Fresh Start
Eastbourne…
Raising Money for local services
for vulnerable people.
About Fresh Start
Eastbourne
Fresh Start Eastbourne is a new initiative, launched by Your Eastbourne BID, designed to help individuals in our town to get away from rough sleeping and to help them to take those first steps to a fresh start.
Every time you donate to Fresh Start Eastbourne CIC, this money will go to the charities and organisations that provide frontline services for people facing homelessness and/or other issues that can lead to begging in Eastbourne.
On this website, you can find out more about how you can donate and make a difference.
Our Campaign
We know that people give money to individuals begging on the streets because they want to be supportive.
However, it doesn’t help the individuals get away from sleeping rough, or address the complicated range of issues they may be facing behind the scenes.
Fresh Start Eastbourne follows other successful “Positive Giving” models adopted around the country.
Every time you donate to Fresh Start Eastbourne CIC, this money will go to the charities and organisations that provide frontline services for people facing homelessness and/or other issues that can lead to begging in Eastbourne.
Your Eastbourne BID have also agreed to pay for the operations costs of the CIC for the initial year, meaning every penny raised will go directly towards those charities and groups.
This will make lasting positive changes to their way of life by providing a wide range of long term support for their individual needs and targeting the real reasons they are begging in our town centre.
Fresh Start Eastbourne follows other successful “Positive Giving” models adopted around the country.
Who we are…
I am delighted to be supporting this initiative, by chairing its Grants Panel. During my time as Eastbourne MP, I saw first hand the devastating impact of homelessness on individuals, to our town and our communities.
The Cost of Living Crisis has exacerbated this situation even more. Fresh Start Eastbourne will provide the funds to support those groups and organisations tackling homelessness and poverty on the front line in our town.
Stephen Lloyd – Former MP for Eastbourne
We’ve seen the positive impact in London, Bath, Bristol and other cities of a positive giving model. We want to adopt this scheme here in Eastbourne, to give direct support to charities who are doing an amazing job supporting homeless people. Every penny raised will be donated to these groups enabling them to make a real difference.
Luke Johnson: BID Operations Manager
We have been set up via Your Eastbourne Business Improvement District, who have provided the start-up funds and means to launch the CIC.
Your Eastbourne BID have also agreed to pay for the operating costs for the initial year, meaning every penny raised by the CIC will go towards local groups and charities which are tackling homelessness and rough sleeping.
The BID consists of business leaders across the town centre, and three have agreed to be members of the Grants Panel. At present, Fresh Start Eastbourne CIC has one director, Luke Johnson – Operations Manager of Your Eastbourne BID, however we will recruit additional Directors going forward.
The money raised will be held by Fresh Start Eastbourne CIC, which will make the decisions about where this is best spent to make a real difference. By supporting Fresh Start Eastbourne, rather than giving direct to those begging, you are providing funds that can be distributed directly to groups and charities tackling homeliness – and make a positive difference. The grants panel is chaired by an independent chair, Stephen Lloyd, and they will meet regularly once funds have been raised to allocate monies to groups, charities and organisations that apply.
Why the BID
We’ve adopted this model after consultations with other groups such as in Bath and Bristol who have launched similar positive giving models to their own towns, often in partnership with the Council, Police, Rough Sleeper Initiatives and the local BID.
We see the challenges caused by homelessness on a daily basis.
The BID already fund the weekend outreach centre, currently operating in Seaside Road and supporting those on the streets at the weekend.
But – we all want to help more. Fresh Start Eastbourne will allow us to do so in a sustainable way.
The Grants Panel
Chair: Stephen Lloyd
Former MP for Eastbourne, Stephen Lloyd has generously given his time to chair the grants panel
Luke Johnson
Panel Coordinator and Operations Manager for Your Eastbourne BID
Carl Bird
Director, Your Eastbourne BID
Shoes Simes
Director, Your Eastbourne BID
Helen Diplock
Christians Against Poverty
Louise Coppen
3VA
Supported by
Eastbourne Police
Case Studies – Bristol & Bath
Bristol:
Established in 2019
Raised over £100,000 since it started
Supported 774 individuals
Bath:
During Bath’s initial year (2022) they raised £3751 which:
- Helped 19 current/ex rough sleepers with 21 support interventions
- Provided support in areas as diverse as mobile phones, shopping vouchers, birth certificates, tv installation and service charge arrears
How to apply
We will announce the grant funding when it becomes available and the criteria. Initially, this will be to registered charities and organisations.
Support & Resources
Support in Eastbourne for those Rough Sleeping
If you see someone rough sleeping, you can report it via www.streetlink.org.uk
StreetLink is a nationwide service that enables members of the public to connect people sleeping rough with the local services that can support them. You can report concerns about rough sleepers at any time to Streetlink via their website. They also have a smartphone app you can download to make reporting quicker.
Free Food Provision
Eastbourne Foodbank | Helping Local People in Crisis
Salvation Army – daycentre
Showers available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am – midday
Clothes washing facilities
Hot drinks and snacks available for a small fee
Advice and help, drop-ins, signposting, computers and phones available
Open Monday to Thursday from 10am to 4pm and on Fridays from 8.30am to 4pm.
149 Langney Road,
Rebourne Centre,
Eastbourne,
East Sussex,
BN22 8AG
eastbourne@salvationarmy.org.uk
01323 417149
Matthew 25 – daycentre
Providing food, clothing and basic necessities
Breakfast provided daily with lunch provided on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Open Monday to Friday from 8am to 3pm
Matthew 25 Mission,
Brodie Hall,
Seaside,
Eastbourne,
BN22 7NN
Kingdom Way Trust
Kingdom Way Trust oversee the Winter Night Shelter on behalf of local churches. They also run three other projects:
- The Bridge
- Hope into Action
- Hope Woodwork
The Bridge and Hope into Action are accommodation schemes. Hope Woodwork is a carpentry and furniture making programme. The service is not exclusively for rough sleepers and works with individuals on the gradual development of skills for work.
For more information visit www.kingdomwaytrust.org
BHT Housing Advice Service
Provides housing advice for rough sleepers or those at risk of rough sleeping.
Open Monday to Thursday from 9am to 5pm and Fridays from 9am to 4.30pm.
Eastbourne Advice Centre
Highlight House
Suite 14
St Leonard’s Road
Eastbourne
BN21 3UH
eastbourneadvice@bht.org.uk
01323 642615
STAR
A drug and alcohol recovery service which supports people aged 18 upwards to:
- Make lifestyle and behavioural changes
- Improve health and wellbeing
- Increase independence and self-determination.
Drop in times (for people without an appointment) run on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am to 1pm and Tuesday from 1.30pm to 5pm.
Lift House
6 St Leonards Road
Eastbourne
BN21 3UH
