The Hastings Commons

The Hastings Commons Hastings Commons is a pioneering approach to community-led regeneration, DIY-style.

Last weekend we held a Communi-Tea party at the Common Room in Eagle House. Over 250 local people enjoyed cake, homemade...
29/09/2026

Last weekend we held a Communi-Tea party at the Common Room in Eagle House. Over 250 local people enjoyed cake, homemade lemonade and amazing company!

Many thanks to the Anchors (the people who run the Common Room), who made the cakes and designed the event; a brilliant day was had by all.

The Common Room is usually open Tuesday - Saturday 12 noon to 4pm, and we are looking for more anchors. Find out more at https://hastingscommons.com/programmes/the-common-room/

Come down to Eagle House and the Public Living Room next Saturday 26th September for a very special CommuniTea Party!The...
16/09/2026

Come down to Eagle House and the Public Living Room next Saturday 26th September for a very special CommuniTea Party!

There’ll be baking, making, sipping and knitting

And it’s a chance to find out more about the Public Living Room and chat to our Anchors who look after the space. Who knows, you might end up an Anchor yourself!

Saturday 26th September, 1pm-4pm
Eagle House, 27-29 Cambridge Road, TN34 1DJ

🫖🫖🫖🫖

14/09/2026

Call-out for people who would like to join us in creating a new digital portrait of Hastings in 2026, inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry.

This is a free intergenerational project, starting at the end of October, for young people aged 11–18 and people over 60. We’ll visit the tapestry in London and then work together to create a new digital artwork at OBX in Eagle House.

Places are limited, so apply now at tinyurl.com/hastingsthreads, or email [email protected] if you have any questions.

The Prince of Wales recently visited Hastings Commons to see firsthand our work celebrating and supporting people’s idea...
24/07/2026

The Prince of Wales recently visited Hastings Commons to see firsthand our work celebrating and supporting people’s ideas and energy, ensuring they have the power and agency to shape the neighbourhood and enhance their lives.

During the visit, His Royal Highness met young people who attend the Youth Club at Eagle House and volunteers and members of the public from the Common Room, as well as tenants from Rock House.

The spaces at Eagle House were co-designed with young people and members of the Public Living Room, and every part of the programme is shaped by their ideas and ambitions.

The Hastings Youth Commons is open to anyone aged 11-18 and provides trusted support, friendship and a sense of belonging which is helping young people across Hastings thrive.

Thank you to His Royal Highness for helping shine a spotlight on the importance of community and youth-led spaces.

Photos by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

02/07/2026

As Alley Way Learning 2026 comes to a close, we wanted to take the opportunity to thank some of our local partners, who came along to the launch day. They all share our ethos of skill sharing, and community learning which they do daily, making a massive difference to those who use their services.

Thank you to:co.lab





Thanks for lending your support to us. It’s been a brilliant month of learning in the community. 🧡

Please make sure you check them out, if you’re not already aware of them.

Alley Way Learning is proudly supported by the National Lottery Community Fund.

25/06/2026

Could you do with a confidence boost when it comes to speaking up? 🎤

Meet Jess Steele, one of the founders of Hastings Commons, who has spent years playing different roles in its development. And the skill she values most? The ability to tell a story with confidence.

In this interactive workshop, Jess will share her top tips for public speaking, give an example of a 10-minute speech, and offer participants the chance to have a practice themselves, completely optional, no pressure.

This one is for people who already do a bit of speaking, or want to, and would love to feel more at ease doing it. Not a course for the chronically shy, but a practical, friendly session for anyone who wants to find their voice.

One important note: latecomers cannot be admitted, so please arrive for a 6pm start.

🎤 Confident Speaking with Jess Steele
📅 Monday 6 July, 6-8pm
📍 OBX Eagle House, 53 Cambridge Rd, Hastings TN34 1DT
(Enter from Robertson Street, down the alley between Racer Computers and Henry Ward Hall)

🎟️ Last few tickets remaining! £6 standard, £3 concessions, free spaces available

♿ Fully accessible: street-level ramp, lift access, accessible toilets
👉 Book at tinyurl.com/Alley-Way, link in bio, or email [email protected]

Alley Way Learning is supported by the National Lottery Community Fund.

22/06/2026

Do you trust what you read in the news? 📰

Most of us have a nagging feeling that the mainstream media doesn’t always give us the full picture. But knowing something feels wrong and knowing exactly why are two very different things.

This workshop is a class in intellectual self-defence.

Meet Milan Rai, a local author who has published four books, including Chomsky’s Politics (Verso, 1995). Drawing on tools developed by US linguist Noam Chomsky, Milan will walk you through some of the ways the media creates a false picture of the world, and more importantly, how to resist it.
As Milan puts it: “Improving our ability to fight back against propaganda seems to me to be crucial to our chances of making a better world.”

Practical, thought-provoking, and more relevant than ever.
🗞️ Critical Thinking About the Media
📅 Tuesday 23 June, 6.30-8pm - LAST FEW REMAINING TICKETS
📍 .obx Eagle House, 27-29 Cambridge Rd, Hastings TN34 1DJ

(Enter from Robertson Street, down the alley between Racer Computers and Henry Ward Hall)

🎟️ £6 standard, £3 concessions, free spaces available
👉 Book at tinyurl.com/Alley-Way, link in bio, or email [email protected]

Alley Way Learning is supported by the National Lottery Community Fund.

Would you like to join our team as a Sessional Youth Worker?
19/06/2026

Would you like to join our team as a Sessional Youth Worker?

This week is Refugee Week, and we want to celebrate some of the incredible people who have made Alley Way Learning 2026 ...
19/06/2026

This week is Refugee Week, and we want to celebrate some of the incredible people who have made Alley Way Learning 2026 what it is. 💛💙

Four of our workshop leaders have travelled from Ukraine to make their home here in the local area, and each of them has brought something truly special to our community this June.

Tetiana Shapoval brought the joy and spirit of Ukrainian folk dance to the Skill Share Social, introducing participants to the rhythm, expression and culture of her homeland. Tetiana created a joyful, welcoming space for complete beginners and experienced movers alike.

Denys Davydiuk, founder of Be Together Drum Circle, led our Basics of Rhythmic Playing & Singing session at Stade Hall. With over 500 drum circles under his belt and clients ranging from the Red Cross to the British Council, Denys showed us how rhythm can bring people together and do wonders for your wellbeing.

Nataliia Hutchinson shared her passion for hair colouring at Eagle House, guiding participants through everything they need to get salon-quality results at home. A medical professional by training and a hair colouring devotee for over 20 years, Nataliia brought warmth, humour and real practical expertise to her session.

And this Wednesday, Olena Lavrova joins us at the Observer Building’s Tower Room, sharing 14 years of knowledge in meditation, breathing and yoga to help people feel more energetic, focused and at ease.

Alley Way Learning exists to bring people together, share skills, and build community across Hastings & St. Leonards. This Refugee Week, we’re so grateful to Tetiana, Denys, Nataliia and Olena for sharing their knowledge, their culture, and a little piece of themselves with us.

Thank you. 💛💙

18/06/2026

Ever tried telling your story in pictures and words? 🖊️

“The goal of comic diaries is simply to understand yourself better, which makes all the difference in getting the world to know you.”

Meet Claire Innes, trained architect turned communication obsessive, who has spent her career thinking about how people tell their stories and how to do it better.

In this workshop, Claire will introduce you to the world of comic diaries, a surprisingly versatile and powerful way to capture your daily life. You’ll draw and write from instinct, developing your own personal voice to tell your stories in a way that’s authentic, unique and completely your own.

No artistic training needed. No polished results expected. Just the simple, satisfying act of putting your experience on the page.

🎨 Comic Diary Lab
📅 THIS Saturday 20 June, 11am
📍 Maslow, 5 Harold Place, Hastings TN34 1JA
🎟️ £6 standard, £3 concessions, free spaces available

👉 Book at tinyurl.com/Alley-Way, link in bio, or email [email protected]

Alley Way Learning is supported by the National Lottery Community Fund.

Address

49-51 Cambridge Road
Hastings
TN341DT

Telephone

+441424230222

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