About The Town Hut Project

Depression causes people to lose pleasure from daily life, can complicate other medical conditions, and can even be serious enough to lead to suicide. Suicide is the biggest killer of under 35 year olds in the UK.

My name is Jay Brewerton, I am a Rother District Councillor, Business owner, and a Mother.

Last year I attended far too many funerals of young people who had died by suicide. Learning that many had been on the waiting list for mental health services for upto two years truly shocked me. We have so many support organisations locally but due to Covid, waiting times unfortunately have lengthened.

Since thinking about this project, talking to so many different services charities and organisations over the last few months, I have realised mental health impacts both individuals and especially those working supporting individuals mental health.

I wanted to make a difference, even if in only a small way for our local residents. My mental health retreat has always been the seafront, we have many beautiful miles of it locally, we are so blessed. I realised a beach hut on the seafront is therapy in itself, whatever the weather. My kids and I love using our one we rent.

And I thought being able to offer a free office space, on the beach in Bexhill on Sea, where you can watch the sea roll in and out, to Mental Health support organisations and Independent Counsellors, and their clients, operating seven days a week, 8am-8pm, will help to drive those waiting lists down.

I proposed the idea in November to several organisations, and had an over resounding response. Everyone loved it. So we did it, and a local school ran a competition, named our Beach Hut office, The Town Hut.

I have been overwhelmed by all the support I have been offered in our amazing community, financial, emotional and physical, everywhere I have asked, I have only had a resounding "Yes, we will get involved."

A very huge thank you to all these amazing individuals who have embraced this project, Kate Poyser of The Peabody Trust, William Ackroyd and Peter Clark of the Friends of Combe Valley, Luke Smith of The Town House Bexhill, St Peter and St Pauls School, Trudy Hampton and her team at Warming up The Homeless, Stella and her team at The Bathing Station Cafe, Tony Riggs at Rother Print, Sara Lee Trust, Hastings Furniture Service and their team of volunteers. Tesco Community Champion for their generous donations, time and money, and specifically Alice Davey at Making it Happen/ Rother Voluntary Action, who put together all the donations, and created this beautiful calm Instagram proud space, and all the many others who have taken this project on.

You are all amazing people .... thank you so much ....

We are fundraising to keep this project self sustaining and operation annually every season, if you are in a position to help financially we would genuinely appreciate any donation you can afford. Even a cup of tea or coffee for those using our Townhut.

To join up it is very simple, please register your organisation at www.townhut.uk/register , once approved it will permit you to book complimentary sessions from 8am to 8pm in blocks of 4 hours. A confirmation email will be sent out, along details on how to find and access the Town Hut. The space is fully furnished, we just ask that you treat the space with Love.

Any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me at hello@townhut.uk

The Town Hut Logo has been designed by a Year 6 pupil at St Peter and St Pauls.