4.2 million investment in youth facilities in Hastings

I am so excited to be able to announce that Hastings Trust has been awarded over 4.2 million from the MyPlace programme. Please see the extract of the press release on the Big Lottery website:

The funding is the result of successful bids to the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ (DCSF) myplace programme, administered by the Big Fund (BIG), the non-lottery arm of the Big Lottery Fund.

In Hastings, a huge grant of over £4.2 million is awarded to Hastings Trust who will work with a number of other local organisations, including Hastings Youth Council, Hastings Borough Council, and East Sussex County Council, to deliver the Hastings Hub project. A town centre building will be refurbished to create a central place for young people in Hastings aged between 13 to 19 years old. At the Hub they will have their own live performance area, music studio and digital media workshop and will also be able to find practical support and advice on training and employment, sexual health and mental health issues.

Mel Bonney-Kane, Executive Director, Hastings Trust, said: “ We are delighted to be able to develop this exciting project with the young people of Hastings - it will create a fabulous resource to help our young people create their own opportunities which enable them to fulfil their greatest potential.”

The project will provide young people in Hastings with many new opportunities, encouraging them to learn new skills and also take on ownership and responsibility of the Hub as they will have a key role in designing and managing it themselves.


Today I had the pleasure of accompanying Billy Thompson (Chair) and Elissa Seddon (Vice-Chair) of the Hastings Youth Council to Hoxton Hall in Hackney for the press launch of the My Place programme.