Hanover Action for Sustainable Living (HASL) was started in December 2009. They are a community collective who find ways to live more sustainably and take action on climate change. The group promote local food, show films, hold swap events to exchange goods and as part of the 10:10 campaign, held an exhibition showing people how to use less energy.

The group said: “The whole thing about climate change is that it can feel overwhelming. But when people come together and take action, you feel that you can change things. Our group is the kind that any community can set up and do their bit”.

The Hanover Action for Sustainable Living (HASL) was started in December 2009 following a film showing at the Hanover Community Centre attended by 140 people. The idea behind the group is to be community based with a collective interest in finding ways to live more sustainably, do something about climate change and involve people living in the area. It was decided that the Hanover Community Centre was a perfect base for them as it is so central and well known to people living in Hanover.

In January 2010 a number of project sub-groups were set up. They looked into the promotion of local food and the importance of buying local, improving relationships within the community, spreading awareness of and involvement in the 10:10 campaign , arranging film showings on 'green' issues, and publicity for the group. February 2010 saw the launch of the Hanover Action for Sustainable Living (HASL) with its own constitution and action groups, and the first funding application was sent to Harvest for a grant to organise local food events.

During the past months regular events have taken place in the Hanover Community Centre, including film showings, 'swap store', 'bring and share a meal', 10:10:10 in partnership with 10:10 campaign, and an exhibition of 10 displays of things people can do to reduce their carbon footprint with music from Moving Sounds. A leaflet on local food outlets was also distributed around Hanover.

In November 2010, the group celebrated their 1^st anniversary with a social event where guest Caroline Lucas MEP gave a talk about the importance of community groups and how they can influence mainstream politics.

Throughout the year HASL has published regular articles, featured in the Hanover Directory, promoting events and ideas around carbon reduction and sustainable lifestyles. There are now 128 people receiving mailings from the group.

An update from HASL...

HASL have started a community Vegetable Education Garden (VEG) in the Hanover community centre as part of a project to make the centre more green. They run friendly weekly workdays where erveryone is welcome to come along and grow community and vegetables together.

There are now also four herb beds in Queens Park wild area. The herbs are arranged in to four different beds according to the specific health systems that they can treat: gynaecological/urological, skin, respiritory and digestive. Workshops are run to teach people how to make simple herbal remedies with these local plants.

To find out more or to get involved click here

To find a community group in your area promoting greener living, go to theBrighton & Hove Green Pages

HASL members Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith

HASL members Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith

HASL members at work on the herbal garden for health Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith

HASL members Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith

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