ACTIV8

Today (21st July 2006) I attended the official grand opening of Activ8 in Hastings. It has great potential to become a very useful resource for people in the Hastings and Rother area. Read my comments on the day at the bottom of the page.

This info is based on the official Activ8 leaflet:

Why Activ8?

Activ8 is a non-stigmatising name for a developing set of projects which support people, particularly those who experience mental health distress, to access the following activities. Activ8 also aims to actively combat stigma by developing links with the wider community.

We have 8 areas of interest that we aim to develop:

Social interaction

Art and creativity

Training / education

Access to volunteering / employment information

Self-help

Physical activities

Holistic therapies

Complimentary therapies

What is Activ8?

Hastings and Rother Local Mind Association was formed in 1976. In order to develop the work of the organisation 'Activ8' was created by Mind in 2005 as the Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee.

Working from 5 and 6 Trinity Street in Hastings, Activ8 aims to encourage people from all parts of the community to look after their own individual health and wellbeing. We do this by providing opportunities for people to volunteer with us, participate in training, have fun with arts and creative activities and relax with complimentary therapies etc. Information about health and wellbeing topics are also available.

Anybody wishing to become a volunteer can choose from a variety of different opportunities from admin, gardening and cleaning to befriending, shop work and reception duties.

For more details about hiring or renting space or becoming a volunteer please contact us for up to date information and we will be happy to show you round.

Mission statement

To promote greater understanding of mental health issues to the wider community, and develop holistic and innovative ways to support people living in Hastings and Rother. (Adopted Jan 2002)

Access

The ground floor is an accessible space with kitchen and toilet facilities.

Trinity Street has metered parking and has disabled bays at one end. There are several car park within 5 minutes walk.

The train station, taxis and main bus routes are located 5-10 minutes walk away.

Contact details

Activ8
6 Trinity Street
Hastings
East Sussex
TN34 1HG
01424 442435
activ8network@hotmail.co.uk

Dean's comments:

Good

When I first got involved with Focus many years ago they told me all about this idea they had, to create a place like Activ8 and I have to admit there were more than a few times that I thought that it would never happen, but I am very pleased to admit that I was wrong.

Its been open for a while now, but it was good to see it have an official opening. Activ8 was opened by the local MP Michael Foster who always seems very interested in mental health issues and seems to be there because he wants to be there, not just to tick some box to show he mingled with the service users. The Mayoress was there too, but I did not have much to do with her, so I can't really comment on what she was like. It was very nice to see support from some of the big names in the local mental health services such as Morag Murray, Tony Goss and Diets Verschuren etc.

After all the years of work I really do hope that Activ8 is a great success, it really does deserve to be, please do support it. It also sounds like they have loads of really great activities coming up, which is something that is badly needed in the Hastings and Rother area. I have added some of them to the Sussex Mad events section.

Bad

The only thing that I found bad about Activ8 is the disabled access. Yes the ground floor is fine, but in my experience as a long term disabled person thats not that big deal, most (not all) buildings have quite good ground floor access for disabled. Activ8 is spread over 4 floors, a basement, ground, 1st and 2nd. At the opening day there were fun sounding activities on the 2nd floor and free food on the 1st floor. I did hear somebody say they were taking some food down for some disabled people, but would it not have made more sense to have it on the ground floor anyway? A lot of disabled people in my opinion do not like having to ask for things. I was lucky that my leg was actually quite good on that day. I would not have asked somebody to get me something, I like to be as independent as possible.

PHOTOS OF THE ACTIV8 OPENING

Related information

ACTIV8 JULY ACTIVITIES

ACTIV8 AUGUST ACTIVITIES