About Us
Formed in March 2020, our team bring people together from all walks of life to help support the Hastings community
WHO WE ARE
WHAT WE DO
WHO WE WORK WITH
A SNIPPET OF HISTORY : HEART YEAR ONE
Spent over 1000 hours transporting keyworkers to and from shifts at NHS hospitals free of charge
Delivered, in conjunction with external agencies, thousands of volunteers tasks to ensure 4000+ of the town’s most vulnerable citizens received food, medicines, practical help, guidance and other support.
Who we are
“I’ve met a whole range of different people across Hastings, both those I was able to support and my fellow volunteers. When people are left struggling, I’ve taken heart from the kindness and pragmatic action of people here.”
+ Our Volunteers
We have a network of over 1000 volunteers and a wider group of some 3000 supporters on our Facebook Group.
Our volunteers come from all walks of life including healthcare professionals, business people, fundraisers, community workers, artists and students – a diverse spectrum of caring people all wanting to do what they can to help their neighbours.
+ Mutual Aid
What is Mutual Aid?
A mutual aid group is a volunteer lead initiative where groups of people join together to support one another, meeting vital community needs without the help of official bodies.
They do so in a way that prioritises those who are most vulnerable or otherwise unable to access help through regular channels.
Mutual is about people coming together, in a spirit of solidarity, to support and look out for one another.
** Find out more about Mutual Aid groups here **
+ Our Constitution
HEART is a registered charity and the Mutual Aid Network for Hastings & St.Leonards - Charity No 1201825
+ Our Policies
HEART is an equal opportunities organisation. As well as volunteers being given guidelines about safeguarding, confidentiality and boundaries, we also have a separate safeguarding policy.
HEART Equal Oppportunities Policy
HEART Safeguarding Policy
Meet the Team
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Kim
CO-FOUNDER
“The energy and compassion of volunteers at HEART is both exciting and inspiring”
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Alastair
CO-FOUNDER
“I have a fundamental belief in the power of communities to come together to support those most in need”
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Liz
TECH AND SYSTEMS
After living in France, growing a ski transfer business and running a small consultancy company Liz uses these skills at HEART
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Maria
INFO HUB MANAGER
“I am delighted to be a part of a great team making a positive change in the local community”
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Laura
VOLUNTEER NETWORK MANAGER
What we do
We connect and support the Hastings community using our cohort of volunteers with one-off practical tasks
We offer a face-to-face information-giving service through our Info Hub that also tackles digital exclusion and social isolation
We collaborate with other organisations to provide a holistic, functional and responsive service aiming to give the best outcomes for our beneficiaries
Who we work with
HEART works with many organisation and charities around the town.
We are proud to be part of the Community Response Hub that was created at the beginning of the pandemic to offer a united response to Coronavirus.
The Hub meets fortnightly to sustain this holistic approach to supporting Hastings’ community as more challenges come our way
Here are some of the organisations we work with
