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
Today, the dedicated volunteers of Havens Community Cars were honoured in a special celebration to mark their receipt of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service the highest honour a local voluntary group can receive in the UK (equivalent to an MBE).
The event was made even more special with the presence of the Vice Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Mr Graham Peters, Deputy Lieutenants Amanda Hamblin and Juliet Olsworth-Peter and the Mayor of Newhaven- Kim Bishop, who joined the team to recognise and celebrate the incredible impact the volunteers have on their local community.
The award highlights the commitment of the Havens Community Cars team, who give their time to support vulnerable and isolated residents across the Havens area by providing safe, friendly, and reliable transport to essential appointments and services.
“This award is a reflection of the care, compassion, and community spirit that our volunteers demonstrate every day,” said Paula Woolven Chair of Trustees for Havens Community Cars. “We are proud and deeply grateful for each and every one of them.”
For more information about Havens Community Cars and how to become a volunteer visit: https://www.havenscommunityhub.co.uk/communitycars
To make a donation to support the project, visit: https://localgiving.org/charity/havenscommunitycarscio
Do you have a passion for people, great food, and community spirit? Havens Connections Café is looking for a friendly, organised and motivated Assistant Manager to help us lead our welcoming, community-focused café in the heart of Newhaven.
This isn’t your average café job – it’s a chance to be part of something special. You’ll be supporting day-to-day operations, coordinating volunteers, and helping create a space where everyone feels welcome.
To apply please email dawnhavenshub@gmail.com for an application pack or collect a pack from the Café.
The much-loved comedy collective Brighton Belles has been shortlisted for the Mid Street Lab Community Award at this year’s Brighton Fringe Festival- a well-deserved recognition for their outstanding community spirit and impact.
This year, the group raised over £500 for our project Havens Food Cooperative, a local initiative tackling food insecurity and promoting sustainability. The award celebrates events that engage with, benefit, and reflect local communities- and Brighton Belles ticks every box.
Thank you Brighton Belles!
The nomination highlights how laughter can be a powerful tool for connection and change.
Following the recent cyber attack that disrupted supermarket supply chains across East Sussex, the Havens Food Cooperative project has stepped up and rescued and redistributed tons of surplus food over the past week.
The cyber attack, which affected several major supermarket chains nationally, led to mass disruption in stock deliveries. But as deliveries resumed and shelves were restocked, a significant amount of short-dated stock was suddenly at risk of going to waste. That’s when Havens Food Cooperative stepped in.
Over a whirlwind 72 hours, volunteers from Havens Food Cooperative collected daily vanloads of surplus food from supermarkets in the local area which had been left with crates of perishable items due to the backlog.
"We were notified by one store’s representative on Tuesday morning that they had an unexpected glut of food with limited shelf life - a knock-on effect of the cyber attack recovery process," said Rebecca Woolven, Manager of the Havens Food Cooperative Project “By Tuesday afternoon our team of volunteers had mobilised to collect and redistribute the first of what turned out to be three days of urgent collections.”
The surplus included tons of fresh fruit, vegetables, and bakery items. Working swiftly, the team sorted and distributed the food using their daily community pantry and network of local community partners, including local projects, groups and community cafes. Rebecca added: “This is exactly why our project is here. We have the vehicles, the volunteers, and the connections to move food fast. When waste becomes a risk, we can collect it from local stores and use it to support the community quickly.
Thanks to the efforts of Havens Food Cooperative, tons of food was saved from landfill and redistributed to support indiviudals, families and groups in the community- fighting waste and feeding the community.
Want to help?
Havens Food Cooperative relies on donations and volunteers to continue its vital work.
To make a donation: https://localgiving.org/charity/havenscommunityhub
To find out more & get involved: www.havenscommunityhub.co.uk
We are thrilled to be part of the Lewes District Local Lottery, which helps raise funds for various good causes in the Lewes district. With each ticket priced at just £1, we receive 50p for every ticket sold, making a real difference together.
Not only do you get a chance to support our cause, but you also have a 1 in 50 chance of winning fantastic prizes, including a grand prize of £25,000!
Don't miss out! Head over to: https://www.leweslocallottery.co.uk/.../havens-community...
to purchase your tickets and help us make a positive impact in our community. Every little bit helps, and together we can achieve so much! Thank you for your support!
Families across the Havens can enjoy big savings this summer with the “Kids Eat for £1” offer at Havens Connections Café. Running weekdays from 10am to 3pm, the scheme provides children with a hot, nutritious meal or a takeaway lunch box for just £1 and there’s no minimum spend required.
Launched in August 2024 and running throughout the year, the initiative is part of the café’s mission to support families during the cost-of-living crisis. “We know many families are struggling,” said Café Manager Julia Dunstan. “This is about easing some of that pressure. Children can get a healthy, tasty lunch at a price that’s affordable.”
Located in Hillcrest Community Centre, the café is known for its warm atmosphere and fresh, kid-friendly meals like jacket potatoes, sandwiches, and daily specials.
The café also offers a pay-it-forward scheme, allowing visitors to donate meals for others facing food insecurity, or access meals themselves.
Yesterday we were pleased to welcome Kelvin from Rampion Wind Energy and Pete from Sussex Community Foundation at our Havens Connections Café. We have been very grateful to have been supported by Rampion through the Sussex Community Foundation for the past year, and they have been a huge support to our project Havens Food Cooperative, which prevents up to 3 tonnes of food every week from being wasted, instead redistributing this to the community, and harnessing surplus to create healthy and delicious meals in our new community café!
You can read more about their visit here:
The Spring Edition of Havens Happenings, our quarterly newsletter is now available to read:
To sign up to receive these quarterly newsletters all you need to do is go to our website, and insert you details to the 'Subscribe to Havens Happenings Newsletters' section on the homepage.
We’re delighted to share that Havens Connections Café has been named a finalist in the Best Customer Service category at the Seahaven Business Awards 2025!
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past seven months. It’s been such a joy to welcome so many of you through our doors, and being recognised in this way means the world to Julia and the café team.
Your continued support truly makes all the difference — thank you!
