New stretch target
We will purchase essential equipment for the hub, such as a projector, sound system, etc.
We want a safe, welcoming space where everyone can gather to make Eastbourne a more sustainable, resilient community despite climate change.
by Andrew Durling in Eastbourne, England, United Kingdom
We will purchase essential equipment for the hub, such as a projector, sound system, etc.
Vision:
We are a local voluntary group which wants to set up a community hub within Eastbourne that becomes a safe, welcoming space for local people to gather together to help each other develop a more resilient community able to adapt positively and creatively to the challenges of the Climate and Nature Emergencies.
The hub will facilitate some of the following activities: eco events, arts/crafts, talks, workshops, meetings, cinema, library, fundraising projects. It will be a space to meet and discuss, to inspire, to co-create, to design and innovate, to incubate eco business start ups, and to understand what a truly sustainable future looks like. It will also be a place where local people in fuel poverty can gain advice about how to save on energy costs and get assistance for retrofits, energy saving equipment, or renewable energy systems. It will also be a place where local food networks can provide support to those in food poverty through, for example, distributing local organic food donated freely by local growers. The hub will be part of Eastbourne's transition to a zero carbon society whereby the town will become greener, cleaner, healthier, safer, and more enjoyable for all. The hub will eventually become self-funded primarily from events, food and drink, and space hire.
The team behind the vision:
The Eastbourne Climate Coalition, initially composed of 27 local environmental and community groups was formed as part of the UK-wide COP26 Climate Coalition. After holding a very successful march and rally in Eastbourne during COP26, it decided to work towards following up on C0P26 by scaling up climate action across the Eastbourne area.
The first major project of the coalition is to establish a Climate Hub within central Eastbourne in order to create a dedicated physical space for local climate and community groups to come together to collaborate with each other and to engage much more fully with the public on climate issues generally. To this end, the coalition has partnered with the Eastbourne Eco Action Network CIC to make use of the CIC's facilities to help raise the initial funds needed to source premises for the hub and help prepare it for launch. The CIC is run entirely by volunteers and has the target of helping to deliver a Net Zero town by 2030, collaborating with local community groups, local businesses, and Eastbourne Borough Council to achieve this.
All members of the coalition and the CIC are volunteers, so every penny raised will go towards establishing the hub, which will eventually become an independent, non-profit legal entity run by local people for local people.
Advice and support will be sought from the national Climate Emergency Centres network, which has helped other towns and cities in the UK to successfully set up their own Climate Hubs. We have close connections with existing Climate Hubs in nearby Seaford and Lewes, who have already given us invaluable advice and help.
Realising the vision:
The ideal premises for the Climate Hub would be somewhere in central Eastbourne where the public could easily access it, such as an empty shop or bank, or spare space within a community centre, in the main retail area, near the local public transport hubs. The premises would ideally have a kitchen adequate enough for servicing a cafe area and to cook meals for social functions. All food served within the hub will be vegetarian or vegan and sourced from local organic growers or farms that demonstrate good stewardship of the land. All the funds raised will help to:
Meet some of the members of the project team:
Rachael Norris: Business owner and campaigner for social and environmental justice
Andrew Durling : Executive Director of Eastbourne Eco Action Network CIC. Joint Coordinator of Eastbourne & District Friends of the Earth. Fellow of theRSA.org.
Noa Lachman: Opera singer, Director of Rimmon and Climate campaigner
Felicity Goodson: Actress, yoga teacher and cycle campaigner
Evie Sier: Environmental, social justice and peace campaigner. Eastbourne Greenpeace group contact and vegan society community organiser.
Sally Boys: Joint Co-ordinator of Eastbourne & District Friends of the Earth. Member of The Green Party.
Carol Mills: Social, Economic, Environmental and Climate Justice Campaigner and Trade Unionist
Jill Shacklock: member of the Eastbourne Eco Action Network's Energy & Housing Group. Environmental Campaigner.
Oliver Sterno: Community Leader and Director of Plastic Free Eastbourne, Coordinator of Refill Eastbourne, Director of EcoEducation 2030
Caroline Tradewell: Eastbourne Food Partnership, nutritional and health science student
This project offers rewards in return for your donation.