Hastings Commons supports a dynamic programme of activities, which are inspired and led by different communities in Hastings and are integral to the Commons model of community development. The programme works with young people, creative technologies, heritage and combinations of these, creating mechanisms for thinking forward and community innovation through refining authentic co-creation techniques.
Youth Commons
This is a youth led initiative.
We support:
- A term time programme of evening sessions for 11- 18 year olds offering free food and activities and a third space which isn’t school or home and is supported by youth workers, which opened in September 24
- Inspirational trips during school holidays
- OB Sounds, youth programmed music events platforming local young musicians into employment in the creative industries for 13 - 17 year olds
- Industrial placements for school children and college students and paid 6 month training positions
- Youth worker training opportunities
- Opportunities to develop leadership skills and consult on projects at Hastings Commons
Key Impacts to Date
- 4196 instances of contact with young people
- 241 unique youth club participants, 80+ average each week
- Who comes to the youth club (March ’24 snapshot)
- 60% are from ‘deprived’ parts of Hastings
- 22% live with disability /chronic illness
- 65% are neurodivergent
- 409 hot meals were provided
- 4 youth workers have been trained in Level 1 youth work & Level 3 youth work
- 5 young people given work experience at The Youth Club
Key Impacts to Date:
- 201 engagements with young people
- 3,028 human to tech connections since Autumn 2022
- 18 young people undertook work experience at OBX in the last 12 months
- 3 different tech related meetups are held on a monthly basis
- 16 tech workshops were delivered in the last 6 months
- 3 large scale intergenerational collaborative projects were exhibited publicly in 2024
OBX
OBX, the Creative Technology Hub at Hastings Commons, is based on the Mezzanine floor in the Observer Building. We provide community access to emergent technologies including 3D Printing, A.I., Gaming, Virtual Reality & Projection Mapping. OBX works with young people, community groups, artists and technologists to run workshops, training programmes, talks, exhibitions, arts projects and networking events. OBX provides pathways into creative and technical employment for young people and supports creative enterprise working in Hastings.
Hastings Commons and Heritage
Hastings is an historic town with a unique place in our national story. Hasting's rich heritage can be seen in its buildings and preserved in the intangible heritage of its communities.
- Hastings Commons led the Trinity Triangle Heritage Action Zone Programme, part of which included people connecting with heritage through musicals, films, projection mapping and gaming, creating spaces for intergenerational working and community led innovation practices.
- Hastings Commons is supporting the development of a community led heritage strategy and action plan for the heritage along the borough's coastal strip
- Hastings Commons is one of 19 Architectural Heritage Fund's Heritage Development Trusts. All of the HDTs are involved in retrofitting heritage buildings. Hastings Commons is an HDT mentor on this programme.
Key Impacts to Date:
- 24 historic buildings and heritage assets repaired or conserved
- 2 historic shopfronts restored
- 2,177sqm vacant or underused floorspace brought back into use
- 13 cultural heritage projects coordinated or led by HC
- 17 cultural heritage projects funded and supported by HC
- 1 experimental community maintenance project ‘Maintenance Club’ launched
- 1 Heritage Forum launched (ongoing)
Alley Way Learning Project
The Alley Way Learning Programme is a new community learning project by Hastings Commons. The programme makes learning accessible and inclusive for local communities and people from marginalised backgrounds. We take learning out of traditional educational environments and create learning spaces that empower people with new skills, builds a supportive community network, and cultivates confidence in local communities who are hard to reach.
The Common Room
The Common Room first opened as a Public Living Room in September 2021. Public Living Rooms are warm welcoming places where people can sit and have a cup of tea, have a chat, play a game or sit and dream. Our public living room started on the streets of the new town in Hastings and attracted 3141 different visitors in the last 2 years. It also hosts community groups outside of its regular open hours, such as the Mother and Baby group supported by Xtrax. Usually the Common Room is based in Eagle House, whilst Eagle House is being renovated you can find the Common Room at 10 Claremont.
Key Impacts to Date:
- 12,200+ visits by the time Eagle House closed in April 24
- 3,200+ unique visitors by the time Eagle House closed in April 24
- The Common Room is supported by a group of Anchors, aged 30 - 90, who help provide a welcoming space to community
- Open for 600 days between September 21 and April 24
- The Common Room has provided 2,400 hours of warm space for the public
Heritage Action Zone
The Trinity Triangle High Street Heritage Action Zone is a four year regeneration programme supported by Historic England to breathe new life into a historic part of Hastings town centre: the Trinity Triangle and America Ground. The High Street Heritage Action Zone will see a drive to bring empty and run down historic buildings back to life to provide housing, workspaces, a gallery and shops that are affordable for residents and business owners.