Architect’s illustration of the finished pier (image: HPC).

Call for pier volunteers

As the re-opening of pier draws closer – next month! – Hastings Pier Charity is looking for volunteers to help run the attraction. A recruitment day is planned for Tuesday 8 March. Celebrations to mark the re-opening are also planned. Nick Terdre reports.

Following an extensive £14.2 million rebuild, the pier is due to re-open to the public in mid April. It is expected to attract an additional 300,000 visitors a year to the town as well as becoming a popular venue for locals, says the owner, Hastings Pier Charity (HPC). Hence the call for volunteers.

“Volunteers will play a huge role and will be an integral part of the pier’s success,” said operations manager Karen Trimmings. “There will be opportunities in events, retail, visitor services, and education and heritage interpretation, giving all volunteers the chance to build on their current skillset and gain valuable experience in the tourism and entertainment sector.”

Volunteers have played a major part in the project to date “and have been vital to getting the pier to the stage it’s at now, virtually rebuilt and ready to become a new and exciting venue for locals and visitors alike,” said CEO Simon Opie. “We are very grateful to all of our volunteers for their tireless commitment and support, and are excited to be able to welcome more people to our friendly team in a range of new visitor-focused roles.”

Once open, the pier will host a wide range of events – from a summer circus and open-air cinema screenings to a funfair and live music events. The newly-built visitor’s centre will feature a digital archive exploring the pier’s heritage, which has been largely contributed to by local residents. There will also be the opportunity to buy gifts from the pier shop and local businesses in the retail kiosks, dine in the restaurant located in the one remaining original –  now restored – building, and enjoy panoramic views out to sea on the roof terrace café.

Further details about the opening celebrations will be released in the next couple of weeks and a gala celebration is also being arranged for Saturday 21 May, HPC says.

Do you fancy volunteering to work on the pier? Then attend the volunteer recruitment day next Tuesday, 8 March, at the White Rock Hotel opposite the pier between 12 noon and 3pm. Here you will have the chance to meet the team, find out more about what is involved and register your interest. Talks will be given at 12 noon, 1pm and 2pm.

More information about the volunteer roles can be found on the HPC website. If you are unable to attend the recruitment day or have any questions, contact HPC’s education and volunteer coordinator Jo McLaughlan on 01424 424555 or email her at volunteering@hpcharity.co.uk.

The architect’s illustration of the finished pier can be seen above, and the state of the pier as on Friday 4 March below.

This article was amended by Nick Terdre on Tuesday 8 March.

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