any of us could need help at some time, many thanks for donations!

Hastings Foodbank 7 Years!

I nearly missed this, but Hastings Foodbank announced yesterday that it was 7 years ago when they opened and, since the 17th of April 2012, they have dealt with 17,030 referrals and provided the equivalent of 370,773 meals!  

Now, I wish to congratulate Hastings Foodbank, and the people and businesses of Hastings that have contributed towards this outstanding feat, but also to condemn the Government of one of the richest countries in the world that has allowed the need for foodbanks to exist...

Shame on the Government and the 9 years of austerity measures it introduced!

If you would like to contribute to Hastings Foodbank see this blog.

Hastings Foodbank Thanks!

Following their appeal, as I described in my blog last week, Hastings Foodbank, on its facebook page, has expressed its thanks to all the people who had urgently donated food supplies to them, notably the "two generous individuals" who provided the large donations in the photographs above and below!

The people of Hastings are amazingly generous indeed, many thanks to all!

Hastings Foodbank - Urgently Required Foodstuffs!

The Hastings Foodbank, which receives support from the The Trussell Trust (website), has issued an urgent request for tinned meat and fish, long-life milk, tinned vegetables and pasta sauce, which they have run out of. 

The Foodbank provides emergency food and support to people in crisis, and is part of a nationwide network of foodbanks that work to combat hunger and poverty. An increasing number of people have to resort to emergency assistance from foodbanks, even people in work, and consequently emergency food stocks deplete very quickly! Indeed, over 90% of the food they distribute is donated by members of the public. Usual requirements in Hastings include tinned meat and fish, tinned tomatoes, spaghetti and vegetables, tinned custard and rice pudding, pasta sauce, and teabags 40s and 80s packs; go to the Hastings Foodbank website for more details of requirements and donor sites, which are at: 

Community Contact Centre, Hastings Town Hall, Queens Road TN34 1TL; 
Tourist Information Centre, Breeds Place TN34 3AA;

Tesco Extra, Church Wood Drive, St. Leonards TN38 9RB, front of store near exits;

Sainsbury’s, Station Approach, Hastings TN34 1BA, next to restaurant;

Asda, opposite self service points;

Tesco Express, Havelock Road, opposite self service points;

Sainsbury’s Local, Devonshire Road, in main entrance;

The Hastings Centre, The Ridge, in main entrance.

Any of us could need help at some time, many thanks for donations!

Hastings Foodbank: "Many thanks!"

Hastings Foodbank has published a 'thank you' message (facebook) to all those good enough to donate to them this month: "We've been overwhelmed by your generosity towards local people facing crisis situations." They continue to report that from today their volunteers will be taking 2 weeks off, consequently, there will be no more donations collected during that time, however, please "donate again in January if you can" as they will very likely remain busy in the New Year due to cold weather. 

They end with "Merry Christmas - we hope you have a joyful, peaceful one!"

And many thanks to Hastings Foodbank and you too, for helping local people who require help to feed themselves and their families, often even when they are working! 

Hastings Soup Kitchens and Workhouses...

Having recently written about Hastings Foodbank (blog) and the Snowflake Winter Night Shelter (blog) I then thought about similar facilities for poorer people in Hastings over 100 years ago, how can things still be so desperate, haven't we developed as a caring nation, the 5th/6th richest country in the World?!? For example, this shop in Queens Road (above) used to be a soup kitchen, as shown in a photograph of this building taken in 1909 that is in the Hastings Edition of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, Robert Tressell (Wordsworth Editions, 2014).

And the building that was the Hastings Old Town Workhouse is still in George Street (Hastings Chronicle), also with a rather nicer usage now!

Since 1909 Britain has fought in 2 World Wars and many others around the world, however, in 1945 Britain adopted the fight against the "5 Evils" described by Beveridge, and there should thus be freedom from "Want, Disease, Ignorance, Squalor and Idleness."* The Attlee Labour governments began that fight against the 5 evils despite Britain being in considerable debt following World War 2. The NHS was created, Full Employment was a target, the Education system became improved and available to children and young adults of all classes, Unemployment, Sickness and Welfare Benefits and Pensions were improved, and a great wave of building decent homes for the public was started, indeed, the number of council houses built was surpassed by Conservative governments during the 1950s. By the early 1960s there was virtual full employment, even in the late 1970s you could walk into a job which was offered to you on the spot.

How did we allow the return of the evils, poverty and homelessness continuing to worsen despite Britain being a much richer country now than it was in 1945? Hastings is the 7th worst town in the country for unemployment (nomis). Life expectancy in Britain is lower than in other developed countries and has stopped rising, indeed, lowered in some areas of the country (BBC). Furthermore, fear of the USA helping to further privatise the NHS as part of a trade deal when we leave the EU, this may well increase the influence of the evil of Disease.

Makes me feel rather sad, and angry!


* Derek Fraser, The Evolution of the British Welfare State, Macmillan 2nd edition 1984.

Hastings Foodbank

Last Friday (7th December), the Hastings Foodbank, which receives support from the The Trussell Trust (website), gave out 1800 meals in just 2 hours, ie 1.2 tonnes of food! The Foodbank provides emergency food and support to people in crisis, and is part of a nationwide network of foodbanks that work to combat hunger and poverty. As can be seen, an increasing number of people have to resort to emergency assistance from foodbanks, even people in work, and consequently emergency food stocks deplete very quickly! Indeed, over 90% of the food they distribute is donated by members of the public. Currently, urgent requirements in Hastings include tinned meat and fish, tinned tomatoes, spaghetti and vegetables, tinned custard and rice pudding, pasta sauce, and teabags 40s and 80s packs; go to the Hastings Foodbank website for more details of requirements and donor sites, which are at: 

Community Contact Centre, Hastings Town Hall, Queens Road TN34 1TL;
Tourist Information Centre, Breeds Place TN34 3AA;

Tesco Extra, Church Wood Drive, St. Leonards TN38 9RB, front of store near exits;

Sainsbury’s, Station Approach, Hastings TN34 1BA, next to restaurant;

Asda, opposite self service points;

Tesco Express, Havelock Road, opposite self service points;

Sainsbury’s Local, Devonshire Road, in main entrance;

The Hastings Centre, The Ridge, in main entrance.

Any of us could need help at some time, many thanks for donations!

Political, but has to be said following our MP's comments!

I can understand that Amber Rudd is happy to be back in the Cabinet after having resigned as Home Secretary following the Windrush scandal, but maybe, just maybe, she shouldn't be so ready to accept a policy as so "fantastic" that she had no part in creating. Indeed, though she did say Universal Credit has been so good for Hastings people, transforming lives, she couldn't deny that there has been an enormous rise in people in Hastings (including workers, such as nurses) having to use Hastings Foodbank (Daily Mail). Come on Amber, you did nothing to help the Hastings Fishing Industry, please now try and help your Hastings constituents who are in relative poverty, and make up for not using your Cabinet influence for local good in the past!

If you would like to contribute towards Hastings Foodbank, please go to their website or their facebook page...

Hastings Foodbank Closed Good Friday.

Hastings Foodbank, up at The Hastings Centre on The Ridge, will be closed tomorrow, Good Friday (30th March 2018), and will reopen on Tuesday 3rd of April, 11.30-1.30 pm: Regular opening times 11.30-1.30 pm Tuesdays and Fridays. 

See their website for more information about Hastings Foodbank.

More Hastings Generosity Acknowledged!

Again, from Hastings Foodbank facebook page: "We're so grateful to everyone who has donated food in this last few weeks, from (among others) pupils at Saxon Mount and St Leonards C of E, to staff at Hastings Borough Council and Natwest Hastings, to customers at Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda. There are many people who will find Christmas a lot easier because of your generosity. Thank you."

Hastings Foodbank thanks!

Further to my recent blog about the Foodbank in Hastings, from them:

"Good News! Thanks to the wonderfully generous people of Hastings and St. Leonard's, we were able to raise an incredible 3.3 tonne of food during our recent collection at Tesco Extra.

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to donate, to Tesco who will top up the total by 20% and, to the volunteers from Emmaus, Optivo, Marshall Tufflex, the Foodbank and others who collected and sorted all the food ready to give out. Good job everyone. Your donations will help us make a big difference to so many this Christmas."

Hastings Foodbank: Donations Urgently Required!

The Hastings Foodbank, which receives support from the The Trussell Trust (website), provides emergency food and support to people in crisis, and is part of a nationwide network of foodbanks that work to combat hunger and poverty. An increasing number of people have to resort to emergency assistance from foodbanks, even people in work, consequently emergency food stocks are depleting very quickly! Requirements in Hastings include tinned fruit, meat, fish, tomatoes and vegetables, UHT milk, fruit juice, pasta sauce, and biscuits, tea and coffee; go to the Hastings Foodbank website for more details of requirements and donor sites, which are at: 

Tesco Extra, Church Wood Drive, St. Leonards TN38 9RB, front of store near exits;

Sainsbury’s, Station Approach, Hastings TN34 1BA;

Asda, Opposite self service points;

Tesco Express, Havelock Road, Opposite self service points;

Sainsbury’s Local, Devonshire Road, In main entrance;

The Hastings Centre, The Ridge, In reception.

Any of us could need help at some time, many thanks for donations!