Spring into action
Over February and March, there has been lots of positive community activity taking place. Through Battle for Change, I’ve supported the launch of a new Facebook page and created flyers to help raise awareness and encourage more residents to get involved. We also organised a local litter pick around the Coronation Gardens area, linking in with Battle Town Council’s wider efforts. It’s been really valuable spending time talking with local residents and hearing their ideas for improving the area—suggestions have included more benches, regular lawn mowing, better maintenance of dog bins, improved lighting, seating, and more equipment for teenagers. It’s encouraging that both the Town Mayor, Andrew Barton, and Southern Housing have taken an interest in the project and are keen to collaborate moving forward.
In Bexhill, we successfully organised and hosted a SEND networking lunch; bringing together local organisations and potential venues to explore opportunities for youth activities and accessible, face-to-face support. As part of this, the group created a video sharing the results of the recent schools questionnaire, capturing the experiences and needs of SEND families. This was shared at the event and received very positive feedback, helping to strengthen relationships and raise awareness of local services. The group is continuing this momentum with an upcoming meeting with the Lead Member for Education, Inclusion and SEND at ESCC to further highlight local needs.
We’ve also been pleased to welcome our second student from Glyne Gap College to begin a work experience placement at Pebsham Pantry. This has got off to a great start, thanks to the warm and supportive environment created by volunteers and customers.
Overall, this work is all about supporting local people to have a voice, make connections, and influence the decisions that affect their communities. By creating opportunities for residents to speak directly with organisations and decision makers, we can help ensure people feel heard, valued, and empowered to shape positive change where they live.
Jenni Barnes: Community Development Lead