Town Council Grant to Support Hailsham Community Land Trust’s Affordable Housing Work

The Town Council has awarded £500 to the Hailsham Community Land Trust (CLT), one of several local organisations receiving support through the Council’s 2026/27 Community Grants Scheme.

In total, £9,000 has been distributed to a variety of non-profit and voluntary groups working to improve the quality of life for Hailsham residents. The scheme provides vital financial assistance to organisations that depend on public donations, fundraising and volunteer efforts to deliver essential community services and initiatives.

Hailsham CLT plays a pivotal role in addressing local housing challenges by supporting the development of sustainable, low-carbon homes tailored to the needs of people living in the Hailsham parish area. The Trust’s mission is rooted in creating genuinely affordable housing options for local residents, particularly younger families and working-age individuals.

The Trust aims to construct or acquire a modest number of homes in line with its core objectives, which include:

• Offering affordable rental homes and options for shared equity, self-build, or self-finish;

• Supporting younger families and single people in need of accessible housing;

• Promoting energy-efficient homes with low carbon footprints and sustainable technologies to reduce long-term living costs.

The Mayor of Hailsham, Cllr Chris Bryant, said: “Access to suitable and affordable housing remains one of the most significant challenges facing many communities, and the work being undertaken by Hailsham Community Land Trust is a positive step towards addressing this issue at a local level.”

“The Town Council is pleased to support the Trust through its Community Grants Scheme. The organisation’s commitment to developing sustainable, affordable homes for local people reflects a long-term investment in the future of Hailsham and its residents.”

Delighted to have received grant funding from the Town Council, Trust Director Peter Lumsden said: “Hailsham Community Land Trust is again most grateful to Hailsham Town Council for their generous £500 grant from the 2026/27 Community Grants Scheme. Affordable housing is almost non existent in Hailsham at a time when the cost of living is higher than it has been for many years.”

“HCLT is committed to the trust’s stated aims detailed in this press release. The grant will help fund activities that help promote our goals and vision and demonstrate our determination to make a difference to people in Hailsham that have the greatest need for truly affordable housing.”

“The next meeting of the Directors of HCLT will take place on Thursday 30th July at 7pm at the White Hart Pub Function Room, Lower Horsebridge, and all are welcome. Our website and social media output will continue to promote our work and update on potential projects, moving forwards: https://www.hailshamclt.co.uk/. Our thanks again to Hailsham Town Council.”