I’m sure you’ll all be pleased to hear that, thanks to the hard work done by both trustees and staff, and some generous funders, the Hillcrest Centre is managing to stay afloat and has been providing valuable services during lock down. The trustees (of whom I am one) have taken all possible precautions including installing screens, hand sanitisers, a one way system, and regular deep cleaning. The cafe has been making and delivering nutritious meals to people isolating at home, CTLA (Community Transport) in the basement, has been providing transport to people needing to attend hospital and other essential appointments, and Kimmi’s Nursery has been providing care for the children of key workers. We also have one or two support groups meeting under the current regulations. So as soon as we are allowed to safely resume in a viable way we will be able to return to the Hillcrest.

 

In the meantime, a few members of the committee have resumed meeting on Zoom every few weeks to exchange and work on our storytelling. If anyone would like to join us to try telling a story for the first time and get some tips, or to practice a story, or just generally brush up your skills, do get in touch. My email is: umisinha.writing[at]gmail.com. (Please replace the [at] with an @ symbol when copying into your browser.)

And watch out for a new project coming in September 2021, in which our GuestHouse committee member, and local professional storyteller, Jamie Crawford will be participating. TWO PAIRS OF EYES – A GHOST STORY FOR NEWHAVEN. The project – run by Sara Clifford’s company, Inroads, which created large scale participatory shows like The Port, The Beast and the Traveller, Our Dancing Feet, The Tribunal, and Home Fires – has now collected over 40 stories from from people in and around Newhaven, ranging from the drummer boy heard at the Fort to a ghostly nun on the site of the old convent.

And here’s the full programme of the Goddess Lounge, and, below that, some links to other online storytelling events in the area.