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Community Organisations Commended by the Town Mayor

Mayor's Press Releases

Photo of Cllr Paul Holbrook 

The Mayor of Hailsham has revealed how his time in the post since May 2019 has confirmed his belief that the town has a “great community spirit.”

Mayor Councillor Paul Holbrook referred to the various functions he has attended since being elected as Town Mayor and the opportunities to meet representatives from community groups and voluntary organisations in Hailsham.

“The community and voluntary sector play a significant role within Hailsham, fulfilling a broad range of requirements for the local community,” Councillor Holbrook said. “The benefits that come from a having such a vibrant community and voluntary sector creates a number of positives for the town by providing services to those in need, volunteering for those who need to develop their life skills, as well as providing the means for people to become involved in their community or simply leisure opportunities.

Throughout my near four years as Town Mayor, it has been an honour and privilege to be guest of honour at a number of civic engagements so ably organised by local voluntary and community organisations. From these engagements, I have learned that Hailsham has a great community spirit.

I am impressed by the work in the town by volunteers who help run these organisations and, having recognised and supported such organisations in the past wherever I can, I am certain that there are many unsung heroes upon who so much depends on the success of fundraising events and other vital work in the community.

Hailsham Lions, Hailsham Bonfire Society, Hailsham Choral Society, the Royal Air Forces Association and Royal British Legion Hailsham branches, Hailsham Foodbank, Hailsham Allotment Society, Sunflowers CIC and the Hailsham Festival Committee, to name just a few, work tirelessly to serve and promote our community and keep the profile of the town high, often without the recognition they deserve.

Of course, there are many other local community organisations worth mentioning. Firstly, Environment Hailsham which does so much to help make our town look beautiful. Taking pride in the town’s appearance is something which comes naturally to people in Hailsham and what better way to act on that by establishing and maintaining a fantastic array of floral planters, flower beds and hanging baskets which can be enjoyed by residents and visitors to the town.

As ever, the feedback Environment Hailsham has received from residents on social media in recent years has been terrific. The town council is committed to continuing its financial support to Environment Hailsham by way of grants, helping them to effectively maintain the wonderful floral displays each year.

Then there is Cuckmere Buses, a community, volunteer-run bus service which achieves an outstanding level of service year on year. It’s fantastic to see these supplementary bus services running, as additional transport links such as these are crucial for many people living in Hailsham and surrounding villages. The Town Council is delighted that this essential service continues to be well-used by residents, particularly the elderly, and the volunteer drivers must be commended for both their time and hard work put into running its fleet of vehicles.

Earlier this year, I officially opened a ‘Community Fridge’ facility based at the James West Community Centre, which aims to bring people together to stop food waste. Food is now available for those who need it as a result of the Pass It On (In Your Community) CIC project and I’m grateful for this important project, sharing surplus food within the community to reduce food waste going to landfill – open to all of course and differing from the vital role food banks play by offering a complementary provision.

Again, I wish to thank Hailsham Youth Service, for providing young people in Hailsham and the surrounding area with ample activities in a safe environment to help keep them occupied when not at school, and for the dedication and enthusiasm of the Service’s youth workers from the outset. For nearly 23 years, Hailsham Youth Service has improved the quality of life for local young people and such benefits have been achieved through the integrated provision of recreation, opportunities for personal and social development, information and advice.

The development of the youth service since its launch proves that there are ample opportunities for developing partnerships with other agencies to provide innovative work with individuals or groups of young people.

In closing, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank residents, my colleagues at the Town Council and everyone else for having faith in me to carry out the duty of Town Mayor and meet these wonderful community groups and volunteers. A lot can be achieved in our town and, as your mayor, I look forward to meeting such groups again during the remainder of my term.

Hailsham is a special place, and I will work hard to ensure that it remains so.”


Enquiries relating to this media release

Terry Hall, Communications Officer
Hailsham Town Council, Market Street, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 2AE
Telephone: 01323 841702 | Email: terry.hall@hailsham-tc.gov.uk