Crowdfunding

OUR CLUBHOUSE HAS BEEN SAVED!


March 2025 saw the reopening of our beloved Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club (NSSC) building on Marine Parade. Following a major rebuilding project over the past year, our iconic clubhouse has now reopened its doors to members and to the public. You can see from the piuctures above how the outside and inside has been transformed.


Back in November 2023, the clubhouse had to be closed and fenced off. (see picture above). Following several visits from surveyors over a number of months, the building was finally deemed to be structurally unsafe after decades of exposure to the natural elements. Built on a very limited budget funded by members’ donations back in the 1970’s, the building was originally only expected to last 25 years. It surpassed all expectations and lasted well beyond this. But after five decades, the steel structure had become very badly corroded, and our club was faced with the hugely expensive prospect of having to demolish the building, or to try to find a way to somehow save it.



In April 2024, we launched a Crowdfunder appeal to raise the additional funds needed to save the building. Over the years, the club had carefully saved £185,000 in anticipation of these works, but still needed a further £20,000 to complete the project. The cost-of-living crisis made this even more of a challenge, along with the rise in costs of building materials and high inflation rates.

Our Crowdfunder campaign was a huge success. We were overwhelmed by the support we received from members, local businesses and the community of Seaford, and we were also delighted to receive match funding grants from Sport England and the East Sussex Community Wellbeing Fund. This all made a huge difference to our campaign, and enabled us to proceed with the daunting project that faced us.

Many members from the club also stepped up and volunteered huge amounts of their time, to plan and manage the project, and to carry out the rebuild. Two particular members, Justin Attwood and Greg Anderson, were absolutely key to the rebuild, and together with other volunteers from the club they dedicated thousands of hours of their time and expertise to save the building from demolition.

We are now delighted to welcome members and the local community back to our clubhouse. Accessibility to the upper level has been greatly improved for the elderly and disabled, and the downstairs facilities have been enhanced to improve inclusivity and safeguarding. We now have separate designated areas for members and for the public, and we are hoping the building will be open 7 days a week. It has been a very busy year, but together with the help of members, local businesses and the Seaford community, we have saved a valuable community asset for the enjoyment of many over the years to come. Please visit our page on Facebook to read more about our story. We look forward to welcoming you back to our clubhouse.

https://www.facebook.com/NewhavenSeafordSailingClub/

Our Sponsors

A very big thank you to our major sponsors:


Watersports activities centre and equipment shop in Brighton, selling wetsuits, stand up paddleboards (SUPs), changing robes, accessories, gloves, wetsuit boots and swim caps. Also SUP, kayak, surf lessons and Watersports equipment hire

This programme aims to help sport and physical activity organisations to move forward with priority projects and running costs that they might still be struggling with.

The East Sussex Community Wellbeing Fund is supporting projects that are helping to create social equity, economic prosperity, cultural vitality or environmental sustainability throughout the county.

We are a global team of open source Moodle and Totara experts. We specialise in developing, designing, and supporting enterprise-grade open source solutions.

We are one of the finest independent Estate Agents in the South East of England. Trusted for three generations, Rowland Gorringe Estate Agents have been helping people move home for nearly 100 years.

Scantech Group’s comprehensive services and joined-up approach enable us to manage your projects efficiently and ensure great results, on time and on budget. We bring together a wide range of print, marketing and communications services under one roof. We have the knowledge, resources and expertise to provide top quality solutions in every area

Barracloughs are independent opticians who have been caring for eyes for over 67 years. Established in 1957 by Frank Barraclough in Norman Road, St. Leonards and later joined by Peter Stiles, we gained a reputation founded on expertise combined with a kind and helpful manner.

Brewers are the UK’s largest independent decorator’s merchant. We go out of our way to get professional decorators whatever they need to deliver a fantastic finish every time.

At J Kirby Electrical, we are your Eastbourne Electricians. You will receive outstanding service and superior quality solutions at competitive prices.

At Peter Trevor, the Jewellers in Seaford we offer a complete service, jewellery & watch repairs, valuations and we purchase old gold and silver jewellery.

At Fly Sussex we provide paragliding lessons and courses all year round and are proud to be the UK’s longest-established paragliding school, with over 30 years experience.

South East Mountain Biking was established in 2010 by British Cycling Professional MTB Coach Jamie Lynch from a passion to teach others, to date 100’s of riders both young and old now ride better and safer both on road and off road.

Naomi Jenkin Art provide incredibly lifelike pet portraits hand drawn by professional artist Naomi Jenkin. The perfect memorable gift for your loved one.

Painter of Fine English Landscapes, Seascapes and Marine Paintings. The Artist – Andrew Dandridge, is a successful landscape and marine artist with sales in excess of 4,000 original paintings, a greetings card business and a growing demand for his signed limited edition prints.

The Foiling Collective is a wing surf and wing foil school and shop based in Littlestone in Kent. We provide foil lessons, coaching, foiling equipment and wing & kite repairs.

Sound Feelings provide holistic therapy for mind, body and soul. Singing Bowls create harmonious sound and vibration that positively influence body resonance to support fundamental well-being. Maja Dethloff is the only authorised instructor in the UK, and is licensed to teach the Peter Hess® Singing Bowl Method.

Toga Creative was founded in 2022 by two of the UK’s leading player-educators, Ben Thomas and Pat Garvey, with a mission to create specialist small group learning, performance and creative opportunities for 7–16 year olds, bespoke adult short courses, and to offer high spec working spaces for organisations and industry professionals in the heart of the city of Brighton & Hove.

Plus a big thank-you to our other corporate supporters: