Welcome
Welcome to the new website for the Eastbourne Neighbourhood Board.
We Are Eastbourne is an independent community led board set up to make sure local people have a real say in shaping the future of our town. Eastbourne is one of 75 places in Britain to be given £20 million* over the next decade from the Government’s Plan for Neighbourhood fund (PfN), to improve Eastbourne’s neighbourhoods, high streets, schools, and public spaces. Making our town a better place to live, work and play.
The Plan for Neighbourhood fund (PfN) is a UK wide Government programme, initially across 75 Towns and backed by a massive £1.5bn pound investment. This funding programme is unique as it aims to place residents, businesses and grass roots organisations actively at the heart of decision-making to ensure what gets delivered reflects the priorities of local citizens.
How we make this happen is very much a working partnership between the independent board – made up of residents, business owners, charity leaders and elected officials – the citizens of Eastbourne and the Borough Council.
Our goals are simple: To improve your quality of life, by creating vibrant places where people feel proud to live, build strong and connected communities, and give residents real power to decide what happens in their neighbourhoods. We work alongside the local council and other local organisations, but operate independently, so your voice comes first.
We’re focusing on key areas like homes, jobs and skills, health and wellbeing, transport, safety, local environmental improvements and education. Making sure everyone in Eastbourne benefits.
Right now, we’re busy listening and working with communities and different groups across the town to plan how best to use this investment. Keep an eye on this site for ways to get involved and updates on what’s coming next!
*subject to fulfilling MHC&LG annual administrative, reporting & monitoring requirements.
Here’s what’s happening next
Now
Listening to the community and planning our priorities.
November 2025
Submitting our first investment plan.
Early 2026
Launching our funding programme and inviting project ideas.
April 2026
First grants awarded, and projects start in the community.
Help your ward and town thrive — speak up today!
Take 2–3 minutes to complete our questionnaire and tell us what you think Eastbourne needs most.
Your feedback will shape the future you want to live in.
Latest News, Updates, Podcast
PODCAST
Episode 1.
Join our hosts Dan & Kathryn as they take a walk along Eastbourne’s seafront, and explain what exactly the Eastbourne Neighbourhood Board is. You’ll hear from some residents about what they would like to see the money spent on, meet Richard Garland, Chair of the Board, as he explains the long term plans for the project, and catch up with the latest news from Eastbourne MP Josh Babarinde, for the first in the series of ‘the MPs Minute’
News
Latest
Learning as we go: Thank you for supporting our first Workshop
A huge thank you to everyone who came along to the first neighbourhood workshop! It was great to see such positive energy and thoughtful ideas being shared — a real reminder of how much people care about our community. We know that some of you didn’t hear about the...
Stronger Neighbourhoods, Brighter Future
Launch of the Ward Priority Workshops and a £90k investment in capacity building and public spaces improvementsThe Eastbourne Neighbourhood Board has granted ten thousand pounds to each of the Town’s 9 Wards for capacity building and immediate public space...
Wards
Eastbourne is made up of nine distinct areas known as ‘wards’.
Devonshire, Hampden Park, Langney, Meads, Old Town, Ratton, Sovereign, St Anthony’s, and Upperton. Each has its own unique character and community, and together they represent the full diversity of our amazing town.
Our aim is not just to focus on the seafront and town centre, but to empower the residents of all nine wards so Eastbourne can thrive as a whole. The Board exists to improve the quality of life of every resident. When our communities work together and support one another, everyone benefits and the whole town grows stronger.
Here, you’ll find resources, opportunities for involvement, and stories from across all our wards, as together we shape Eastbourne’s future
St Anthony’s
Old Town
Sovereign
Upperton
Langney
Devonshire
Meads
Hampden Park
Ratton
Have Your Say
Right now, the Eastbourne Neighbourhood Board is listening and talking to a wide range of businesses, organisations, and residents across every part of the town. Your ideas and experiences are key to helping us understand where support is needed most, and where we can quickly make a positive difference.
Check back here regularly for all the latest news and updates. Soon, you’ll find details on how to apply for funding or suggest a community project, as well as stories about the projects we’re already beginning to support. We’ll keep you informed every step of the way as this new initiative grows and evolves with your input.
In the meantime, we invite you to listen to the first episode of our Podcast, which is a great introduction to what the Eastbourne Neighbourhood Board is all about and the exciting chance to help shape Eastbourne’s future together
