SUPPORTING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

The choir's main function is singing for fun but we also like to support our local community whilst doing it.  We do not charge for singing at local fund raising functions and raise money for charities by asking for donations at our free concerts.

 

We have raised over £15,700 since the choir began in 2009.

 

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Our charity for 2021-22 is Little Gate Farm

 

Little Gate’s Story

Little Gate Farm was founded in 2013 by Claire Cordell, who is a mother of three children, including Evie, who was born with a learning disability. Claire soon realised that there were no opportunities for Evie after she left school. Claire wanted to change that. She founded Little Gate Supported Employment to ensure that adults with learning disabilities can have the same aspirations as people without learning disabilities.

 

Claire and Evie Cordell

 

 What does Little Gate do?

Little Gate Farm is a registered charity that trains and supports adults with learning disabilities and Autism into paid employment. Work Training takes place on the beautiful Little Gate Farm in Beckley, East Sussex.  Our beneficiaries (Work Trainees) come from the Hastings and Rother areas in East Sussex.

At the farm, our learning-disabled beneficiaries train in many working sectors including: hospitality, catering, housekeeping, building maintenance, office and administration skills, animal care, horticulture and woodland management.

 

Woodworking

 

To prepare our Work Trainees for successful long-term employment, we take a three-tiered approach:

 

  1. The Work Training Programme - that takes place on Little Gate Farm (100 places)
  2. Jobs Forum - to help our beneficiaries to apply for jobs, prepare for interviews and write their CVs (20 places)
  3. Supported Employment - where a Job coach supports our beneficiary in the work place until they are no longer required. (We currently support 80 learning-disabled adults in their places of employment)

 

Beneficiaries are either referred to us by Adult Social care or they can apply privately through our website or by contacting Little Gate via email info@littlegate.org.uk. More information about joining Little Gate can be found at

www.littlegate.org.uk/what-we-do/looking-for-a-job/

 

The Little Gate Young Rangers.

Little Gate Farm runs a holiday and weekend club for children aged 8-19 with Autism and learning disabilities.  Children make friends, learn many skills such as basic cooking, are able to increase their confidence and independence and be outside on the farm and woodland.  The Little Gate Young Rangers club also provides much needed respite for the children’s families.

 

The Young Rangers

 

Our work is supported by many grant making foundations such as The National Lottery, The Lloyds Bank Foundation and Children in Need.

Little Gate Farm is closed to the public, however we can arrange for small groups of supporters to come and see the valuable work that we do on the farm, please contact info@littlegate.org.uk. If you would like to arrange a visit.

For more information on Little Gate Farm, please visit our Facebook page facebook.com/littlegatefarmsussex/ or Instagram instagram.com/little_gate_farm/

 

Previous charities we have supported...

 2019-20 Street Pastors
 

 

Hastings Street Pastors have become a vital and recognised part of town-centre street nightlife during the nine years they have been working here. All are volunteers from local churches, working on a rota, who have undergone special training and wear an identifiable informal uniform. They go out in groups of three or more on Thursday and Saturday nights, from a town centre base. They walk the seafront Old Town to New Town pub and club areas, dispensing hot drinks, water, food and other aids to the ‘homeless’ that they check in with.  Their first priority during their 10pm to 3.30am shift is ‘care for others’ – not only for those homeless in the streets, but also for groups of foreign students out at night and for the revellers spilling out of pubs and clubs. They keep people safe, linking in with others doing likewise, such as pub bouncers, NHS Safe Space workers, and street security guards.
 2018-19 Amount raised: £1700
 

 

Xtrax is an independent, registered charity working for young people aged 16-24 in Hastings & Rother. Regardless of gender, belief, sexuality or personal history, xtrax provides a safe space where they can get help and support from non-judgemental staff and volunteers, no matter what issues are affecting them. Xtrax provides a truly holistic approach to helping young people overcome problems, address immediate issues affecting them and build stable, successful lives for the future. From their easy-to-access location in Hastings Town Centre young people will find a friendly welcome, eat a nutritious, home-cooked meal, take a shower, do their laundry, access free internet and telephones or just relax in a warm, friendly environment with their peers. At all times, Xtrax's trained staff and volunteers are on hand to then help young people rebuild their lives, whether it be finding the right accommodation, looking for work, enrolling in education, or getting advice on a whole range of issues from parenting, benefits, health or the law.

 2017-18 Total raised: £1090
 

 

Dragonflies is a local free pre- and post-bereavement service supporting children, young people and families. Dragonflies offer a safe place for parents/carers and children to express their grief and to share ways of coping with their loss.
 2016-17 Total raised:  £1600
 

 

Counselling Plus is a charity which offers confidential counselling to people aged 16 years plus, in the local area, at times of stress, change, pain or loss. One of its main aims is to provide an affordable service for those on low income or living on benefits.

2015-16

Total raised:  £2188.00

 

The Snowflake Night Shelter - http://www.snowflake-nightshelter.org.uk/

Friary Gardeners - http://www.parchment-trust.org.uk/section.php/4/1/friary_gardeners

2014-2015

Total raised:  £1889.38

For:

St Michael’s Hospice, Hastings  http://www.stmichaelshospice.org/

St Mary in the Castle http://stmaryinthecastle.co.uk/

 

2013-2014

Total raised:  1577.81

For:

The Sara Lee Trust http://www.saraleetrust.org/

The Talking Trust

2012-13

Total raised: £1075.12

For:

Fellowship of St Nicholas http://www.fsncharity.co.uk

The Xtrax Centre   01424 722524

The Oliver Curd Trust  http://www.theolivercurdtrust.co.uk

2011-12

Total raised: £3877.60

For:

The Music Well, Rye, Cancer Research UK

Surviving Christmas , Care for the Carers (Young Carer’s Project)

Seaview project

2010-11

Total raised: £1807.33

For:

PEACHY

Salvation Army Citadel, Hastings, Macmillan Cancer Support

Perennial (Gardeners Royal Benevolent Soc)

Hastings RNLI

2009-10

Total raised: £614.45

For:

United Reform Church

St Mary Star of the Sea RC Church

Seaview project

Joshua Smith’s Wish List

St Michael’s Hospice