Havens Community Hub via its work with the Hillcrest Community Centre, Havens Food Cooperative and Havens Connections Cafe has found itself doing what it does best. Responding rapidly to emerging unmet community needs.

To cut a long story short, there has been a rapid increase in homelessness in the Havens and we are trying to help in an impactful partnership between statutory agencies, local authorities and other charities and groups like ourselves.

We would like to offer a massive thanks to everyone who has offered support and donated items for the homeless or insecurely housed people we are currently trying to help locally.

It is a very complicated issue but something that we needed to address.

Our wonderful community can send items for us to use, if you would like to or are able, by looking at the list.

The community has sent many items from our wish-list to help us bridge the gap between local authority support for rough sleepers / insecurely housed, or vulnerable people, or donated bedding and other essential items.

We have no more room for donated items (clothes/bedding) but items from the Amazon list are still very welcome.

Many people donated anonymously with lovely wishes and words of encouragement.

We are working really hard, in partnership with local authorities and other non-profit organisations, to make a difference locally.

THANK YOU

https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/KZCE94G5LNRE/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2

Why not visit our Community Café today and sample some delicious treats homemade by our wonderful volunteers.

Cameron has made his super yummy World Famous (if it’s not it should be) Salted Caramel Flapjacks.

If you’re quick you could also get your hands on Angelique’s outstanding Red Onion and Mature Cheddar Cheese Scones.

At just £2 each, you may even want to take a treat home with you.

We are open Monday to Friday 9-15am - 3pm.

#communitycafe #homecooking #volunteer

We’re delighted to welcome Alison to our café team!

Having recently retired, Alison wanted to give something back to the community, and we’re so grateful she’s joined our volunteer team.

Today she’s been busy in the kitchen, baking this delicious chocolate & orange cake made using surplus ingredients. A perfect example of how surplus food can be turned into something wonderful.

£2.50 a slice, add ice cream or custard for extra sweetness!!

Our Winter edition of Havens Happenings online newsletter is out!

Read all about the latest developments of our community projects: Havens Food Cooperative & Havens Connections Cafe and our legacy charities: Havens Community Cars CIO & Havens Happy Clubs!

View Here:

https://preview.mailerlite.io/.../761012/175229231100331402

Don't forget to subscribe to receive our online news updates quarterly, using the sign up box on our website!

#communitynewsletter #havenscommunityhub #communityprojects #findawaymakeaway

Friday 12th December, Reporters from ITV visited Havens Connections Café, a project of Havens Community Hub to talk about the services the Café has to offer- affordable food and comfort for locals. The Café both acts as a space where people can access a free hot meal, as well as a place where people can connect with others and access information about further services. The service is busier than ever as a result of the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Havens Food Cooperative are delighted to announce that a new pop up pantry is now available in Peacehaven, East Sussex on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s, 9:30am- 2pm, at Kempton House Day Centre, Cavell Avenue, Peacehaven, Sussex, BN10 7NJ.

Pop along and collect some surplus food and make a donation if you can!

This winter the Lewes District Food Partnership is raising funds for local community food projects, including Havens Food Cooperative's Community Pantry, Newhaven Baptist Church Food Bank, Seahaven Community Food Community Supermarkets, and more amazing local food support projects!

To help us tackle food insecurity please donate if you are able, Lewes District Council is providing matched funding of up to £5000 which means -

Your £10 donation is doubled to £20

Your £25 donation is doubled to £50

Your £50 donation is doubled to £100!

Donate here:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-local-emergency-food-projects-this-winter?fbclid=IwY2xjawOdFtBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFoR25CZTU3a2tmMWJBTDRhc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHuy-lgbf7vE5ScRMULg6r3UjIaGY_Q39KxOSlDvDk_fyhexWdeHRrBYiTeHt_aem_Ot2n-OsrBXU0xsu9n9i98A

Thank you for your support!

#winterfundraiser #communityfoodsupport #lewesdistrictfoodpartnership

This winter school holiday break Havens Community Hub are running a Pizza and Pottery session for 11-15 year olds on 22nd December in Havens Connections Cafe.

Fully funded places are available for young people eligible for benefits-related free school meals.

To find out more and book visit: https://eequ.org/book/pottery-and-pizza-with-havens-community-hub-22482?fbclid=IwY2xjawOdFhVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEexodGgd1WAVOUvZqJuWl00u-Ka13oifTWarC_DW6CHivzuRgIn98FHx2iRh4_aem_b2C1kzuAtp_QQ0cKs1b6Cg

#HAF #kidsactivities #schoolholidays #communitysupport

The Big Give Christmas Challenge has officially begun!

From 2nd- 9th December every donation you make to Havens Community Cars will be DOUBLED, helping us provide lifeline community transport for older people, disabled residents, and those isolated in our local area.

Every £10 becomes £20. Every £25 becomes £50. Anything you are able to support our charity with is hugely appreciated!

Help us reach more people who have no other way to get to medical appointments, shopping, social groups, or community activities.

Donate here: https://bit.ly/HavensCommunityCars

#BigGive2025 #ChristmasChallenge #HavensCommunityCars #GiveLocal #SupportCommunity #CommunityTransport #EveryJourneyMatters

Our volunteer Emma Scorgie; Utility Warehouse authorised partner has teamed up with Havens Connections Café to host a special ‘Bills Clinic’ coffee morning, at our café on Tuesday 18th November from 10am - 12pm.

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t understand your energy bills, unsure if you’re on a good deal for broadband, or wondering if there is a cheaper SIM deal out there, this is the perfect opportunity for finding out.

Emma will answer any questions you have about your utility bills, run through the Utility Warehouse option and provide a no obligation quote for you, all FREE of charge.

The best bit; if you decide that switching to Utility Warehouse is the best option for you, Havens Community Hub can receive a donation up to £125.

So, come along, meet Emma, have a chat and have some tea/coffee & cake on us.

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.

https://www.madtheatre.org/

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 :