This week...

Leader's video update

This week Kim discusses how we can all work together to reduce COVID-19 cases in Hastings, workforce grants from Active Hastings and much more.

Latest news

COVID-19 cases rising in Hastings - do your part to help keep each other safe.

Playing your part is more important now than ever to keep our town safe.

Remember, follow Government guidance and Hands. Face. Space

Avoid crowds and limit social contact

Tier 2 restrictions mean you cannot be indoors with people outside your household or bubble. Many shops have extended their opening hours so you can pick a less busy time to do your shopping

Consider your Christmas bubble carefully

The rules relax from 23-27 December allowing up to three households to mix indoors. It must be the same three households and you cannot be in more than one bubble. The virus spreads more easily indoors.

Self-isolate and book a test if you develop symptoms

Tests are readily availbale and you can have your results in 48 hours. To book a test go to nhs.uk/coronavirus

The length of time you need to self-isolate for will be changing from Monday 14 December. You will only have to isolate for 10 days, rather than 14. Details of this change can be found on the Government website.

Do you understand Tier 2 rules?

Meeting people

• You cannot meet people indoors unless you already live together.
• You can only meet up to 6 people outside.

Going away for the night

• Only with your bubble or household

Pubs and restaurants

• Alcohol only with a proper meal
• Indoors only with your household
• Outdoors up to six people.

Travelling around

• Avoid travelling to tier 3 areas (eg Kent) unless for work, education or for caring responsibilities.

Shops, personal care, libraries, gyms, venues and pools

• All open in tier 2

Service updates

Rough sleepers update

Outreach sessions for rough sleepers took place last week.  The average number of rough sleepers was 12.

We’re offering temporary accommodation to rough sleepers and will continue to do so during this winter, as well as offering support to find a longer term home.

If you’re concerned about someone who is rough sleeping let us know at https://www.streetlink.org.uk/

Our outreach sessions and counts are provided in partnership with the Seaview Project.

Report dog fouling via My Hastings

If you're out and about and see dog foul in our parks or across the town, then make sure to report it via My Hastings.

It's the quickest and easiest way to get it sorted.

Since it's now dark outside in the evenings, it may be a good idea bring a torch or use the torch on your phone when you take your dog out, so you can be aware of any nearby dog fouling.

Service changes for Christmas

We are currently putting together all the updates to our services over the Christmas period. We will have more information in next week's newsletter.

Stay safe, stay well

The Community Hub is here for you

If you don't have anyone to help you get the essentials as a result of COVID-19, the Hastings Community Hub is here to help.

The helpline is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 8.30am – 5pm, Wednesday 10am – 5pm and Friday 8.30am – 4.15pm. For urgent help call 01424 451019.

If your need is less urgent, then you can use the online form on our website.

Christmas opening hours

The Hastings Community Hub will close on 24 December at 3pm and will be only able to offer a limited service on 29 - 31 December between 10am and  3pm. 

It is important you have food and medicine provision for the Christmas period as we may be unable to help. 

Last date to order food parcels: Monday 21 December

Last date to order prescriptions: Wednesday 23 December

Please make sure you have plenty of food and medicine to last you until we reopen fully on 4 January or have alternative help to support you.

Improve your cyber security this festive period

Due to COVID-19, more people will be doing their festive shopping online this year.

You can go to the Government's Cyber Aware website to find advice and tips on how to improve your cyber security.

Community corner

Active Hastings workforce grants

This is a grant programme brought to you by Active Hastings in partnership with Active Sussex, for grants from £50 to £650.

The aim is to develop local sport and physical activity volunteers, coaches and instructors to enable them to support adults to become active.

Funding can be used to attend training:

• enable you to engage with more inactive participants at your current sessions
• to increase the number of coaches in your sports club by training more volunteers to level one, two or three.
• to qualify you to deliver a new activity.
• to qualify you to work with special populations, such as people with specific long term conditions or disabilities.

Apply to Safer St Leonards to improve the security of your home

If your home is within the shaded area marked on the map above, the Safer St Leonards project may be able to offer you a grant of up to £400 to increase the security of your property.

Funds will be made available those in the greatest need – and particularly focused on houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and properties with a history of burglaries and other thefts.

Register your interest by 18 December on the Safer St Leonards website.

East Sussex College free rail engineering course for jobseekers

Fast-track your way to a new career. Follow in the footsteps of current students with East Sussex College's rail engineering training.

The next programme starts in January in Hastings.

If you are unemployed and looking for new skills, email sussexskillssolutions@escg.ac.uk or contact your job coach for more details.

Eligibility: 19+, lived in the EU for 3 years, in receipt of Universal Credit or on a low wage.

Left to right: Cllr Ruby Cox, Cllr Maya Evans, Dee Spears and Mike Howard

Combe Valley stepping up

Cllr Maya Evans, lead member for the Natural Environment and Leisure and Cllr Ruby Cox, Chair of the Combe Valley Countryside Park board were joined by local residents Dee Spears, Secretary of the Bexleigh Hythe & Abbey Residents Association and Mike Howard to open the new footpath and steps into the Combe Valley Countryside Park.

The improvements are much needed at this popular area of the borough.

Meetings

Meetings this week...

• 16 December - Full Council at 6pm

Feedback

You said "show us you are looking at our feedback.", so here we are!

You said "perhaps a little more on some of the local businesses that are opening or closing", and "I do like the Shop Local bit, and maybe more of that sort of thing?" so we, in the next edition, added in links to Amazing Hastings and Love Hastings which have detailed information about local businesses.

You said "nothing about the homeless" so we started adding regular updates about homelessness in Hastings, what support we're offering over the winter, and how to let us know if you're worried about a rough sleeper.

Please keep sending us comments and ideas for improvements via our online feedback form, and we'll try to respond to as many as possible.

Please do not reply to this email as the email address is not monitored.