Read more about our community projects: Havens Food Cooperative and Havens Connections Cafe, and Legacy charities: Havens Happy Clubs and Havens Community Cars!
Make this Christmas Season extra special with a delicious homemade festive meal at Havens Connections Café!
Choose from:
Traditional Christmas Meal – £24 per person (2 courses)
Roast turkey with all the trimmings, seasonal veggies, crispy roast potatoes, and a homemade dessert.
Festive Christmas Meal – £15 per person (2 courses)
A creative, sustainable twist on Christmas! Enjoy a surprise menu crafted from quality surplus ingredients from FareShare and local partners- delicious, hearty, and planet-friendly.
Dates available (12–3pm):
Thursday 4 December
Friday 5 December
Thursday 11 December
Friday 12 December
Thursday 18 December
Havens Connections Café, The Hillcrest Community Centre, Bay Vue Road, BN9 9LH
Book your table: havensconnectionscafe@gmail.com
Or pop in and see us in person!
Bring your loved ones, enjoy a festive meal, and help support our community café!
At Havens Community Hub, we believe that good food should never go to waste, and that’s exactly why our Havens Food Cooperative and Havens Connections Café work hand in hand.
Each week, our Havens Food Cooperative rescues surplus food from local supermarkets, suppliers, and community partners. Instead of this perfectly good food going to landfill, it’s given a second chance- sorted, shared, and used to make something truly delicious.
That’s where our talented café team at the Havens Connections Café come in! Using these rescued ingredients, they whip up homemade soups, hearty lunches, and yummy sweet treats to support the community!
It’s a beautiful cycle of sustainability, creativity, and community:
Food that might have gone to waste is rescued.
It’s transformed into nourishing meals.
Those meals support local people accessing food support
This month we have had plenty of seasonal surplus apples to get cooking with! Treats have been made including Apple Crumble, Apple Tart, Apple Cake and more!
Havens Community Hub has been nominated as one of the Co-op supported causes but we need your help!
We need you, as Co-op member to choose our cause on the Co-op app.
Follow the link below to choose us:
https://membership.coop.co.uk/causes/94696?fbclid=IwY2xjawNkc4tleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBIVHdXajhrV21nb1FoY2xXAR5NSj1F-4SJg0dlSTa5pPvWaAH4uLLbh4Zr-KkFV6GUFxmRFQE7zu3OObKUcA_aem_WR8hQbX94zF7C9wrxJZhJw
At Havens Connections Café, we’re not just serving up great coffee and delicious food- we’re serving opportunities!
Here are some photos from our recent training session, where several of our lovely volunteers learned to use new barista equipment
To keep things relaxed and creative, our Café Manager Julia also hosted some pottery painting, adding a splash of colour to the day and a chance to unwind between learning sessions.
Our amazing volunteers are at the heart of everything we do, and we’re proud to support them with free training and development, to support them in their roles including opportunities like:
Barista training
Food hygiene certification
Safeguarding training
… and more!
These skills don’t just help in the café- they build confidence, boost employability, and open new doors for the future.
If you’d like to volunteer, gain new skills, and be part of a supportive, welcoming team, get in touch today to apply!
havensconnectionscafe@gmail.com
#HavensConnectionsCafe #CommunityTraining #VolunteerWithUs #HavensCommunityHub #LearnAndGrow #LocalSupport
We were delighted to give practical advice and support to our friends from the Meeching Amateur Dramatics - M.A.D group yesterday.
Meeching Amateur Dramatic Society is a self-funded, community-based group that has been active since 1996, with roots going back to the Newhaven Amateur Dramatic Society of the 1970s. They produce three plays each year, offering a variety of genres to appeal to a broad audience across Newhaven and the wider Havens area.
Why not give their social media page a follow or contact them to take part? There is a wide variety of roles as well as performing on stage.
2nd – 9th December 2025
https://forms.gle/joVN52EBuNiY7VFH7
This Christmas, help keep our community moving!
From 2nd to 9th December, Havens Community Cars will be taking part in our Christmas Fundraising Challenge - raising vital funds to keep our volunteer drivers on the road, supporting local people who struggle to get to medical appointments, shops, or social activities.
Every donation, no matter the size, helps us continue providing affordable, friendly transport for those who need it most. It’s more than just a lift - it’s independence, connection, and community. Also, every donation made is matched funded, with the help of BigGive and pledges made by local community members, at no extra cost to you, doubling your donation and the impact for the community!
How you can help:
Sign up for a reminder to donate between 2nd–9th December - we will send you an email with the link when the fundraising starts!
Share our campaign with friends, family, and neighbours to spread the word.
Follow us on social media for updates and stories from our amazing volunteers and passengers.
Let’s make sure no one is left isolated this winter. Together, we can offer miles of community support!
The Havens Community Café has been busy turning surplus fruit and vegetables, rescued from the Havens Food Cooperative into delicious homemade jams and chutneys! Using ingredients that might otherwise go to waste, the café team has been busy in the kitchen, creating small batches of preserves bursting with flavour.
From spicy courgette and aubergine chutney to classic berry jam, each jar is made with care, creativity, and a commitment to sustainability. The homemade preserves are now available to purchase in the café, with all proceeds helping to support the Cafe's pay it forward scheme, that allows people to access meals and hot drinks for free.
“It’s all about making the most of what we have,” said Café manager Julia “By repurposing surplus produce, we’re cutting down on waste and offering something truly homemade for our customers to enjoy.”
Visit the Café Monday- Friday 10am-3pm to see our chutney and jam selection available.
To donate to the pay it forward scheme visit: https://localgiving.org/fundraising/payitforwardcafe?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR12MidoXas2ZEv6nhJoNpVvY_UJM_DvgeLR-fmsmbR7qr9tLQ0SZ19RAmI_aem_9x8k3wXtYO7Us2o5kFLR6w
The Havens Community Cars scheme has just reached an incredible milestone- our volunteer drivers have now travelled over 100,000 miles helping local residents get to vital appointments, shops, and social activities. That’s the equivalent of driving four times around the world!
Every mile represents more than just distance, it’s independence for an elderly neighbour, peace of mind for someone attending a medical appointment, and connection for those who might otherwise be isolated.
But as demand for our service continues to grow, we urgently need more volunteer drivers to help us keep our wheels turning.
Our volunteers tell us that joining the scheme is one of the most rewarding things they’ve ever done, offering friendly company, flexible hours, and the chance to make a real difference in our community.
If you have a car, a clean driving licence, and a few spare hours a week, you can help local people stay active, independent, and connected.
Let’s make the next 100,000 miles even more meaningful, join our volunteer team today to help offer miles of community support!
To find out more about volunteering contact: havenscommcar@gmail.com
To donate and support the Community Transport Scheme visit: https://localgiving.org/charity/havenscommunitycarscio
Together, we can keep our community moving.
Check out our latest newsletter featuring all the latest activities from our two projects Havens Connections Cafe and Havens Food Cooperative and Legacy Charities Havens Happy Clubs and Havens Community Cars CIO :
At Havens Food Cooperative, we believe in measuring our impact as well as making it. That’s why we’ve gathered and carefully analysed data from across our community to produce our 2025 Impact Report – a clear snapshot of how our work is supporting the community.
This report is built on real voices and real experiences. We listened to feedback from our members, visitors, and the wider public through surveys and conversations, turning their insights into powerful evidence of the change we’re creating together.
To read the report follow the link below:
Changes to our Pay It Forward Scheme - Starting 1st September 2025:
We’re making changes so we can support even more local people in need
From 1st September our Café will offer two daily “Pay As You Feel” sessions:
Breakfast: 9:15 – 10:15am
Lunch: 2:00 – 3:00pm
During these times, visitors in need can enjoy pay-as-you-feel meals, and even free meals, thanks to our Pay It Forward donations.
From 10:15am – 2:00pm, our usual affordable Community Café prices will apply.
Learn more about the Café: havenscommunityhub.co.uk/havens-connections-cafe
Donate to Pay It Forward: localgiving.org/fundraising/payitforwardcafe
#PayItForward #CommunityKindness #HavensCommunityHub #CommunityCafe
Legacy Project of the Havens Community Hub, Havens Community Cars are thrilled to be part of the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2025- one of the UK’s biggest match funding campaigns!
But they need YOUR help. To take part, they need to raise £1,000 in pledges from supporters by 29th August 2025. Each pledge must be £100 or more to qualify and pledges would be due for payment at the start of the campaign on 9th December 2025.
If they hit their target, the pledges will be doubled- thanks to the Big Give’s Champion match funding!
Are you an individual or a business that could pledge and help them continue driving support to those who need it most?
For more info get in touch with the team at: havenscommcar@gmail.com
or click the button below to make a pledge!
Representatives of the Hillcrest Community Centre, Havens Community Hub, Havens Community Cars, Havens Food Cooperative, and Havens Connections Café were delighted to welcome the new Chair of Lewes District Council, Councillor Paul Davies, to the Hillcrest Community Centre in Newhaven on Wednesday, 9th July 2025.
During his visit, Councillor Davies met with each group and saw first-hand the vital, frontline work being carried out. He expressed warm praise for the remarkable impact and dedication demonstrated by all, acknowledging the important role each plays in strengthening the local community.
“We are lucky to have such outstanding organisations in Newhaven,” said Councillor Davies. “The energy, collaboration, and compassion I have seen today are truly inspiring, and the positive difference made to people’s lives is evident.”
The visit highlighted the ongoing commitment of these groups to supporting residents and fostering community spirit throughout the district.
For more information about the Hillcrest Centre; https://www.hillcrestcentre.co.uk/
For more information about Havens Community Hub; https://www.havenscommunityhub.co.uk
Today some of the Havens Community Cars Team had lunch with retiring driver Roger Service and thanked him for his time volunteering with us.
Roger was our very first driver recruited back in 2020 and during his 5 years volunteering with us he has made an amazing 297 journeys totalling 6818 Miles! Roger has made an incredible impact to our community, supporting those who would otherwise struggle with accessing essential services.
Roger has shared some words about his time volunteering with us-
"It all started 5 years ago when I saw an advert for volunteer drivers to transport less fortunate people in Seahaven to medical appointments and community clubs-originally it was to also give an opportunity to get them out of the 4 walls of their houses to take a drive into the countryside.
My very first drive was to take a Ukrainian lady to the local GP Surgery – a lonely person in a strange country who needed help. Since then I have met many customers, some several times over and provided then not only with the ride but a friendly chat on the way. Why do I do it? - to help other people and make their life that much more comfortable - a tenet I have held high since joining the Scouting Association as a scrawny 8-year-old cub scout. The journeys are an opportunity to meet people who may spend most of their time housebound and are frustrated with their own inability to get out and about and meet others. To chat with them when maybe they see nobody else and have a laugh about what’s going on in the world and put a smile on their faces. They have become friends and always appreciate what we do for them."
We thank Roger greatly for his time volunteering.
Please do consider donating your time and volunteering with Havens Community Cars if you have a spare hour or two during the week. We are incredibly grateful to all our volunteer drivers, who make a difference to our community every single week.
To find out more contact- havenscommcar@gmail.com or 01273918226.
On the 8th July the No Name Productions team held their monthly variety show, featuring acts including magic, ventriloquism, burlesque and comedy to a packed audience. Running a bonkers raffle, with a cabbage as the top prize, to raise money for the Havens Food Cooperative.
We would like to say a huge thank you to Phil, Jonny and all the performers for choosing to support us.
You can catch their next show at the EMB Centre in Peacehaven on the 7th August. Be sure to come along and support live entertainment!
Havens Happy Clubs is one of the Havens Community Hubs Legacy Charities. The project provide weekly group sessions designed to improve mental wellbeing, reduce loneliness, and support individuals through creative activities, gentle exercise, peer support, and social interaction. The clubs create a sense of belonging that protects and enhances members' mental health over time. Havens Happy Clubs are particularly aimed at older generations, with a key focus on dementia support. They currently run three sessions each week in various locations across the Havens Coastal stretch, with each session offering an activity, time to socialise and a two-course meal.
As an extension of the project, the Havens Happy Clubs have now been donated a mini bus from the Seaford Lions Club, allowing them to offer transport support to their new and existing members, ensuring that the sessions remain accessible.
In an official handing over of the keys, Happy Clubs manager Michaela Twaits said "We are so delighted to have been gifted the minibus from the Seaford Lions Club. This means that some of our members can continue to be transported to and from the club as we have been doing since we opened. Havens Happy Clubs play a vital role for members of our community, most of whom are living with Dementia, which can lead to them feeling isolated and lonely. We can improve their mental health and well-being at Havens Happy Clubs giving them something to look forward to each week. So a huge thank you again Seaford Lions Club for allowing this to continue. "
What a Magical Evening!
On Thursday, June 26th, at 6pm, Julie's Art Of Noise hosted a Summer Concert in aid of the Havens Community Hub -and what a spectacular success it was!
Julie and her incredible ensemble of students delivered a vibrant performance that captivated everyone in attendance, showing of their spectacular singing skills learned through Julie's singing sessions!
But the magic of the night went far beyond the music. This concert was organized in support of Havens Community Hub, and thanks to everyone’s generosity, over £500 was raised to support the projects of the Hub including the Havens Connections Cafe, and Havens Food Cooperative.
A warm thank you to Julie & her students, for creating an unforgettable evening, and to those who attended and supported the event.
We have plenty of volunteering opportunities here at Havens Community Hub!
Whether you can offer an hour a week collecting food for Havens Food Cooperative, or spend some time in the Cafe creating delicious meals made from surplsu food supplies. We’d love to hear from you!
Contact us for more information on available roles:
Cafe- havensconnectionscafe@gmail.com
Food Project- havensfoodmanager@gmail.com
We want to take a moment to say an enormous THANK YOU to each and every one of our incredible volunteers on our two projects: Havens Food Cooperative and Havens Connections Cafe and our legacy projects Havens Community Cars CIO and Havens Happy Clubs
Whether you give your time every week or just when you can, your kindness, dedication, and hard work make a real difference. You are the heart of what we do- showing up with smiles, helping hands, and a spirit of community that inspires us all.
From behind-the-scenes support to front-line roles, we simply couldn’t do it without you. Thank you for being brilliant. We appreciate you more than words can say!
#VolunteerAppreciation #ThankYouVolunteers #CommunityChampions #Volunteersweek2025
