There is an enclosed courtyard space at Jackson Hall that was out of bounds for many years, as it featured bricks with crumbling mortar, and a wall at risk of collapse.

In line with their corporate social responsibility commitments, a team from Balfour Beatty visited the Jackson Hall site to clear the overgrowth and repair the walls.

Since then, an alternative education provider that operates from Jackson Hall, Enjoycation, have brought the space back into use, and are turning it into a learning garden!

Team HVA are supporting the project as part of their staff volunteering hours, including painting the walls and carrying bucket after bucket of gravel into the space.

There is more work to come, but we are so pleased that these collaborative efforts have enabled us to bring the abandoned space back into use.

If you’d like to make a donation towards the Learning Garden, you can do so here.

We’re proud to be strengthening our partnership with East Sussex College Group to deliver new community food programmes across Hastings.

From Cooking on a Budget workshops to the new Broomgrove Bake Off, these courses are designed to help local adults build confidence, develop practical life skills, improve wellbeing, and explore pathways into further learning and employment.

The programmes are open to adults across the community, including those looking to gain new skills, meet new people, and learn in a supportive environment.

Read more HERE

Our Age-Friendly offer in Hastings continues to grow, touching on so many age-related themes, and we have lots coming up. Coffee mornings, reminiscence activities, cookery workshops, specialist info drop-ins and more! Get the dates in your diary, and join us for one of our vibrant sessions.

There is always room for new partners to join our monthly Ageing Network meetings, or to host activities with us at Central Hall. Get in touch!

HVA have a range of events and activities planned for Volunteers’ Week 2026, some in collaboration with our friends at Rother Voluntary Action. We’d love to see you!

Tuesday 2nd June: HVA are holding an organisation / volunteering information stand in Hastings Town Centre. If you are interested in being involved in some way please complete this short form.

Wednesday 3rd June, 3-6pm: HVA & RVA Volunteers Week Celebration Picnic
HVA & Rother Voluntary Action invite local groups, organisations and their volunteers to join us for a picnic at Ashburnham Place to celebrate Volunteers Week! For more details and to book yourself a place, visit Eventbrite.

And in the lead up to Volunteers’ Week the HVA crew will be doing a team volunteering activity. Watch this space for photos!