Get Hastings Reading

Our mission is the relief of poverty among the street homeless/rough sleepers and homeless through the provision of items to support basic needs such as sleeping bags, ground sheets, survival sheets, blankets, clothing, food and toiletries. We also aim to improve the individual’s welfare through our welfare and advocacy team.We endeavour to prevent harm to health by referring to emergency and similar services as and when necessary throughout Hastings, Bexhill, St. Leonards, Eastbourne and Lewes. We provide a satellite food bank delivering in excess of 200 food bags a week to rough sleepers and the vulnerably housed homeless. We also have a baby bank and a Vegan bank plus our Homestart scheme, set up to provide those in emergency and temporary accommodation who often have nothing, not even a kettle. We provide these items. We work closely with our local Women's refuges and emergency accommodation hostels and provide books and toys to the children.

Hastings and Rother YMCA, awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service 2022, one of only 244 nation wide, is a small local registered charity which provides a welcoming and safe environment for children, young people and their families. This is delivered using a wide range of sporting, leisure and creative services at our purpose-built site, the Y Centre, at St Leonards on Sea. We encourage, support and challenge young people to become all that they can. One of our missions is to promote healthy living and well-being. We accomplish this through our community and sport sessions and educational programmes. The Centre offers extended opening hours, from 09:00 - 21:00 weekdays and Saturdays and from 12:00 till 19:00 on Sundays and serves an average of 500 to 800 people each week. We are a Volunteer lead organisation run by a Voluntary Manager and 7 Trustees. We have a small staff team of young people and many Junior Volunteers who help run sessional work.