Firm donates thousands of pounds to charities and schools in Hastings and Rother during pandemic

From foodbanks to NHS and care charities, and good causes supporting children and the vulnerable, Hastings Direct has donated an unprecedented amount of money over the last year.

The scheme was launched to help the most vulnerable in the community and give charities the support to continue to help those in need during these challenging times.

Additionally, the Hastings Direct catering team at Conquest House has prepared and donated over 2,000 food parcels to Dom’s Food Mission charity to distribute to those in need in the Bexhill and Hastings areas.

The team says that it will continue to work with the charity during the Easter holidays to support local children.

Dom Warren, founder and CEO of Dom’s Food Mission said: “We’re thrilled to continue to receive prepared meals from the catering team at Hastings Direct every week, meaning we can continue to feed those in need in our local community, especially during these challenging times.”

The firm also made a donation to Glenleigh park Academy School in Bexhill, to help children celebrate World Book Day this year.

Mrs Pocock, Head of Glenleigh Park Academy, said: “Thanks to the generous donation from Hastings Direct, we bought each child in the school a book to celebrate World Book Day.

“Reading is a huge focus at Glenleigh Park and being able to buy a book for every child is amazing.”

Another good cause to bene fit from help was the Bexhill CommunityTown Bus which received a grant of £1,000.

The bus played a vital role in helping residents and care staff without transport to access vaccinations centres in the town.

As well as the local community, Hastings Direct supported its customers throughout the pandemic with free RAC breakdown cover for NHS and frontline healthcare workers, premium refunds and payment holidays and helping customers in vulnerable circumstances.

The company also supported its colleagues by getting 98 percent of them working from home within three weeks of the first lockdown being announced, with a vast majority continuing to work successfully from home, around the UK.

Hastings Direct also continued to invest in career development, recruited over 275 new colleagues and all roles and salaries were also protected since the start of lockdown with no reliance on the Government furloughfunding.

A colleague hardship fund was also established, helping colleagues and their families experiencing significant and acute financial hardship as a direct result of the coronavirus crisis and an extraordinary ‘thank you’ midyear bonus was paid to a large proportion of colleagues, to support them financially during the pandemic.

Toby van der Meer, Hastings Direct CEO said: “It’s been an exceptional year in which the Hastings team has achieved an incredible amount for each other, our customers and communities, despite the global pandemic.

“I’m proud of the support we have been able to give local charities as they continue the great work they do in our community.”

Hastings Direct is recruiting for Customer Representative roles. Find out more at its first ever virtual job fair, which is planned to take place on March 31 at 4pm.

For more information about the job fair and career opportunities, visit www.hastingsdirectcareers.com.

See also: Hastings Jack in the Green procession is cancelled with Festival going virtual