Dozens of Hastings and Bexhill organisations given financial backing during pandemic

The Bexhill Community Bus was given 1,000 to help them install screens for the drivers and PPE for the users, enabling them to reinstate their service

Established as the country went into lockdown to stop the spread of the virus, the scheme offered suffered to charities within a 20-mile radius of Hastings Direct’s head office, in Collington Avenue, Bexhill.

The scheme was set up to help the most vulnerable in the community via food hamper provisions and through a community grant fund for local charities that colleagues would like the company to support.

Hastings Direct kicked it off with a £2,500 donation for each charity and its colleagues were invited to additionally donate as and where they could, along with any contributions from the public. The company matched contributions up to a further £2,500 for each charity.

Up to £40,000 was made available for any local charities that were helping communities with coronavirus-related projects and schemes.

Charities including 4x4 Sussex Response, Warming up the Homeless, the Sara Lee Trust, SASBAH, foodbanks, the NHS and healthcare services, animal charities, and charities supporting the vulnerable and elderly have all been able to benefit from the grants.

A total of £1,000 was also given to the Bexhill Community bus to help them install screens for the drivers and PPE for the users, enabling them to reinstate their service. The service is entirely operated by volunteers, and as a charity dependent on its passenger numbers, the last two and a half months have drained essential resources.

Hastings Direct said its catering team in Conquest House have prepared nearly 1,000 meals for Dom’s Food Mission to distribute to those in need in the community, over the last 15 weeks.

As well as helping charities in Bexhill, Hastings Direct has also helped charities in Leicester and those within a 20 mile radius of its city centre location there.

Toby van der Meer, Hastings Direct’s CEO said: “We’re proud to have supported many charities in Bexhill and our surrounding areas during the pandemic.

“Our grant scheme has supported foodbanks and charities helping the vulnerable and elderly, as well as donating to bigger projects, most recently with Warming Up The Homeless, enabling these good causes to continue their invaluable services in our local communities.”