Hastings is bursting with charities
The Charities Commission wrote to all new MPs telling them how many charities there were in their constituency.
We have 320. It has always seemed to me that Hastings and Rye is full of people who are generous with their time and money helping others less fortunate. So I wrote back and asked what the average was – 285.
So there you have it, we have over 10 per cent more than other less fortunate constituencies.
Last weekend I enjoyed several outings to help local communities raise funds and awareness for their causes. There was a fair at Christ Church in St Leonards, and a plant sale in Ore in support of the new Ore in Bloom initiative.
I joined the HRVAB (Hasting and Rother Voluntary Action for the Blind) on Saturday for the official opening of their new centre on Upper Maze Hill. This is an organisation I am particularly keen to support as my father has been blind for 30 years. I understand the needs that blind people have to support them to lead independent lives.
I was shown round by Andy Johnstone who gives generously of his time to support and supervise the centre. There was lunch, friendship and games outside to take a donation off visitors. I resisted petting a gorgeous labrador ( a working dog, not a pet), and saw round the centre that offers daily and residential places.
On Saturday evening I joined the Hastings Lions club for its annual celebration at the Phoenix centre. I heard about the local and national fund-raising and assistance that this club gives. I was particularly impressed by the local examples of helping people in hardship.
Retiring President Ian Mantel spoke movingly of his commitment to his community, how he loves Hastings and how important it is for him to give something back by being a Lion, and thereby helping others.
The area Lion President, who was attending, told us that David Cameron had called the national chairman to ask him to participate in the initiative to get views on how best to help and support communities.
He was impressed by this. And I am too. We have fantastic local and national charities in place – we need to learn from them to make our society more fair and better able to help those who can't help themselves.
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Weather for St Leonards-on-Sea
Monday 13 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 2 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
