Changed forever… the new normal needs a new charter on equality

Tempers frayed and voices were raised in Hastings Borough Council’s (HBC) virtual council chamber last night. The issue under discussion was a motion from Councillor Judy Rogers, she told the council: “Hastings has a long tradition of welcoming people from a range of diverse backgrounds and celebrating difference, something which we all should be proud […]

Uplifting, happy, humorous, dramatic and ALL in a good cause

There’s a very special concert being staged at The Stables Theatre later this month called Far from the Home I Love featuring internationally renowned pianist Margaret Fingerhut. Described by Gramophone magazine as a pianist of ‘consummate skill and thrilling conviction’, she has a distinguished career which has taken her all over the world. She is particularly […]

Standing side by side – one Hastings many voices, mosque vigil is huge success

The vigil outside the mosque in St Leonards today attracted, at its peak, an estimated 350 local people. Having been moved by what she saw on television Jane Grimshaw was the driving force in getting the event off the ground under the auspices of Hastings Supports Refugees and Hastings and Rother Refugee Buddy Project The […]

Support for the victims of New Zealand attacks right here in our town

There will be a vigil outside the mosque in St Leonards this Friday for local people to show solidarity with the victims of the attacks in Christchurch in New Zealand at the end of last week. Dr Felicity Laurence of Hastings Community of Sanctuary says: “Hastings Supports Refugees and Hastings and Rother Refugee Buddy Project […]

‘The aim is simple… the aim is friendship

Report by Alex Kempton and Felicity Laurence, Hastings Community of Sanctuary Photographs by Andrew Grainger When Rossana Leal received her Woman of the Year award on the South Bank at the weekend a large group of her supporters from Hastings cheered rapturously and made their presence very evident!  Rossana received her award at the Women […]

International Women’s Day award for Hastings pioneer

Pioneering work with a Hastings based refugee project will bring one local woman international recognition and a United Nations (UN) Woman on the Move Award. Former Chilean refugee Rossana Leal was been recognised with the award given by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and Migrants Organise, at the WOW! Festival in London. The award has been […]

Sanctuary in Parliament – working for a fairer immigration policy

Representing Hastings Community of Sanctuary Alex Kempton and I attended the annual Sanctuary in Parliament event earlier this month and met our MP Amber Rudd to discuss the day’s theme – Towards a Fairer Asylum System, writes Dr Felicity Laurence. There were moving accounts from those within the asylum system, music from the Stories of Sanctuary choir, […]


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