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!

It may be lonely this Christmas...

Every year Christmas and the days around it, and New Year, see an increase in loneliness, but this year, with the COVID-19 Crisis and the associated ever worsening legal restrictions on making contact with others, loneliness is very likely to become a major concern. But remember, and thankfully, the Samaritans provide a 24 hour service and can be called free on 116 123 and locally can be called on 0330 094 5717 (local call charges apply) or visited, opening hours can be found at the website.

Whatever, here's hoping things aren't so bad for most, if not all. Peace, best wishes and goodwill to all my readers and everyone living in Hastings and beyond!

Don't forget it may be lonely this Christmas...

Again, it is time to remember that, although many people will be celebrating over the coming days, some will not, many being lonely, stressed, and/or isolated, whilst people with long-term or acute mental health problems may lack essential support.

Here is a link providing 12 tips to help with loneliness this Christmas, and don't forget that thousands of Samaritans volunteers will be giving their time over this 'festive season' to listen to people with problems and to provide support (website). The national Samaritans Helpline can be called free on 0800 116123, and Hastings Samaritans are available on 01424 436666 (local charges).

Here's wishing for the people of Hastings and beyond to have an excellent time, but that those who need help and support receive that help and support.

So, Best Wishes and Peace to All, and with many thanks to those who help to keep us safe by working in the NHS and Emergency Services, to those working in other essential services, and to all the volunteers!