Hassocks Village Market is seeking local businesses and causes to take up stalls, and aiming to help the local economy grow and develop new directions.

On the fourth Saturday of every month, apart from December when it’s the third, the centre of Hassocks is transformed into a village market, which features local businesses and also offers a showcase to local charities and good causes. The Market is based outside National Tyres, on the corner of the High Street’s junction with Dale Avenue.

The market has an array of longstanding stallholders, offering goods ranging through breads, cakes, local cheeses, fresh fish, fresh farm vegetables, pies, fresh meat and hand-made chocolate. These are well known in the village and many stalls have their regulars who look forward to the fourth Saturday just so they can replenish supplies.

And those regulars are encouraged to keep coming back not just by the quality of what’s on offer but also by a loyalty scheme, where customers can complete a card full of stamps and enter into a quarterly draw where the winners get a free hamper provided and stocked by the stallholders.

Opening at 9am and running through to 12.30pm, the market also offers local causes a great opportunity to show themselves off to villagers, by offering one pitch in every market free to local charities and causes. This could be anything local, from small fundraisers to organisations like the local hospices, and is worth doing to raise a profile.

In addition, a stall is reserved for local pursuits such as arts and crafts: for example, recently the Made in Hassocks stall was manned by a group selling knitwear, while it could just as easily be Hassocks artists offering their masterpieces. Taking this stall could not only give opportunities to sell local products but could also bring in new enthusiasts who hadn’t been aware their main interest is covered in the village.

The Village Market is managed by Catriona Hawksley, under the auspices of Hassocks Community Organisation. If you would like to take up a stall there simply email Catriona on: hassocksvillagemarket1@ gmail.com, it’ll be worth it.

The next market is on Saturday 24th August 2019.

Hassocks Community Partnership (HCP) and Hassocks Amenity Association (HAA) have merged to form Hassocks Community Organisation (HCO)

By Erika Woodhurst-Trueman, Trustee

HCO is a registered charity (No. 1183097). Its main aims are to: provide recreation and leisure activities for residents of Hassocks and the surrounding area who might otherwise struggle to access such activities, and, by providing them, also benefit the general public so as to improve social welfare; protect and improve the environment we live in and look after features of historic or public interest.

HCO supports a wide variety of ‘life-improving’ projects, such as:

Monthly Village Market - A community market bringing local produce and crafts to those who might otherwise be less able to get to them.

Green Group - Protecting and improving the physical and natural environment by creating an attractive and welcoming village.

Hassocks Community Cycle Hire - Hiring out mountain bikes, cycle servicing and promoting cycling and environmental tourism in Hassocks and the surrounding area.

Rail Group - Representing our rail users to ensure rail services meet the needs of all residents.

Star Cinema - Bringing high quality films to Hassocks residents using professional projection services at Adastra Hall and providing an opportunity to socialise, especially for those for whom getting to a town cinema is difficult.

Village Flood Mitigation - Raising funds and working with experts and volunteers to tackle problems and sustainably address local flooding issues.

May Day Event - A traditional spring fair for all the community at Adastra Park.

Village Discount Card - For many residents access to shops is difficult due to transport or mobility challenges. This initiative aims to ensure that our community continues to benefit from the many and varied shops in Hassocks by encouraging shopping locally. Being trialled now – this card is currently free to existing or new Supporters this year.

Each of these projects is run by a small team of individuals and HCO provides support in the background.

We are on hand to provide help, advice and, in some cases, finance, and insurance. The Trustees at HCO are all volunteers and are passionate about the community and protecting and improving the environment we live and work in. We are always keen to encourage ideas for new projects and those who want to lead them. If you have a burning idea for an activity that would improve life in the village, please get in touch!