Sussex Community Blog

Hastings Pier Fire - the non-arson theory

Other pages on this blog:
Home
Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
Action for Happiness -A Good Week
Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?

Intro to this blog & ACT Hastings! (Actively Changing Things in Hastings!)

You are invited to read this blog and then to write for this blog. Comments on the pieces here are not moderated (until abuse occurs) and if you want to write new posts, phone me and I'll enable you to do so, just as I have for the activist, Scott Ellis, who published his letter in 8th October's Hastings & St Leonards Observer to say that "Maybe the destruction of the pier is the boot up the backside we need."

Last Saturday's meeting arranged by "kick up the backside" Scott Ellis has led to the formation of a group of 25-30 people (at present) under the name ACT Hastings! (Actively Changing Things in Hastings!). Other contact details and information on the areas of work being undertaken to improve Hastings will follow.

The pier fire is certainly what 'fired me up' to volunteer in the Pier Shop at 34, White Rock. I'm also moved by the community I see to move to St Leonards in 2011. A friend there says that the heart has been torn out of Hastings; yet I've seen it beating more strongly than ever. Personally, I put much of my heart and soul into providing web-based services to access people committed to offering their best and creating better communities. My mission: "That Sussex becomes somewhere where no-one wants to set light to a pier".
On bonfire night, a month after the pier fire, the "Sussex People's Justice" service is to be launched via this blog:

Who am I to use web-sites to engage communities in this way?

Co-director of Freelending Community Interest Company
Director of Mediation Support Ltd,
Personally invited to 10, Downing St to be thanked by the PM for my work on behalf of victims of crime.
Former Head of Restorative Justice, Mediation UK (2001-2006)

For the time-being I am not in contact with the “arsonists”, though I know someone who knows them.

First contact might be made with their:

- friends/family

- those in the criminal justice system who in some way “supervise” them.

Somewhere down the line I hope that the words & voices of the community recorded on the people's justice website will lead to a dialogue with whoever comes forward as a representative of the “arsonists”. It may be that other 18 & 19 year olds, or other (ex) “arsonists” offer to talk to the wider community in the first place.

Whatever you would want to ask or tell to each of the arsonists, type it or record it here or on the one-to-one video-messaging site to be announced here on 5th November.

Other pages on this blog:
Home
Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
Action for Happiness -A Good Week
Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?

Thanking an HPWRT Trustee for offering to arrange a screening of the "Burning Bridges" DVD

Thank you for your work in getting a screening opportunity for 'Burning Bridges'. Before this is shown to a large group, I'd really like there to be a showing or two to not more than twelve people. Holding a discussion in a circle afterwards is a key component of the community process which I'd like to see. Only when the community has had it's say and framed some questions do I want to offer my experience for what it's worth & similarly offer my views and choice of ways forward (to be discussed).
It matters to me that a pier trustee, such as yourself, is setting this in place. I'm lacking in 'legitimacy', time and support than do more at present than:
-make myself available as per my calendar gaps (www.paulscalendar.pbworks.com)
-visit Hastings and listen to people as much as I can
-maintain www.sussexcommunity.blogspot.com
-launch the "People's Justice" website on 5th November.

Best wishes
Paul
Other pages on this blog:
Home
Mediation Support at Southwater Community Centre
Action for Happiness -A Good Week
Paul C -AKA Lend-It-All Man
Why Move to Hastings?

Sussex People's Justice -launched 5th November - will be based on the winning idea at the 2010 Social Innovation Camp (www.jailbrake.org)

At the 2010 Social Innovation Camp, the team I was in, led by Aleksi Knuutila, won the competition for the web/mobile phone based idea most likely to reduce youth offending/ youth custody.
The judges of www.jailbrake.org were from:

The Youth Justice Board
The Prison Reform Trust
The Police Improvement Agency
Foyer Housing Foundation

Jailbrake 2010 from The People Speak on Vimeo.

NB I introduce my passion for Restorative Justice 2 minutes and 44 seconds into the above video, and go on to summarise some of the personal experience that led to that passion and my time as Restorative Justice Co-ordinator working in HMP Bristol; a job which I took up after a lovely holiday spent in Hastings in 2007.
More information about how People's Justice will work in Hastings here.
What I see myself as doing in Hastings is showcasing the idea that anyone can start a conversation about a crime, or other incident in which they have been embroiled and that the outcomes of such conversations will be unexpected and usually beneficial to a number of people. Time will tell if the service due to be launched on Bonfire Night proves this process and it's benefits in a Sussex town.

HASTINGS PIER EMERGENCY FUND

Lesley writes:
We want to see a community-owned 21st century pleasure pier serving residents, visitors with a year-round offer of leisure, pleasure, education, entertainment, arts, business & job opportunities”

The Emergency Fund will be used to stabilise the bridge and central section Pier to mitigate against the risk of collapse during the Winter Storms.

You can pay money in at any HSBC Bank in the country. Just pick up a paying in slip enter the following information and hand to the teller.

Sort Code 40-23-18 Account 12249871

This service is free

Please pass the above information on to as many people as you can