This year, Chaseley Trust celebrates 80 years of specialist care and community support right here on the Eastbourne seafront — a milestone well worth raising a toast to.
Chaseley's story begins just after the Second World War. In 1945, Lady Michaelis generously donated a grand seafront house — along with a substantial sum — to create a home for ex-servicemen returning with spinal injuries. The doors opened in October 1946, welcoming the first patients transferred from Stoke Mandeville Hospital. They became affectionately known as The Chaseley Boys.
The first medical consultant at Chaseley was Dr Ludwig Guttmann — a visionary neurologist who firmly believed that injured soldiers should not be defined by their disabilities, and deserved to live full and active lives. He encouraged sport as a path to rehabilitation, confidence and community. That philosophy would go on to change the world.
In 1948, Dr Guttmann founded the Stoke Mandeville Games — a sporting competition for wheelchair athletes that grew year on year, attracting competitors from across Europe and beyond. By 1960, it had evolved into what we now know as the Paralympic Games. Chaseley can rightly claim a small but proud place in that extraordinary story — several Chaseley residents went on to compete and win Paralympic medals in sports including dartchery (a game actually invented at Chaseley), javelin, table tennis, snooker and archery.
You can read more about Chaseley's fascinating history on their website at chaseley.org.uk/our-history
Eight decades on, Chaseley continues to be guided by that same founding spirit. Based in its beautiful 137-year-old seafront house, it is home to 55 long-term residents with complex neurological conditions — including brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury and degenerative conditions such as MS and MND. One of only a small number of charity-owned UK facilities specialising in neuro-disabilities, it is a genuinely rare and vital resource.
But Chaseley's reach extends well into the wider Eastbourne community. The Trust offers outpatient neurophysiotherapy for people living locally, and a fully wheelchair-accessible gym that any community member can join. And perhaps most joyfully of all — a monthly nightclub open exclusively to Eastbourne's disabled community. A real night out, on their terms.
To mark their 80th year, Chaseley have two wonderful events coming up and everyone is warmly welcome. On Friday 4th July, Chaseley will host a Summer Fete and Dog Show on the grounds — a classic family celebration with plenty of fun for all ages (four-legged friends included). Admission free.
During Airbourne, Chaseley will be serving afternoon tea across all four days in their stunning seafront gardens. There are few better spots in town to watch the skies, and it promises to be a truly special way to enjoy the show. Tickets: https://buytickets.at/thechaseleytrust/2147209
Chaseley is always looking for new volunteers. If you're curious about what goes on behind those seafront walls, they are happy to give a tour and share more about the incredible services they provide. It's a wonderful opportunity to give something back to a charity that has been quietly serving this community — and shaping its history — for 80 years. Get in touch to find out more.
