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Emergency Grants Awarded to Support People in Hailsham Affected by Covid-19

Council News & Services

Picture of 'Funding' fingerpost sign 

Hailsham Town Council is pleased to announce that at its online meeting of the Emergency Grants Panel held on Tuesday [19 April], it was agreed to award emergency funding to a number of charities and voluntary organisations which are supporting the community through the coronavirus pandemic.

Since the Government has introduced lockdown measures to combat the crisis brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, local groups and organisations have been established or developed to provide proactive help to sections of the community in need of help or support.

The Town Council identified considerable ‘underspend’ from the Council’s Communities Committee budget from the previous financial year that it was agreed should be used to support these organisations with emergency grants where needed. The Town Mayor and Chairman of the Council has also volunteered what remains of the Chairman’s allowance (£778.00) to add to the emergency grant fund.

Keen to support groups who are directly helping people to overcome the effects of Covid-19, the Town Council has awarded £8,185 grant funding to the following organisations:

NHS CARE PACKAGES (£500) – A small community organisation based in Hailsham made up of Hailsham Cricket Club players, working to source and deliver basic grocery packages to the NHS staff who live in the local area.

HAILSHAM FOODBANK (£2,500) – Hailsham Foodbank is still giving out emergency food parcels for all people who have a Foodbank voucher from a referral agency, and continues to do referrals online during the pandemic. The grant funding will enable the Foodbank to buy specific food items that they are running short of during the pandemic, fuel and transportation costs, and helping local schools with families who are being affected by the current situation.

CARE FOR THE CARERS (£1,000) – Care for the Carers is an independent charity which has been supporting and representing unpaid carers in East Sussex since 1989. Fudning will go towards essential infrastructure costs, telephone support training for counsellors, staff and volunteers and extra capacity including Support Worker time, and counselling hours.

SCDA COMMUNITY ALLOTMENT PROJECT (£1,000) – Sussex Community Development Association (SCDA) currently leases a community allotment in Battle Road, available to use for the Hailsham community. The project currently supports people who are feeling lonely and isolated directly as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic.

CRAFTY ANNIE’S HOME (£185) – A local Community Interest company providing crafting activities for children and parents. The grant will contribute towards the cost of setting up a website/virtual magazine providing activity kits for families and people who are feeling isolated during the coronavirus pandemic.

THE PUMPKIN PATCH (£500) – A local independent trader which has facilitated the supply of fabric and haberdashery to sewists volunteering for the NHS Angels project, which produces scrub bags and headbands for NHS staff and other keyworkers in the community. The funding will enable The Pumpkin Patch to continue to provide materials direct to the project at as close to cost price as possible, thus enabling optimum production of PPE items.

ST WILFRID’S HOSPICE EASTBOURNE (£2,500) – Funding provided to help towards the purchase of laptops for their Community Nursing Team. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic their community nurses are increasingly supporting Hailsham patients via video calls, as well as face-to-face time. The purchase of laptops will also enable nursing staff to access the most up-to-date patient information without having to enter the hospice building to use the computers, thereby lessening the risk of infection transfer to the Hospice’s community patients.

Furthermore, the Town Council had in recent weeks awarded a grant of £2,500 to Hailsham Crisis Support, a group managed by Sunflowers Mental Health & Well-Being CIC, which supports the vulnerable and elderly in Hailsham during this difficult time.

The panel decided to leave some underspend in case there is a need in the near future for additional emergency funding for coronavirus-related projects.

“We awarded emergency community grant funding to help support local charities, community groups and voluntary organisations who are actively supporting our most vulnerable residents during the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Town Mayor and Chairman of Hailsham Town Council, Cllr Paul Holbrook.

“In these difficult times, it is excellent news that the Town Council is in a position to be able to assist organisations financially in their endeavours to help our most vulnerable residents. It’s crucial that the local community works together and supports each other financially or by other means.”

“Many community organisations and voluntary groups in Hailsham have set up dedicated groups and channels during the COVID-19 outbreak which provide assistance to the vulnerable, elderly or disabled in the Hailsham area, whether it be mental health support, drop-off and pick-up services, food delivery or shopping.”

“I am extremely grateful to the local community and volunteers who are offering assistance to those who need it, and I am truly amazed by the response of you all to the public health emergency.”


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