Seaview was founded in 1985, with a remit ‘to meet the basic needs of the often marginalised people living in East Sussex’. The charity provides a drop-in centre in St Leonards, open five days a week, where anyone is welcome to spend the day in a warm, dry and sociable place. The atmosphere there is one of safety and refuge, while the practical issues of homelessness or sub-standard accommodation are also addressed. In a large room there are comfortable chairs to sit, a pool table, washing machine and dryer (for use at just 20p), books to read, and hot meals available for just £1. During the winter they serve more than 60 hot lunches. There are hot showers, a collection of clean clothes, shoes and socks - with shoes being in great demand, a visiting hairdresser, solicitor and dentist once a month, housing benefits officer to offer advice and a whole team of volunteer therapists offering Indian head massage, acupuncture, homeopathy, and a twice-monthly counselling service. In the New Year there will be six computers here with free internet access. It really is an invaluable service.

Working in conjunction with Seaview is St John Ambulance. “We’re a small but necessary part of what goes on at Seaview,” says nurse Roger Nuttall. Three days a week he runs a clinic here at the centre, when clients can come for treatment. Many of their patients find the red-tape of signing up with a GP too daunting, so while some free treatment and prescriptions can be given here, St John Ambulance is also able to help with the process of registering at a local surgery and accompanying clients on their first visit.

A large part of their work is a weekly foot-clinic. It might seem shocking that there are times when the podiatrist is confronted with an early case of Trench-foot, but if a person is wearing the same pair of shoes 24-7, sometimes soaked through with rain, it’s not surprising. St John Ambulance also provides first-aid courses for clients: what to do if a friend takes a drug overdose, or if someone is injured. “We provide a holistic service,” says Roger, “which includes counselling during clinic – something GPs just don’t have time for. It’s easy to underestimate the value of listening.”

Seaview Team Leader Saul tells me “A lot of people come here suffering from loneliness. When they have nowhere to go, we can give them a helping-hand up, a listening ear, warm food, and even if we can’t help in the long-term, maybe we can point them in the right direction.”

The Seaview Project is always in need of provisions for clients. If you have decent shoes, new or good socks, men’s clothing, rucksacks, sleeping bags, blankets or thermos flasks, you could help equip a person in need with a few essentials to help keep them warm and well. They’re always looking for volunteers, too.

The centre is situated at Southwater Centre, Heatherley Road, St Leonards.
T: 01424 717 981. Please call if you would like
to donate. Charity no. 1058308