About Hailsham Forward CIC

Hailsham Forward Partnership was born out of the Mary Portas Vision for revitalising Town Centres. Hailsham Forward CIC is a Town Team Partner, is supported by the Government, and has received £10,000 funding to undertake projects to improve the business community in Hailsham.

The Partnership is made up of many local people and organisations including the local Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses, Local Councils, Hailsham Youth Council and Hailsham's MP.

Executive Team Membership (November 2021):

Chairman and member – Cllr Chris Jackets – Hellingly Parish Council
Director – Cllr Gavin Blake-Coggins- Hailsham Town Council
Director – Jan Townsend – Community Representative
Director – Mark Hallett- Hailsham and District Chamber of Commerce
Director – Clive Soper – Chair, Hailsham and District Chamber of Commerce
Director – Ben Pratt – Hailsham Farmers’ Market
Director- Steve Wennington – Chair Hailsham Active
Secretary and member – Mickey Caira - Deputy Town Clerk and Business Enterprise Manager
Member - Cllr Chris Bryant - Hailsham Town Council
Member – Cllr Nigel Coltman – Wealden District Council
Member – Phil Matthews - Hailsham Community College
Member – Paul Gibson – Hailsham News
Member – Tony Biggin – Hailsham Festival
Member – Peter Willson – Hailsham FM
Member and officer support- Kaylee Butcher – Business Enterprise Assistant

Member Organisations:

Hailsham Town Council:
www.hailsham-tc.gov.uk

Hellingly Parish Council:
www.hellingly-pc.org.uk

Wealden District Council:
www.wealden.gov.uk

Hailsham & District Chamber of Commerce:
Hailsham and District Chamber of Commerce represents over 100 businesses owners in and around Hailsham. We meet regularly on the 1st Thursday of the month at the Hellingly Community Hub for a breakfast networking meeting. We welcome guests to attend by contacting the Chamber secretary via email [email protected]. The breakfast meeting has a 10 minute slot for speakers if you are interested please let the Chamber secretary know.

We are stakeholders on the rebuild of Hailsham Town Centre Vicarage Field. The Chamber meets regularly with Wealden District Council and Hailsham Town Council. We especially appreciate the close relationship as we help each other on Police and Youth initiatives. We are supporters of Hailsham Forward it helps our members to generate more business in the Town Centre. We look forward to our continued support with Hailsham Forward.

Hailsham and District Chamber of Commerce are entering an exciting new venture setting up a Business Improvement District in Hailsham and surrounding areas. The BID is Business led funded by levy. Businesses decide and direct what they want in their area. We will be working in cooperation with Hailsham Forward to create meaningful projects that benefit Hailsham.

Mark Hallett Chairman of HDCC and Board Member of Hailsham and District BID Ltd.

Federation of Small Businesses:
www.fsb.org.uk

Hailsham Farmers’ Market:
Local farmers and producers selling direct to the public. Shop in the fresh and talk to the people who produce your food and goods.
www.hailshamfarmersmarket.co.uk

Hailsham Active:
https://hailshamactive.org/

Hailsham Community College:
www.hccat.net

Hailsham News:
https://hailsham.news/

Hailsham Festival:
Hailsham Festival of Arts & Culture is a registered charity. They provide a Festival annually in and around the town and surrounding villages; this occurs every September and lasts approximately 2 weeks, incorporating 3 weekends. The Festival aims to be all-inclusive for the community and includes Art, Music, Drama, Dance, Film and Literature. This year this will run from 3rd - 17th Sept.2022.

Art exhibitions take place, as well as a virtual showing on the website. Literary competitions, readings, book sales, and talks all are a part of the festivities. Music is widely covered with performances from every genre popping up all over the area. Dance is included with workshops from the local dance academy, to top class shows taking place. The local theatre group presents a full length play with several performances, usually over the final weekend.. Finally, introduced last year, there is the Nostalgia Fair which is based on the original Village Fete of the 50s and 60s. and will again take place on the Cattle Market site.

As part of the Festival, they have written and produced a full-length musical, based around the history of Hailsham's rope industry, the First World War, through the 60s, and into the present-day. Entitled "String" this was performed in a concert version last year.

For information about what is happening within the Hailsham Festival visit: www.hailshamfestival.co.uk/

Hailsham FM:
www.hailshamfm.com