Hastings Sierra Leone Friendship Link

Putting the heart back into Hastings

With the support of LOAF Project, HSLFL aimed to “put the heart back into Hastings” by building a community resource centre which would combine admin, banking and post-office facilities, an IT training area, and space for groups to meet.  Derek Tomblin drew up plans, and  we applied for, and received, a grant of £30k from the British High Commission (funded by the UK Government). LOAF Project and the Link raised the rest.  The foundations were laid in 2007 and the building – the ‘Twin Town Centre’ was opened in 2012. Although it hasn’t been possible to open banking and postal facilities, the building is otherwise operational and contributing to village life. Travellers looking for accommodation near Freetown are welcome to stay in the modestly priced visitor accommodation which provides a little income to help keep the building ticking over. The Link then now moved on to its third big project – extending the little Health Centre and re-equipping the maternity unit. We have achieved a great deal in recent years, but we still need serious funding!