Sidley Hub Grand Opening & Summer Festival!
Archives: News
Sidley Food Vouchers (HSF7)
Important Update: Sidley Food Vouchers (HSF7)
Our latest round of Sidley food vouchers (HSF7) has now officially come to an end, and applications are closed. 
You have until the end of this month to spend your March vouchers.
We are incredibly proud to have supported hundreds of Sidley residents through this scheme.
A huge thank you to East Sussex County Council for the funding that made this possible 
Big thanks also to our three awesome local retailers for their partnership and collaboration on this project:
While this specific round of funding is now closed, we remain committed to supporting our community. Please keep an eye on our page or visit our website for future updates and resources.
Heart of Sidley is an approved foodbank referrer, and we can provide a referral to Bexhill & Battle Foodbanks if required.
Also a reminder of some fabulous local resources available to all :
Bexhill Family Collective CIC Community Pantry
HOS Spring HAF Clubs 2026
Our Spring HAF Clubs continue to be a resounding success, with all sessions FULLY BOOKED!
We are tremendously grateful as always to East Sussex County Council for funding us, and to our amazing partners we deliver these sessions with!
Bexhill Family Collective – Ages 4-7
Fit & Fab Families – Ages 7-11
Snape Woods – Ages 7-11
We are also excited to have added a new partner into the mix with Southern Housing’s Fresh Visions youth team – Motivate
delivering our NEW Sidley Sizzles cookery sessions for ages 12-16.
As you can see from the photos, lots of fun is had by all!
BBC in the Heart of Sidley!
Heart of Sidley: Showcasing our learning from 10 Years of Community Impact
We were thrilled to welcome BBC South East Politics to Sidley last week!
Following the launch of Local Trust’s ‘Learning from Big Local’ website, we were selected to represent the 150 Big Local areas and share the incredible insights and expertise we’ve built up over the last ten years of community-led action!
As one of the 150 Big Local areas, we were chosen to highlight how this unique programme has empowered our community. With the programme concluding in March 2026, the focus of the day was on capturing and sharing the lessons we’ve learned to ensure a lasting legacy for Sidley.
Highlights from the day:
• Exclusive Access: We took BBC South East presenter Marcella Whittingdale and cameraman Peter Lloyd-Williams on an all-access tour of the fantastic Sidley Hub site to discuss our journey. A huge thank you to BMR for facilitating this visit.
• High Street Heroes: We walked through Sidley to chat with the local retailers who take part in our HSF voucher scheme, sharing how these local partnerships have thrived.
• Community Voices: Most importantly, the true stars were our local residents, who spoke so passionately about the impact Heart of Sidley has made and the lessons they’ve learned through community-led change. Thank you so much to all those involved!
Tune in: Look out for the segment featuring #Heart of Sidley at around 20 minutes in: Politics South East – 01/02/2026 – BBC iPlayer
A final heartfelt thank you to Local Trust for this amazing opportunity to share our knowledge, and for the unwavering support you’ve given us over the last ten years.
Explore the national legacy and our shared learning here: https://www.learningfrombiglocal.org.uk/Sidley Hub Cafe – Now Accepting Expressions of Interest
A Partnership Opportunity with Heart of Sidley Community Association (HOSCA)
Heart of Sidley Community Association (HOSCA) is delighted to invite expressions of interest for the operation of the brand-new café located within the
Sidley Hub on Sidley Recreation Ground.
We are not simply looking for a tenant; we are looking for a Community Partner. We seek an operator who shares our passion for Sidley and is committed
to providing a welcoming, inclusive space that supports the health and wellbeing of our residents.
This EOI is your opportunity to share your vision for the café and provide us with as much detail as possible.
If successfully shortlisted, you will proceed to the next stage and be invited to meet with the Board to present your full business plan.
Download your EOI Pack and Supporting Info here :
Sidley Hub Café – Expression of Interest guidance
Sidley Hub Café EOI form
If you would prefer the EOI form in an alternative format, please reach out to us by email at heartofsidley@gmail.com
Sidley’s Voice in Parliament!
We are bursting with pride to share that our very own Project Manager, Tanya Vice, was invited to the Parliamentary Estate to speak as an expert witness for the Women and Equalities Committee.
This incredible opportunity came about thanks to a special invitation from Local Trust, who reached out to Tanya to represent the power of local voices on this national stage.
This panel is part of the Committee’s community cohesion inquiry, specifically looking at the role and need for youth services and the vital importance of community cohesion.
Tanya sat alongside a distinguished group of leaders—including Lara Thompson (The King’s Trust), Isabella Pereira (The Young Foundation), Lucy Lees (Mahdlo Youth Zone), Debbie Cook (EFL), Ali Oliver MBE (Youth Sport Trust), and Ruth Hollis (Spirit of 2012)—ensuring that Sidley’s voice was heard in the room.
Championing the Sidley Voice
Tanya represented the Heart of Sidley wonderfully, acting as a powerful voice for our community and ensuring our lived experiences reached the ears of national policymakers. Her message was clear:
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True Empowerment: Communities need to be heard, have a real seat at the table, and be the ones making decisions about their own futures.
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Investing in Youth: Tanya advocated passionately for our young people, calling for them to be given true ownership of their communities.
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Breaking Stereotypes: She spoke up against outdated labels, reminding the committee that our youth are the leaders of the future, and they deserve to have their voices heard today.
“It was an honour and a pleasure to be invited to speak up for Sidley on such a prestigious panel. I am so proud of the work we are doing in Sidley, and it was a privilege to advocate for our community’s needs at this level.” — Tanya Vice
It was an incredible opportunity to highlight that when we trust and empower local people to lead,
amazing things happen.
A massive well done to Tanya for being such a brilliant advocate for Sidley on the national stage! 👏❤️
The full discussion can be viewed here : https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/dbd186c3-1bb3-4f57-adfa-ee2fb0561fa7
FREE! Sensational Stories for ages 0-5
Unleash Your Imagination with Sensational Stories!
We are thrilled to announce the launch of a brand-new project starting Monday, 12th January!
For children aged 0-5 and their parents/carers.
In partnership with Create Curiosity CIC, we invite you and your little ones to magical storytelling mornings where books truly come alive. 
Watch your child’s curiosity take flight, diving into enchanting tales and creative adventures. Best of all? It is completely FREE!
Event Details:
When: Mondays, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Where: The Orangery, Sidley
Dates: Jan 19th, 26th | Feb 2nd, 9th, 16th
How to Join:
Spaces are limited, so make sure to book your spot!
Book your places here:
https://eequ.org/…/sensational-stories-with-create…
Email: createcuriositycicoffice@gmail.com for more info.
Let’s make Monday mornings the highlight of the week! See you at The Orangery. 
Watch Construction in Action – Sidley Hub!
