Our history

Hastings Voluntary Services split into two independent organisations: Hastings Age Concern & Old People’s Welfare, and Hastings Voluntary Action, led by Marie Casey, HVA’s first Co-ordinator.

To extend services for those with drug or alcohol issues HVA develop the Town’s local alcohol and drugs counselling services and latterly developed a recovery alliance to extend peer support.

HVA develop advocacy services to support the interest and rights of looked after children, those with mental health issues and disabilities. This developed into Advocacy Now one of the largest providers of advocacy services in the Country.

Hastings is declared as a dispersal area for asylum seekers and refugees. With partners HVA develop the Links project to offer a one stop shop to offer support, services and opportunities in a unique space.

HVA develop Hastings Community Network as a vehicle for the VCSE sector to run its own events consult effectively and be represented on key strategic bodies.

To promote philanthropy and open new grant opportunities for local organisations HVA acted as one of the founder trustees for the Sussex Community Foundation. Since its formation SCF have made grants worth £30m in support of 3,000 groups and organisations.

In 2011 HVA moved its office from Priory Street to Jackson Hall in Portland Place. This followed a £700,000 refurbishment funded by HM Government’s Cabinet Office, to refurbish the building, replace the roof, and install a lift.

Working with over 20 schools, HVA supports the development of a Charitable Educational Trust for the Town. The Education Futures Trust supports pupils practitioners and families and has developed The Firs site as an educational resource.

HVA started a 12 year Big Local programme in North East Hastings, where we involved and consulted with local residents to decide how £1 million was spent, via a Resident Led Partnership.

In conjunction with Hastings Borough Council HVA develop the Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) a successful, EU-funded initiative that invested £1.5m into local fishing projects to promote sustainability and economic growth. 18 projects were supported to strengthen the local fleet, including the “Hastings Fish” brand, a new ice maker, health projects and community education.

In collaboration with Hasting Borough Council HVA refurbish and create Jackson Hall as an Asset Transfer to offer accommodation, meeting and training spaces for community organisations.

To celebrate its 25th Anniversary HVA give 25 awards to 25 volunteers who have given 25 years service to Hastings.

As a response to the pandemic and subsequent lockdown, HVA develop with partners a local community response hub to support those in need. It is later cited as one of the strongest community led responses to the pandemic in the UK.

HVA undertake engagement with older people and obtain support from the local authority for Hastings to work towards the World Health Organisation status as an “age friendly community.

Working with over 100 organisations, HVA publish Facing the Future, an influential report capturing the learning from COVID 19 and identifying key strategic opportunities and challenges to inform future work.

Working with a local residents association and Age UK East Sussex, HVA support the purchase, refurbishment and reopening of the Isabel Blackman Centre – a local asset at risk of being closed and sold.

HVA commission the Institute of Volunteering Research to conduct the largest ever study of Volunteering in the Borough. Its report Volunteering Voices was an integral part of developing a local volunteering strategy.

Utilising a legacy donation HVA launch the Holistic Health project to help young people explore their own strategies to develop positive mental health and wellbeing.

HVA refurbish the Broomgrove Community Centre and offer community development support to enable local residents to access services and opportunities.

HVA work with local activists to become one of the 25 places in the UK to receive the Baton of Hope – the largest UK suicide prevention initiative. Further funding is obtained to create a permanent Community of Hope garden in Alexandra Park.