New Bespoke Hall

The Sara Lee Therapy Centre in Sidley, Bexhill, was opened in autumn 2017 to provide complementary therapies, counselling and group support to local people. The Centre is highly accessible and provides an alternative location in Bexhill for those who cannot travel to The Trust’s therapy rooms at St Michael’s Hospice.
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Over the last five years, it has become clear that demand for The Sara Lee Trust’s services in the area is much higher than we can accommodate in the existing building. Now, we are pleased to announce that The Trust has received funding support of £249,000 from The National Lottery Communities Fund to develop a new bespoke hall space adjacent to the Therapy Centre.

Artist's Impression

​This new hall space will allow The Trust to expand group support and activities with a partitioned hall which will accommodate groups of up to 20 for gentle yoga, mindfulness and other group activities, as well as be available out of hours for fundraising events.

The existing Centre will also be remodelled to provide an extra therapy room; and a further counselling room and breakout space will be included in the new building.

The Therapy Centre will be closed for a portion of the year due to the building works, however all of The Trust’s therapies, counselling and group activities will still be available at other local sites, as well as in the home and online.

The new building is planned to open in March 2023. 

- Latest Updates -

Huge thanks to the League of Friends of Bexhill Hospital

7 October 2022

Huge thanks to the League of Friends of Bexhill Hospital, who have pledged an amazing £31,500 towards the fitting-out of the new Hallspace. Their generosity will help us to support many local people well into the future.

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We Have Walls!

1 October 2022

Our contractors Alleyne - Davis Carpentry & Construction have made fantastic progress over the summer with all exterior walls now in place and work on the roofing soon to commence. 

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Revised Plans

23 September 2022

The latest revised plans from PumpHouse Designs who are kindly providing their architectural expertise on a no-fee basis to support our work. 

View Revised Plan

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Visit from Counsellor Coleman

26 August 2022

Counsellor Sam Coleman of Sidley recently visited the building site for our new hall, which is starting to take shape. 

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Local MP lays the first brick

8 July 2022

Huw Merriman, MP for Bexhill and Battle Constituency, laid the first brick for the new bespoke hall.

The MP, said, “It’s really important that local residents are able to easily access support and therapies which help them with some of the most difficult and challenging health issues they may face. I’m really pleased that The Sara Lee Trust has embarked on this a project to expand their facilities and services in the centre of Sidley where they are accessible to all. It was great to see the project right at the start of the construction process and I’m looking forward to returning in early 2023 to see the finished building.”

Pump House Designs
​Invaluable Support

Pump House Designs has been a valued supporter of The Sara Lee Trust for many years, providing architectural expertise on a no-fee basis to support the building of the Therapy Centre, and refit of The Trust’s 6 shops. Now, Pump House Designs is supporting us to build our new Hall Space, which we are incredibly grateful for. 
Andrew Gerken of Pump House Designs says “We are really proud that our design work is helping to make a difference for people in Sidley, and we are looking forward to seeing the next stage come to life over the next year or so.”​

Help us to help others

The National Lottery Communities Fund grant will cover two thirds of the costs of building and furnishing the new hall space.
​If you would like to support the building of the new Hall Space, donations can be made via the form below. 

Thank You

Other ways you can support us