Hastings House wish to provide a mind counselling service for those struggling with their mental health,in the evening for those patients who find it difficult to attend sessions during the day.

To that end FOHH has committed to fund two evening sessions a week during 2024 and 2025 at an estimated cost of £5,000 per annum.

We also hope to provide additional sessions for the growing number of young adults who find it increasingly difficult to access existing mental health services due to extremely long waiting lists.

These services will also be provided locally at Hastings House.

Put simply a regular donation of £25.00 would provide an hour of counselling for someone who really needs it.

With an aging population there is an increasing need to provide help and support for dementia sufferers and the people who support and care for them on a daily basis.

Whilst the NHS fund the evaluation of some one who suffers from dementia there is no provision to assist and support the carers.

Following a successful pilot scheme last year, the charity is funding sessions for carers through a dementia navigator service, helping to signpost them to where they can receive help and support for their loved ones and themselves.

To run this on a limited basis we have committed to provide £4,000 per annum for the next two years.

A regular donation of £10 would help fund this valuable service for carers of a dementia sufferer, sadly this demand is only set to grow.

We have so far provided two items of equipment that have significantly improved the level of service Hastings House can provide to it patients.

An Ambulatory Blood pressure Machine, which significantly speeds up the diagnosis of blood pressure and stress conditions.

The second piece of equipment is a Bovi Derm 942 which is used to do minor operations at the surgery and has dramatically reduced the waiting times for patients waiting for operations.

Further items of equipment we hope to supply is an up to date defibrillator based at the surgery for emergency response and a communication system to help patients discuss their needs in a more confidential manner with reception and pharmacy staff.

A regular donation of just £5 per month would help fund these vital items of equipment.

The key role of Friends of Hastings House is to raise funds to help provide additional equipment and services not provided by the NHS which will benefit and improve the health and wellbeing of patients of Hastings House.

To date, fund raising activities have been focused on three areas :

1. Applying for grant aid from local Councils, The National Lottery etc.

2. Local funding raising events including summer and Christmas concerts and seasonal hamper raffles.

3. Receiving regular or one off donations from local individuals and organisations.

We have raised over £25,000 to date which is excellent and a huge thanks to the organisations and individuals who have helped with this. However, going forward we hope to encourage more individuals to make a small donation on a regular basis which will allow the Charity to plan new services more effectively as it will provide a regular income to pay for them. 

Just a small donation of £5 or £10 a month could make a huge difference to individuals lives as it will enable us to continue to provide key services locally at Hastings House including mental heath counselling, dementia support services for carers and small minor operations to help prevent long waits on NHS lists.

As a small local charity we do not have the resources to employ people, all of the trustees and helpers work on a voluntary basis.

We are currently seeking someone to act as secretary to the trustees, click here for full details.

We are are also looking for someone who has the skills and could devote a few hours a month to working on our social media campaign and take ownership of our website to keep it up to date and relevant.

As part of our campaign to attract donations on a regular basis we would like help to put posters and leaflets into local businesses to help raise our profile.

We always need volunteers to help with our very successful summer and winter concerts. Working on the door and providing help with the interval drinks. This only takes three hours twice a year and you get to see the concert for free!

We run three raffles a year and we always need people who are prepared to help sell tickets, every pound raised can help to make a real difference

If you want to make a real difference to our communities please step forward

Contact info@friendsofhastingshouse.co.uk or leave your details at the surgery reception