Hartfield Parish Council

20/04/2026

19/04/2026

Thanks to the parish cllrs and other volunteers who spent this morning clearing back overgrown and weeds to make the pavement more accessible in Upper Hartfield - brilliant effort

13/04/2026

Sadly our speaker from WDC is ill today and wont be at the meeting tonight. However a reminder our annual parish meeting will be held tonight 7:30pm at the hall in Hartfield. All welcome

13/04/2026

24/03/2026

From WDC extension confirmation of our Draft Local Plan consultation.

Wealden District Council

24/03/2026

From South East Water

These are the details of a new community initiative South East Water is launching in Hartfield on Wednesday 1 April.

We want to work with local leaders to make this campaign a success for the community.

What is the challenge?

We’re challenging Hartfield village to reduce their water use this summer by five per cent. If they succeed, we will fund an exciting project for a local primary school, St Mary’s.
It means saving a total of 1,558 cubic metres of water over the six months, which is the same as 17,475 full bathtubs.
While that may sound a lot, hitting the target is really easy. Broken down, it means each person needs to save just eight litres a day - that's less than a bucket of water.
We’ll be sharing lots of simple water-saving changes to help you along the way. If the whole community makes these small, everyday changes, it will add up to a huge award for the school.

The benefit to the community

We have partnered with St Mary’s School to turn water-savings into a community award.

If the Hartfield community can collectively reduce water use by five per cent between 1 April and 30 September, we will award £5,000 to the school to fund a new eco-garden.

If they reach a 2.5 per cent reduction by 30 June, we’ll immediately release £2,500.

Why Hartfield?

Hartfield is one of just three communities across our supply area selected to take part in this innovative water-saving trial.

We have specifically chosen Hartfield because of its distinct position on our water network boundary which makes it an ideal area to accurately measure the impact of collective action.

Being one of the first to trial this means Hartfield is leading the way. If we can prove here that communities can work together to lower water demand, we hope to scale this challenge to help even more areas in the future.

Why we are doing this

• Protecting local supplies: Hartfield’s water begins locally at the River Ouse and Ardingly Reservoir. We carefully manage these sources across the seasons - refilling in winter and releasing water in summer - to protect the local environment while maintaining your supply. Once taken, the raw water goes through a rigorous nine step process to make sure it is safe to drink, before being transferred to local storage tanks and then pumped through a network of pipes directly into homes and businesses in Hartfield. We need to protect these local supplies by reducing how much we take from them, so they can be a sustainable water resource for the future.
• Preventing summer shortages: As Hartfield relies on surface water, your supply is incredibly sensitive to the weather, meaning river and reservoir levels can drop quickly. We must be careful to protect these levels, as we saw last year when extreme weather pushed Ardingly Reservoir so low that a drought order was introduced to protect remaining supplies.
• Awarding collective efforts: There is power in numbers, and we want to inspire Hartfield to see the massive impact we can have when everyone plays their part.

What we’re doing to save water

We’re working hard to play our part, too. Here are some of the ways we are helping to protect your water supply:

• Tackling leaks: We’re constantly working behind the scenes to save water. We monitor the network 24/7 to find and fix leaks in your local area, with more than 90 technicians detecting hidden leaks and 70 teams working around the clock to repair them faster than ever before. If there’s a burst or leak on our side, we’ll automatically adjust the data so it doesn’t count against your community total.
• Upgrading our network: We’re investing £2.1 billion to modernise our infrastructure and create a more resilient water supply network. From rolling out smart meters and replacing old water mains, to improving our water treatment works and reservoirs, we are making sure that when you turn on your tap, you only get the best quality water.
• Working with our community: To support the community’s efforts, we offer free water-saving visits to local schools to fit devices and fix leaks, as well as interactive classroom sessions to teach children about the water cycle.
• Providing free water-saving resources: We want to make it as easy as possible for customers to save water at home. We offer a range of free devices, from Leaky Loo strips to check for hidden toilet leaks to tap aerators which cut water use in half. We also provide great discounts on water butts, and feature a dedicated webpage for water-saving advice.

Next steps

This week, we are contacting all residents directly through email or letter to inform them of the challenge, and delivering leaflets and a promotional banner to St Mary’s School.

We have launched a dedicated Community Hub webpage. This is where we will update the community’s progress fortnightly:

10/02/2026

Grant scheme open for local community groups see news section of PC website for details on how to apply and deadline.

04/01/2026

♻️ Exciting news, Wealden! Food waste collections are coming soon to all households. 🥦🍎

Keep an eye out for information being delivered to your home, and visit https://orlo.uk/cyebJ for all the details.

From all of us in the Waste Management Team, we wish you a Happy New Year! 🎆💚

14/11/2025

From WDC

Please see below key funding opportunities currently open and events for your info.

To note, this email has been sent to all contacts on WDC’s funding database. Please respond to this email if you wish for your contact to be removed from the list.

Find Funding for your Local Organisation

East Sussex 4 Community
East Sussex 4 Community is a free-to-use funding website. It has information on grants, loans, and other initiatives in the UK. Home | East Sussex 4 Community

East Sussex County Council September Newsletter
See the latest funding newsletter from ESCC, for further opportunities:
Funding News - September 2025 | East Sussex County Council

General News
East Sussex Community Information Service
A directory of local services, activities, and organisations in your local area. For more information and to add your local organisation or service, please go to https://www.escis.org.uk/

Action in Rural Sussex’s Community Buildings Workshop in Wealden event – Tuesday 25th November
This event is organised by Action in rural Sussex and funded and supported by Wealden District Council.
Where: Crowborough Community Centre
When: Tuesday 25 November, 9.45 am to 1 pm
This event is ideal for groups that own or lease facilities such as village and community halls, sports pavilions, clubhouses, multi-use church halls, scout and guide huts, and other spaces that serve the wider community.
Join us to learn about:
· How Action in Rural Sussex can support your community building (AiRS)
· Top fundraising tips for your projects (AiRS)
· How to show evidence of local demand and need in your funding applications (AiRS)
· Wealden’s new Community-Led Infrastructure Fund and how to apply (WDC)
· Other Wealden funding available (WDC)
· Other funding options
For further info and to book on, contact [email protected]
AiRS are looking forward to welcoming the 60 attendees that have currently signed up. Last few spaces remaining. First come first served.

3VA’s Community Network meeting - Wednesday 26 November in Heathfield, 10:30am-12:30pm.
The agenda will include:
• State of the Sector Research – feedback
• WDC’s Community Led Infrastructure Funding programme
• Micro grants
• Wealden Food Partnership
• Follow up on potential sustainability network
• Follow up on loneliness work
Open to Wealden local organisations.
To book on, please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wealden-community-network-tickets-1932991081359?aff=oddtdtcreator

New Key Funding Opportunities

3VA’s The Household Support Fund – Closing on Monday 17th November.
This is now open for applications from groups working to address food poverty or food insecurity in Wealden. Examples of work previously funded includes
• Delivery of cookery training to staff and volunteers focusing on low cost, healthy eating for people on low incomes.
• Development and support for new and existing lunch clubs for older isolated communities.
• Supporting organisations and farmers in providing the healthy lunch element for holiday activity clubs for children on free school meals.
• Supporting farmers and community groups to provide meal kits and recipe cards for families and older people identified as vulnerable.
The closing date is Monday 17 November with grants due to be allocated in December.
Contact Helen Graham for more information on helen.graham@communityactioneastsussex or call on: 07538 314616.

3VA Micro Grants Programme (funded by WDC) – Deadline is 30th November
3VA, with the support of Wealden District Council, are offering a number of micro grants to projects offering support to local people affected by the cost of living crisis. This includes groups offering Warm Welcome projects but may also include projects aiming to reduce isolation or working with people who face additional costs in their lives – for example people with disabilities.
3VA welcome applications from registered charities, not for profit groups such as CICs, unincorporated voluntary organisations, projects run by churches and parish councils.
Applications must be for a specific and defined purpose and for costs between £50 and £250. Organisations are not required to give any match funding.
The grants are intended to support projects by allowing the purchase of some “extra” which would not otherwise have been possible. For example, a piece of equipment eg an efficient urn, a toastie maker, a set of games, a projector. Or the grant might fund an additional or pilot activity. For example, bringing in an artist, offering a cookery class, running a series of budgeting workshops. Or some element of organisational development – e.g. volunteer training. We are looking for project ideas which are self-contained and which will not require ongoing funding to make them sustainable or viable.

To check out the guidance notes, please go to 3VA's webpage: Wealden District
Any questions and to obtain an application form, please contact Melanie Nock, Communities development worker for Wealden at [email protected] – who is very happy to discuss potential applications.

DEFRA - Small Capital Grants Available for Village Halls in Rural England – just opened!
Applications will be accepted from 10 November 2025 until all funds are allocated.
The Village Halls Small Grants Fund is provided by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and administered by the charity Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE).
This is the latest release of the £3 million Platinum Jubilee Village Halls Fund announced by government in May 2022 in celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee, and it is designed to help the volunteers running village halls make easy steps towards capital improvements.
Grants of between £2,000 and £5,000 are available to cover 20% of the eligible capital project costs including the VAT. All project work must be completed before the end of March 2026.
https://acre.org.uk/village-halls-small-grants-fund/

British Gas Energy Trust Accepting Applications to Help Customers Clear Energy Debt - Deadline 31st October 2025.

The British Gas Energy Trust, an independent charity funded by British Gas, was set up to support individuals and families who are struggling to pay their bills, regardless of energy provider.
The Trust currently offers two funds to British Gas customers living in England, Scotland or Wales:
• Individuals and Families Fund
• British Gas Energy Support Fund
Both are intended to tackle fuel poverty by clearing the energy debts of struggling households and respond to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
It should be noted that the Trust does not award cash payments, rather it will credit the householder’s energy account:
Individual and Families Fund will cover arrears of between:
• Pre-payment customers must owe between £50 - £1,700 in energy debt.
• Credit account customers must owe between £250 - £1,700 outstanding in debt.
British Gas Energy Support Fund will cover arrears of between £250 and £2,000.
• Pre-payment customers must owe between £50 and £2,000 in energy debt.
• Credit account customers must owe between £250 and £2,000 outstanding in debt.
https://britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/grants-available/

Wealden District Council Funding Programmes

Wealden Community Led Infrastructure Fund (CLIF) – managed by Wealden District Council
A new £2million fund is being launched by Wealden District Council, to support community buildings, green spaces, cultural infrastructure and other leisure/ sports projects across the district.
The money could be spent on adaptations to community buildings, energy efficiency measures, access improvements to outdoor spaces and installing new facilities and equipment.
For further information about the programme, please go to: https://www.wealden.gov.uk/community-and-safety/information-on-grant-funding/wealden-community-led-infrastructure-fund-clif/

Wealden Sports Infrastructure Fund 2024-2027 - Funding programme will expire on 31st March 2027.
The Sports Infrastructure Funding Programme is being launched by Wealden District Council. £600,000 will be invested over the next three years to improve outdoor sports pitches and facilities throughout the district. If you are an organisation looking to enhance or provide outdoor sports facilities and playing pitches to increase sports participation or physical exercise in Wealden, you may be able to apply for a capital sports grant.
The outdoor sports that could benefit from the funding programme include football, rugby union, tennis, cricket, lawn bowls, hockey, netball and stoolball. The amount of funding awarded will be between £5,000 and £50,000. 100% match funding is a requirement. For further information - Sports Infrastructure Fund 2024-2027 - Wealden District Council - Wealden District Council

Wealden Community Lottery - Celebrating 100 good causes raising funds through the lottery.
Are you a charity, community group, sports club, residents’ association, parish or town council or a not-for profit group interested in raising unrestricted funds on a monthly basis?
Over the last 30 months, the Wealden’s Community Lottery has over 100 good causes signed up and currently raising funds through the platform and has raised a total of £150K for good causes and the central fund.
From every £1 ticket sale, 50% of the ticket proceeds goes to support a local Wealden good cause which could be a local charity, voluntary organisation, or other not-for-profit group, with the remainder being put towards a central fund, prizes, and operating costs.
Also check out WDC’s video in celebration of our current good causes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9gDc495WuM
Local organisations can sign up for FREE to start raising funds instantly: https://www.wealdencommunitylottery.co.uk/
For more information on how the lottery can have a positive impact on your local organisation, please email [email protected] to discuss further.

WDC Councillor Ward Budgets Scheme
WDC are pleased to announce that the Councillor Ward Budgets Scheme is now open for applications. The first Phase of the Scheme will run until 31 March 2026.
This new community grant funding scheme is an initiative launched by us to give each elected councillor a budget of £10,000 to support community projects, events and organisations within their ward.
The scheme is open to non-profit community and voluntary organisations to apply for a grant of up to £5,000 in support of projects that will benefit Wealden residents and help deliver the Council’s strategic priorities.
If you have any queries about the Scheme please contact [email protected]
For further info, please go to: https://www.wealden.gov.uk/councillors-and-committees/councillor-ward-budgets-scheme/

General Funds

National Awards for All
Application deadline: Ongoing. Apply at least 12 weeks before you want to start the activities or spend any of the money.
Grants are available for charities, voluntary groups, schools and local authorities in England to carry out projects that will improve their local community.
Maximum value: £ 10,000
Objectives of Fund: National Lottery Awards for All is a small grants programme provided by the National Lottery Community Fund.
The funding is intended for projects that support communities to thrive by:
• Building strong relationships in and across communities.
• Improving the places and spaces that matter to communities.
• Helping more people to reach their potential, by supporting them at the earliest possible stage.
• Supporting people, communities and organisations that are facing increased demands and challenges as a direct result of the cost-of-living crisis.
https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes

Cash4Clubs Opens for UK Applications
Cash4Clubs is a grant programme funded by Flutter UK & Ireland, part of Flutter Entertainment, the global sports betting, gaming and entertainment provider. For this reason, groups must be delivering activities to adults (18+) within the UK or Ireland.
The fund has been increased this year to £500,000 and will provide 250 unrestricted grants of £2,000 each (€2000 in Ireland).
Not-for-profit organisations, including charities, community groups and traditional sports clubs from across the UK and Ireland are eligible to apply.
The 2025/26 programme is focused on supporting adult participation in sport. Funding is available to groups that support over 18s only.
Since Cash4Clubs aims to get vital funds to clubs that need it most, priority will be given to applications from groups working in areas of high deprivation and engaging adults from specific under-represented groups. That means those who:
• Are supporting adults living in an area of high deprivation. (Using Government Indices of Multiple Deprivation and the Pobal HP Deprivation Index).
• Increase access to sport for one or more under-represented groups, including women, people from racially diverse communities, people with disabilities and people from the LGBTQ+ community.
• Encourage adults who would not usually engage in sport to take part. Examples include activities that support physical and mental wellbeing or tackle issues such as loneliness and rural isolation.
• Address broader social issues for the local community, for example tackling crime and anti-social behaviour or supporting community cohesion.
Applications are accepted from 8 September 2025 to 8 December 2025.
https://cash-4-clubs.com/

Climate Change
High Weald National Landscape Access for All Funding - Applications may be made at any time to support the delivery of projects in the 2024/2025 financial year.
Grants are available to organisations working in the High Weald National Landscape for projects that improve and to enhance accessibility in protected landscapes, National Trails, forests, and the countryside for people of all ages, abilities and needs. It can support capital costs for purchasing or investing in physical items or assets that improve accessibility for everyone. Access for All funding - High Weald National Landscape

Community Infrastructure and Buildings
Please see below list of funding opportunities for village halls, community buildings:

Garfield Weston Foundation:
Grants are available to charitable organisations in the UK for a wide range of projects in the areas of welfare, youth, community, arts, faith, environment, education, health, and museums and heritage.
Current Status: Open for Applications
Maximum value: Discretionary
https://garfieldweston.org/

Biffa Award - Community Buildings
Description: Grants are available for not-for-profit organisations to provide and improve community buildings that are located within the vicinity of a Biffa Operation or Biffa Landfill site in order to ‘act as mechanisms’ for community involvement.
Current Status: Open for Applications
Maximum value: £ 75,000
Objectives of Fund
The Biffa Award Community Buildings theme provides grants to improve community buildings such as village halls, community centres and church halls within five miles of a significant Biffa Operation or within 10 miles of an active Biffa Landfill site with the aim of encouraging and enhancing community involvement.
https://www.biffa-award.org/community-buildings/

SUEZ Communities Trust Landfill Communities Fund - Primary Fund (England)
Description: Grants are available to non-profit making organisations in qualifying areas of England for improvements to local community facilities, historic buildings and structures, sport and recreation facilities.Current Status: Open for Applications
Maximum value: £ 50,000
Objectives of Fund: The LCF Primary Fund Programme supports capital improvement works to public amenity projects for community use
https://grantscape.org.uk/fund/suez-communities-fund/suez-communities-fund-england/

VEOLIA
Grants for constituted, not-for-profit organisations and local authorities for projects that make improvements to community facilities and the natural environment that are located near a qualifying Veolia site in England.
Max Value: £75,000
https://www.veoliatrust.org/funding/

Kind Regards,
Leisure and Wellbeing Team, Wealden District Council
Council Offices | Vicarage Lane | Hailsham | East Sussex | BN27 2AX
http://www.wealden.gov.uk

Wealden District Council maintains a database of local organisations that receive monthly updates about funding opportunities and key events in the Wealden area. If you would like to be included in this database, please email [email protected].