Veterans' hub receives cash boost for development of Hastings centre
A veterans' hub has received a cash boost towards further development of its community centre in Hastings.
East Sussex Veterans’ Hub was handed the £1,500 donation from the Barratt Redrow Foundation charity.
The hub supports veterans, their families and carers with practical and wellbeing needs, providing advice on housing, healthcare, welfare and resettlement, alongside wellbeing sessions and opportunities to connect with others.
A spokesperson for the Barratt Redrow Foundation said: “The donation will contribute towards the charity’s plans to transform its existing premises into a more comprehensive support centre. This includes converting office space into 14 apartments, creating dedicated counselling and activities rooms, and developing its community café.
“The expansion will give the hub more space to provide support under one roof, from practical advice and one-to-one counselling to social activities and informal opportunities for veterans to meet. The new accommodation will also create a further resource for veterans who need somewhere to stay while accessing support.”
The hub also contains facilities including a flight simulator built by former Royal Engineer and First Gulf War veteran Paul Peters. The simulator provides a recreational activity for veterans, with Paul also training members to use it and organising further fundraising for the community.
Bernard Stonestreet, chief executive officer at East Sussex Veterans Hub, said: “The donation from The Barratt Redrow Foundation comes at an important time for the hub as we develop our centre.
“Creating additional accommodation and activity spaces which gives us more capacity to support veterans and their families, while our café provides a place where people can come in and find out what support is available.
“The contribution helps us take another step towards making the centre a place where veterans know they can turn to when they need support.”
Phil Hurring, marketing manager at Barratt Redrow Southern Counties, said: “The work of East Sussex Veterans Hub goes beyond providing advice, giving veterans and their families somewhere to meet people and access support when they need it.
“Being able to contribute to that next stage and support an organisation that has such a clear role within the local community is very important to us.”