Ingenuity is the preserve of fetes and flower shows

Schools, charities, villages and local organisations are all hosting summer festivities not just to raise money for their particular projects, but also to bring together volunteers, staff and sometimes clients in their shared endeavour.

There is always an effort to innovate. When I was Treasurer of my local church I introduced “guess the weight of the vicar”. The joke was always to guess how much more he weighed each year.

This year, I am looking for particularly interesting jams. At Three Oaks last week I picked up some grapefruit marmalade (simple) but also some more exotic pineapple, orange and coconut, which I am told will be good with cheese.

How creative and motivated our neighbours are in their efforts to raise funds for projects! I do enjoy a bit of light violence – throwing the balls against the old crockery is always fun, and I won a small prize throwing balls against beer cans at Mulberry House in St Leonards, who look after severely disabled.

It is always striking how much the events are staffed by families. At Mulberry House Ann Osbourne (whose son Jason attends Mulberry House) introduced me to her grand-daughters who were helping at the tombola. It is important that young people learn early about helping in their community, about the satisfaction that comes with helping out, and about their own abilities to fund-raise or just smile and help out at a stall.

Because our young sometimes get a hard time, despite the efforts of many of them to contribute actively and enthusiastically to local projects. Some young people can get the “social action” point through role models such as within their own families. Others learn it at school. And some will learn it through the National Citizenship Service which is being introduced on a voluntary basis throughout the UK. This year the Rye Studio 6th Form will be starting with a week long residential course as part of the Citizenship service, and I gather they are looking forward to it.

Finally, I am delighted that we have more good news for job creation in Hastings. The Government’s Regional Growth Fund has awarded £2m for the Hastings Borough Council bid, focused on building jobs through supporting companies in the creative industry. It would be nice to think that our efforts to be the City of Culture helped to secure that success. An unintended consequence working unusually towards a really positive outcome!