Our History

havens community hub cic. connecting, supporting, creating.

After a long career in the charity sector, Paula Woolven B.E.M. created Havens Community Hub in 2018. Paula identified a discrepancy between the services available in the cities of Brighton and Eastbourne, and her local coastal community. The Havens Community Hub was set up to find solutions to community needs in those areas.

The first project was setting up the hugely successful Havens Community Cars, a volunteer car service helping community members with their transport needs.

This was followed by Happy Clubs, which are social clubs for older community members that provide a safe, friendly, stimulating, and engaging environment.

Both the Community Cars and Happy Clubs have flourished, evolving into their own self-contained charities, a testament to the community's support and the projects' success.

Next was Havens Food Co-operative, a food waste prevention service that rescues tons of food from supermarkets and other providers each week that would otherwise go to landfill. This food is distributed to people in the community, providing vital support to individuals and groups who find themselves food insecure while reducing the significant environmental impact of food waste.

In 2023 Havens Community Hub launched one of their most ambitious projects yet. Having been awarded funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the team have set up a project supporting community outcomes whilst also providing services for the local business community. Based in Telscombe Civic Centre, the project provides free room hire and hot desking, puts on community workshops, and offers crucial support to local charities and community groups. The project has big plans for the future including charity MOT’s, and Project 365 (a volunteering scheme to maximise participation throughout the year).