Looking for funding for your organisation, group or partnership? Preparing a bid, exploring new income streams, or simply wondering where to start?

Caren has joined Hastings Voluntary Action (HVA) as our new Funding Advisor, offering friendly, practical and tailored support to voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations across Hastings.

Finding the right funding, developing strong applications and planning for the future can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. Through HVA’s Funding Advice Service, Caren can help you find funding that fits your organisation’s needs, strengthen your approach to fundraising and build greater financial resilience and sustainability.

Caren can support your organisation to:

• Get funder-ready
• Identify the right funding opportunities for your organisation and its needs
• Develop a purpose-led funding pipeline so you can plan ahead rather than respond to opportunities as they arise
• Improve your bid-writing, with practical guidance to help you develop stronger applications
• Explore new funding and income opportunities that could support your organisation’s ambitions
• Keep up to date with relevant local and national grants and funding opportunities.

Whether you’re preparing an upcoming application, looking to diversify your income, planning your future fundraising activity or simply need an experienced sounding board, Caren is here to help you take the next step with confidence.

Get in touch

Get in touch with Caren to talk through your funding and fundraising needs and find out how HVA can support you.

HVA’s AGM & Volunteer Awards will take place on Friday 6th November 2026 at Council Chamber, Muriel Matters House, Breeds Place, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3UY. Doors will open at 9.30am for a 10am start, and the event will finish at 12.30pm.

During the morning, you will:

– Hear an update on HVA’s work in 2025/26 and our future plans

– Network with other voluntary sector representatives and partners

In the second half of the event, we will celebrate the achievements of volunteers in Hastings in our Volunteer Awards presentation.

Please see links below to book your place and download the agenda and minutes from last year’s AGM and view our annual accounts.

We’re delighted to welcome Ness to HVA as our new Deputy CEO.

Ness is an experienced charity leader, campaigner and voluntary sector champion. Her previous roles include CEO of the national policy & campaigning charity CEASE (or Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation). Under her lead, CEASE became a credible force for change in Westminster on the exploitation driven by the online pornography industry.

Most recently she set up the employability programme Spear in Hastings, supporting NEET 16-24 year olds back into work, education or training.

Prior to moving to Hastings in 2024, Ness lived in South Wales for 14 years where she worked in the arts sector supporting neurodivergent performers showcase their talent and access paid work.

At HVA, Ness’s focus is strategic internal and external developments, managing team members, and supporting Steve in representing HVA among a variety of stakeholders.