Demonstrators will be in Southampton on Monday (April 12) to protest against the sacking of Declan Clune, a bus driver and activist, by Bluestar bus company. The demonstration, which is set to take place from 9am to 11am at the Bargate in Southampton centre, is being organised by the RMT Union. Protesters will be socially

by Sally Churchward. Protesters will be gathering in Southampton city centre on Friday (April 2) to protest against the government’s Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. The Kill the Bill protest, which is part of nation-wide action, will be held at Guildhall Square from 5.30pm. It follows events elsewhere, including the Clapham Common vigil for

by Sally Churchward. Protesters will be taking to the streets of Southampton on Saturday (April 3) for a ‘Covid-Compliant Cavalcade’ organised by anti-austerity campaign group Southampton People’s Assembly, with a view to promote ‘fairer, kinder politics’.   The Cavalcade procession will weave through the streets of Southampton in what organisers describe as “a vibrant display

by Sally Churchward. In Common is a grass roots community news and features platform. It was set up around a year and a half ago, thanks to generous donations to pay towards the website development and hosting and people from in and around Southampton giving their time for free to write, photograph for and edit the

People who live, work or run businesses in Southampton are being asked to express their views on how it can become a Mental Health Friendly City. Southampton Mental Health Network is asking residents to complete its survey to discover what they think a Mental Health Friendly City looks like and what it would mean to

This weekend, Southampton Stand Up To Racism is marking the United Nations International Day for The Elimination of Racial Discrimination with an online event featuring music, poetry, dance and guest speakers. The event, on Saturday March 20, at 3pm, will showcase young people performing music, dance and reading poetry they have prepared especially for the

Southampton Global Justice Youth is running a free online film screening of This Changes Everything, a film by Avi Lewis and Naomi Klein. The event will be held on Saturday, March 20, and is aimed at people aged under 30. This Changes Everything presents portraits of communities on the front lines of the climate crisis,

As children return to school this week, Ministers are facing calls to make being a single parent a protected characteristic under the Equality Act after a survey shows the pandemic restrictions heightened single parents’ experience of discrimination.  In the UK today, a quarter of families are headed by a single parent. Despite this, single parents

by Sally Churchward. A keen swimmer from Hampshire found a new friend when taking a chilly dip at Lepe in the New Forest yesterday, when he was joined by a seal. Chris Balcombe has taken to wild swimming on a daily basis since the first lockdown but this is the first time he has found

Could your artwork help your favourite good cause? Adults and children are being invited to create a poster representing what charity means to them, which will them be auctioned to raise money charity or community interest company (CIC). The artwork could be about charity in general or the organisation they want to support from those

A black British journalist is tackling her local media’s negative coverage of black people head-on by giving black people in her city the skills to tell their own stories. Broadcast journalist turned social entrepreneur, Veronica Gordon (pictured), set up Our Version Media CIC after becoming increasingly frustrated with, and seeing the harm that, negative and

Volunteers at a Southampton charity recently donated their time to help vulnerable members of the community get their Covid19 vaccinations. The individuals from Communicare’s Communiteer programme provided support to people in waiting areas and getting them to and from their cars during immunisation sessions across six centres. Annie Clewlow, Communicare Manager, explained: “We are so proud

A beautiful new, full-colour illustrated book showcasing artwork, embroidery and stories by people in Southampton about Southampton is being launched today. Because Every Journey is a Story: Art and Writing from the Port of Southampton, will launch on Zoom this evening (December 10, 2020) from 6.30 – 7.30pm.  Funded by Arts Council England, and supported

The Disability Union has launched, in order to build power and a national voice for disabled people powerful enough to influence policy; whilst also helping people with their day-to-day disability struggles.  The date of this launch is significant as last month marked the 25th anniversary the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995. The Disability Union aims to help kick-start and

by Joe Dukes, Chairperson – Southampton People’s Assembly.   Volunteers working at Southampton City Mission know all too well that Christmas is a time for giving. Foodbank distribution centres are providing unprecedented amounts of food parcels across the city – and demand continues to rise over the festive period. Southampton Unite Community and People’s Assembly

By Charlie Hislop and Sarah Phoenix. ‘Where are we going?’ is the most gorgeous children’s book by Southampton’s self-esteem champion Vie Portland!  It’s all about imagination and adventure, which all of us love… It just happens that the main character is disabled. This book is so important because rather than focusing on the disability itself

by Melodie Walter. Campaigners left empty plates outside the office of Romsey and Southampton North MP, Caroline Nokes, after she voted against free school meals. A number of protestors from the local Labour party members, teachers and residents left 50 empty plates outside of her office, in the Market Place, posting ten of them through

Residents of St Denys, Southampton, are being asked to join in a spooktacular pumpkin carving event for Halloween. Kids, young and old are being encouraged to put up spooky artwork and pictures in front windows as well as carve pumpkins in time for Halloween. Anyone can join in by posting pictures of their achievements on

This year’s Chrysalis  annual conference will be online ‘live’ on November 27. The Hampshire charity supports transgender and questioning people, and their families and close friends. This year’s event will have speakers, discussion groups and opportunities to meet people who can inspire, educate and inform you about ‘Why Gender Identity Matters in 2020’ (Authenticity is

by Sally Churchward. Activists gathered in Southampton Guildhall Square yesterday (October 24) to protest against police brutality in Nigeria. The demonstration was called to protest against a police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS. The event was held in solidarity with protests that have been held against the unit over the past fortnight in Lagos,

You never know where a friendly chat might lead to. After a conversation over a garden wall between a local resident Kat Smith and the treasurer of Christchurch Freemantle, Will Green, the church agreed to donate £5000 towards play equipment for Freemantle Lake Park in Southampton. Friends of Freemantle lake Park have been working with

New research conducted by Citizens Advice Southampton has revealed the almost impossible task of finding a home for those on low incomes.  Of 135 rental properties advertised on a popular website, just 14 said that they would accept tenants on benefits – highlighting the difficulties facing many prospective tenants in the Southampton and surrounding area.

by Sally Churchward. Local people took to the streets yesterday (October 13, 2020) in an anti racism protest. The rally was held in response to what police believe was a racially motivated attack in which a man was stabbed and a woman was injured, last week. The incident took place last night Thursday, when a

Southampton and South West Hampshire Trades Union Council is holding a rally next month in response to the coronavirus pandemic. A spokesperson said: “The event will be a demonstration and rally for workers and students to say loudly and clearly that we will not be forced to pay for the costs of the coronavirus pandemic.

A Southampton charity working towards eradicating loneliness and isolation has launched a new telephone service with Social Care in Action (SCiA) and Southampton University to help support the city’s vulnerable. Communicare recently officially unveiled its ‘Hello Southampton’ telephone support service, which offers regular scheduled phone calls up to five times a week to isolated or

Southampton based arts charity ‘a space’ arts has been awarded £216,000 as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure they have a sustainable future, the Culture Secretary has announced today. ‘a space’ arts is one of 1,385 cultural and creative

by Roger Townsend. On the wet and dreary morning of 7 October 1945 the P&O liner SS Corfu docked in Southampton, the first of an armada of ships to bring almost 40,000 former Far East Prisoners of War back to the Southampton and Liverpool, after years of privation and suffering in South East Asia during

Face of Britain, curated by Nahem Shoa, is an exhibition of portraits by outstanding artists who have painted British individuals from the 17th century to the present day. At its heart is a selection of Shoa’s own striking oil paintings of black and mixed race sitters. Running at Southampton City Art Gallery from tomorrow (September

Southampton’s independent radical bookshop, October Books, is hosting local author Craig Jordan-Baker to talk about his darkly comedic debut novel The Naucillans. You can read a review of the novel here. The event will take place on Thursday, September 24, at 7pm, via Zoom. Register via Eventbrite to attend. Welcome to the world of The Nacullians,

The Survival Fundraising Appeal of Play to the Crowd – the arts and education charity which runs Theatre Royal Winchester, Hat Fair and Playmakers – has received a boost from of Winchester Musicals and Operatic Society (WMOS) with a £5,000 contribution to the campaign. Suzanne Hall, Chair of WMOS said: “Winchester Musical Opera Society have

Southampton City Council has tonight (10/9/20) announced that the city’s Boat Shows, due to open tomorrow, have been cancelled. Both shows were due to run from tomorrow until September 20. Southampton City Council issued the following statement: “The Ocean Village Boat Show 2020 and Boats 2020 presented by Southampton International Boat Show Limited, due to

by Geoff Wall. Stick It In Your Ear (SIIYE) has just launched an online archive of  local music originally recorded on originally recorded on reel to reel tapes and published on cassette in the 1980s. Southampton-based SIIYE started life in the 1980s as a magazine, rather like a catalogue, that described and gave details about

Citizens Advice Southampton has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help people across the city at risk of eviction and homelessness because of the coronavirus crisis. The past few months have been particularly challenging for people who are renting their homes. Giving up work to care for a loved one, being furloughed, a reduction in hours

Theatre Royal Winchester has announced that, due to the continuing effects of the Covid pandemic, their pantomime, Aladdin, scheduled to take place this Christmas, has been postponed until 2021. Deryck Newland, Chief Executive of Play to the Crowd, the charity that runs Theatre Royal Winchester, said ‘We’ve had to take this heartbreaking decision to postpone

by Charlie Hislop. It’s Southampton Pride weekend!  It’s August! It’s Bank Holiday! It’s Southampton Pride – but not as we know it. With no outdoor events allowed this summer, Southampton Pride Digital is an afternoon on Facebook live, followed by a not-so-traditional after party, and a full-day Voice FM Pride takeover.   The on-line Pride Digital

The Survival Fundraising Appeal of Play to the Crowd – the arts and education charity which runs Theatre Royal Winchester, Hat Fair and Playmakers – this week received a boost from of Winchester Rotary as they contributed £2,000 to the campaign. Deryck Newland, Chief Executive, said: “We’re delighted to receive this generous contribution to our

Southampton City Art Gallery is currently present a retrospective by the acclaimed British painter John Hitchens. Running until October 3, Aspects of Landscape, features more than fifty works spanning almost six decades and charts the artist’s journey from descriptive to a unique form of abstract painting.  Hitchens first came to public prominence in the 1960s

New research conducted by Citizens Advice Southampton has revealed the almost impossible task of finding a home for those on low incomes.  Of 135 rental properties advertised on a popular website, just 14 said that they would accept tenants on benefits – highlighting the difficulties facing many prospective tenants in the Southampton and surrounding area. 

by Ben Biddell. ‘Together: An anthology from the COVID-19 pandemic’, is a true collection of the many voices of humanity during the hard time that has been and still is in 2020, curated by Dutch researcher Dr Pauldy Otermans and social educationist Dev Aditya from London. The 444-page book, which  is currently available in  in

by Charlie Hislop. Covid-19 Lockdown has affected everyone differently. Some people thrived, some struggled, some worked and some people wrote about it. And someone decided to collect some of that into a book. Lock Write Down is a poetry anthology curated by Robyn Hislop, produced as a way of raising money for charity – Black

by Frances Churchward. Sarah Horsfall is a Southampton mother with two children who attend a local primary school. She has recently produced a series of books, The Owlbert Series, published by Tricorn Books written in rhyme, for primary aged children. Sarah explains why she decided to write the books: “There have been several times during my time

by Sally Churchward. THE owners of a small Hampshire business are suffering a torrent of abusive calls, messages and reviews after irate social media users have mistaken them for a company in San Francisco. A video of the British CEO of San Francisco tech company Solid8, Michael Lofthouse, has gone viral on social media this

by Sally Churchward. The arts and education charity, Play to the Crowd which runs Theatre Royal Winchester, Hat Fair and Playmakers, has today announced that it needs to raise £225,000 by the end of September in order to survive beyond the Covid crisis.  The news comes the day after it was announced that Nuffield Southampton

A protest against transphobia will be held on Saturday 18th July from 12:00pm – 15:00pm in Guildhall Square, Southampton. This is part of a day of national action against transphobia taking part across the UK.  On 14th June 2020, the Sunday Times reported that, despite 70% of responses to the recent consultation on the reform

Southampton’s radical bookshop October Books, has launched a crowdfunder like no other – this promises a 100% return to all who contribute. The folks at October Books are encouraging the public to buy October Books vouchers via a crowdfunding campaign in order to keep the tills ringing until they can open their doors once more.

Led by arts organisation, ’a space’ arts, Homemade Mango Chutney is a virtual exhibition of new work by graduate artists in Southampton.  Previously titled Mango Chutney, the exhibition was originally intended to showcase the work of ten artists who currently occupy studio spaces at the Alfred Arcade and the Hidden Wardrobe on Old Northam Road.

Southampton Woodcraft Folk has a group for young people aged six to nine (plus siblings) which normally meets one Saturday a month at the Hawthorns Centre on Southampton Common. The group began in October 2019 and is small but growing, and warmly welcomes new members.  The meetings at the Hawthorns have been suspended during the

Southampton events company Murderedformoney has gone online. They are offering online seven day comedy crime challenges to be solved from the comfort of your sofa. Their next event, Death by Diamond, launches on Tuesday, May 5, offering seven days of comedy chaos and murderous mayhem. Smoothgreens golf course diamond club are hosting a charity fundraising

Southampton’s Turner Sims Concert Hall invites you to an online concert tomorrow – Friday, April 24, at 8pm. Harvey Brough, Clara Sanabras and the University of Southampton Voices have postponed their live event to Friday 4 December – BUT in place of their original date, they present a special online event to enjoy from the

EDITED: New deadline, updated to state 1st June 2020. by Chris Richards. May Day! May Day! Juliette Jones: Editorial Services are compiling a book of stories written by our children and the closing date is approaching fast! Juliette Jones is a wonderful woman with a name reminiscent of a Marvel superhero! Working from home while

by Sally Churchward. Almost £60,000 has been donated to the Southampton Coronavirus Response Fund since it was launched on Friday, but more funds are urgently needed to help fight the deadly disease. Researchers from the university are currently trialling an inhaled drug that could prevent worsening of COVID19 in those most at risk. Engineers and medical

A gothic masterpiece of tempestuous passions and dark secrets comes to Theatre Royal Winchester from Thursday 19 to Saturday 21 March. Adapted from Charlotte Bronte’s masterpiece, Jane Eyre tells the thrilling story of an orphan girl and her journey from a childhood of loneliness and cruelty to a life at Thornfield Hall and an unlikely

With International Women’s Day taking place  on Sunday, March 8, a number of special events are taking place across Southampton. These include a Phenomenal Women event being held on Sunday at the Studio Theatre at NST Southampton. The event will feature a number of inspirational speakers: Sylvia Mac, a child burn survivor, campaigner and founder

YOUNG people from Southampton can attend a group to help them develop a positive attitude and approach to life thanks to new funding. Weston Church Youth Project (WCYP) has been given £5,000 from The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation (HIWCF) and will receive funds from The Co-op Community Fund for its Resilient Kids

by Cartherine Collins. Back by popular demand following huge success on Broadway and the West End, the Tony Award winning musical Million Dollar Quartet comes to Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, from 10 – 14 March 2020.  This worldwide smash hit musical – inspired by the famous recording session that brought together rock ‘n’ roll icons Elvis

by Chris Richards. UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO THE CURRENT CONCERNS OVER COVID-19, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. If you have applied for tickets, you will receive an email directly. There is no Planet B Sat, 14 March 2020. 19:00 – 20:30. University of Southampton, Highfield Campus Ask the experts! An interactive panel will discuss the human

by Sally Churchward. Now in its 15th year, Southampton Seed Swap takes place on Sunday, March 1. But what’s it all about? Do you have to have seeds to trade, and what is the purpose of it? Southampton Seed Swap is a community seed swapping, gardening and environmental living event, aimed at helping to build

Friends of St. James’ Park has been awarded a five year grant from the National Lottery Funding. The Shirley-based charity has been recognised for its community enrichment. Friends of St. James’ Park is celebrating after being awarded the grant from the National Lottery Community Fund to continue their successful work with the community and their

Southampton based arts organisation ‘a space’ arts have just announced the appointment of Marilyn Scott as the new Chair of the board of Trustees. Marilyn has taken up the role alongside her work as Director of The Lightbox in Woking, which won the Art Fund Museum of the Year Award 2008.  Marilyn has just been

Theatre Royal Winchester is looking forward to the roaring 20s again, with a host of intimate jazz nights, which will see talented singers and musicians performing in the venue’s stylish new Cafe Bar. The first event, which takes place on Thursday, 16 January, will see Jon Shenoy and Sam Dunn, a clarinet and guitar duo,

by Sally Churchward. A new year means a whole new season of fantastic performances at The Art House in Above Bar, Southampton. One of the upcoming gigs that staff and volunteers at the community venue are most excited about is Lunatraktors, coming to the intimate venue on February 8, with support from Foot / Long.

by Sally Churchward A collection for a Southampton food bank saw generous shoppers donate more than 18 crates of food to help those in need last week. One couple even donated an entire trolley full of food to the collection for Southampton City Mission, which was held on December 23. Meanwhile, cash donations from shoppers

by Sally Churchward. The BBC has confirmed that the televised leaders’ debate between Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson, which was scheduled to take place in Southampton tomorrow (December 6) has been moved to an undisclosed location. In a statement, they said: “The programme will no longer be held in Southampton because of operational reasons. We

You can sponsor a light on the Tree of Light in memory of a loved one or special cause this Christmas time. Good neighbours charity Communicare in Southampton, which aims to eradicate loneliness, are delighted that the Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Peter Baillie, will be switching on their Tree of Light lights this year. All

by Sally Churchward. A video of Southampton binman Simon Cotton has gone viral after it was shared on social media by Jeremy Corbyn and Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell earlier today (December 2). Within an hour of being shared by the Labour Party leader, views of the video had shot up to more than 300,000. The

by Chris Richards. The Christmas season is not complete without a pantomime so why not choose Dick Whittington at The Theatre Royal Winchester? Dick Whittington comes from the same team behind last year’s Beauty and the Beast – writer and director James Barry and composer Simon Slater – who were this year nominated for the

Breaking News… In-Common has received information that the leader’s debate scheduled to take place in Southampton on December 6 will no longer be happening. Instead the event, set to be televised live by the BBC, which would have seen Boris Johnson go head-to-head with Jeremy Corbyn in Southampton, where Labour Party Candidate Alan Whitehead is

by Catherine Collins. God’s House Tower – the historic gateway into Southampton’s Old Town – has announced a packed calendar of events for its grand opening season. Travel back through 700 years of medieval history, from its creation as a gun tower and strategic point of defence to its days as one of England’s most

by Catherine Collins. More than 30 years since The Commitments first burst from the pages of Roddy Doyle’s best-selling novel, the world’s hardest working and most explosive soul band are set for the Mayflower Theatre stage from 8 to 13 February 2021.  The Commitments tells the story of Jimmy Rabbitte, a young working-class music fan,

by Catherine Collins. Matthew Bourne’s double Olivier award-winning, smash hit production of The Red Shoes returns to Mayflower Theatre from 24 to 28 March, 2020. A sell-out before its world premiere season opened in 2016, this triumphant adaptation of the legendary film returns , having won two Olivier Awards and dazzled audiences across the UK and

Children and teenagers are being given the opportunity to sing on Theatre Royal Winchester’s beautiful stage, during the half term holiday later this month. On Wednesday 30 October, youngsters aged eight to 18 can take part in a workshop called Sing It! In a Day. Held at the theatre, they will spend the day rehearsing

by Catherine Collins. Following last year’s tremendously successful LeftFest event, Southampton will again celebrate left, progressive and environmental activism in the Southampton area – and this year it promises to be the best yet. LeftFest takes place between midday and 5pm on Saturday 19 October at the 1865 Club in Brunswick Square and will include

by Sally Churchward. Monday, October 14, will see the launch of a new pop up vegan cafe in Portswood, Southampton Veg Out community vegan cafe will open its doors at 10am in the community room at October Books on Portswood’s high street. As well as spreading a vegan and environmental message, the cafe will provide

by Sally Churchward. The leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, will be addressing a rally of Labour Party members at an undisclosed venue in Southampton tomorrow (October 9). The leader of the opposition will be speaking to members about Labour’s plans to help build Britain for the many and end Boris Johnson’s ‘destructive’ Conservative

by Catherine Collins. Band of Gold was the ground-breaking crime drama that captivated over 15 million viewers each week when it aired on ITV and it’s coming to the Mayflower Theatre stage from 4-8 February 2020.Following the huge, sell-out success of Fat Friends the Musical, Kay Mellor makes a triumphant return in the world premiere stage production of her

Playmakers – Play to the Crowd’s creative learning and community engagement team – are inviting teachers to an education forum to give them the chance to discuss how the charity can support local schools’ arts activities. The event – which will take place at Theatre Royal Winchester on Thursday 10 October, from 5.30pm – 7pm

To help people navigate around the many activities across the city and to support the endeavours of organisations and groups of all sizes, Southampton City Council and Southampton Clinical Commissioning Group has funded a new service – SO:Linked. The service will be delivered by community navigators and community development workers through an integrated partnership led

National running group Cool Runnings UK is inviting people in Southampton to join a social run in celebration of World Mental Health Day on Thursday, October 10. One of the aims of the run is to highlight how exercise can help relieve stress and lift out mental health. There is no need to book onto

Celebrated as ‘the gateway to the world,’ Southampton used to be known as somewhere you pass through, thanks to its famous cruise industry and commercial dockyards. But times have changed, and now it is a destination in its own right, thanks, in part, to its thriving leisure scene. There has been a lot of redevelopment

by Catherine Collins. The musical mystery comedy is heading for Southampton. Jason Manford will head to Mayflower Theatre in the hilarious whodunit, Curtains, from 7 to 11 April, 2020. From the Tony Award-winning creators of Cabaret and Chicago, the production tells the story of Jessica Cranshaw, star of the new Broadway-bound musical Robbin Hood, who has been

by Chris Richards. The last weekend in September is becoming known as the weekend of Macmillan Coffee Mornings and Adjustamatic Beds on Winchester Road went the extra mile On Friday, 27th September. Local representatives of Communicare Southampton, Carers in Southampton, Friends of St James Park, Action on Hearing Loss and Marek from Physio Soton came

by Sally Churchward. Fanny, vulva, vagina, front bottom, frou-frou, chuff…the list goes on. There are a lot of words to describe women’s genitals but, says Emma Rees, one which actually describes the whole of the area is widely considered the most offensive word in the English language: c**t. Emma will be taking part in a

by Catherine Collins. From the producers of Horrible Histories and Gangsta Granny comes the world premiere of Tom Gates Live on Stage in a hilarious adventure that sends Tom’s world spinning!  And Southampton fans can catch up with him from October 18 – 20 2019 at Mayflower Theatre. Based on the best-selling books by Liz Pichon, this

Black History Month launched in Southampton today with a series of events set to take place,  celebrating the influence and contributions made by the black community over the years. The city formally recognised Black History Month 15 years ago – through the work of founding members, Don John and Jayanti Shah. It is now established

by Catherine Collins. The sensational West End hit, Motown the Musical, is bringing its toe-tapping sounds to the stage at Mayflower Theatre next week. It’s the thrilling tale of Berry Gordy – the man who broke barriers and fought against the odds to create something more than just a record label. Discover the story behind

Getting to health appointments can cause a lot of stress. Hospitals and GP surgeries have limited parking, while bus services can be mixed or non-existent. At the same time, Southampton City Council is keen to see more people walk, cycle and use other healthy modes of active travel. By adopting non-polluting forms of transport, exposure

by Catherine Collins and Lewis MacLean. Southampton is set to come alive with the biggest and best free music event returning to the city this weekend. Music in the City is back with more than 170 acts performing in 22 unique venues, including the historic God’s House Tower, King John’s Palace and Lankester Vault –

St. James’ Park, SO15 5SD.  Sunday 22 September 10.30am-3pm For the 5th year in a row, St. James’ Park is holding its annual dog show and family fun day. Taking place at the park in Shirley, Southampton on Sunday, September 22, the event will see a record number of stalls, in addition to a whole

The next exhibition to come to John Hansard Gallery, part of the University of Southampton,will be Waves and Forms, a keynote exhibition by Haroon Mirza. Running from October 19 to January 11, the exhibition highlights the artist’s ongoing exploration of waveforms: how they are perceived, the emotional and physical responses they create and the various