Links to other sections:
INTRODUCTION << HOMES << WATER << STUFF << TRAVEL << FOOD << COMMUNITY
A city isn’t just a place – it is people too! How can we build a Southampton where everyone feels part of a community and where everyone has support to meet their needs?
SO:Linked (online SOLID directory helps people connect with services, groups and events whether as a volunteer or to receive support) https://solinked.org.uk/
Monty’s Community Hub (a place to meet up, get active, make new friends, learn new skills, improve job prospects, get help and advice, and have fun!) 59 Montague Avenue, Sholing SO19 0QB https://montys.org.uk/
Denys Friendlies (free dementia-friendly drop-in Social morning with games, activities and refreshments) 10am–12noon, St Denys Church
October Books Community Hub (More than just a bookshop: local, radical and eco-friendly!) 189 Portswood Road https://octoberbooks.org/
Community Centres: find your local community centre in Southampton at https://www.southampton.gov.uk/people-places/community-places-rights/
We Make Southampton (social enterprise that makes films about and for Southampton) https://wemakesouthampton.co.uk/
Southampton Tenants Union (support and advice for all tenants, in the SO postcode area) https://www.southamptontenantsunion.org.uk/
Board in the City (games cafe with an interest in helping the local community, food and drink locally sourced where possible) 38-40 Onslow Road https://www.boardinthecity.co.uk/
SoCAN organises seasonal gatherings open to everyone interested in environmental and social issues https://www.sotoncan.org.uk/calendar/
People Planet Pint (learn about sustainability and meet like-minded people over a free drink or pastry) 3rd Tues, Belgium And Blues, 184 Above Bar Street https://small99.co.uk/people-planet-pint-meetup/ (search ‘Southampton’)
Bio-hub (local groups, uni staff & students interested in nature and biodiversity) https://www.southampton.ac.uk/per/university/pe-bio-hub.page
In-Common (local community, arts, culture & society news) https://www.in-common.co.uk/
Bitterne Park Info (community news website for Bitterne Park and nearby areas) https://bitternepark.info/
Local community radio
Awaaz 99.8 FM, DAB & online https://www.awaazfm.co.uk/
Fiesta FM 95 FM, DAB & online https://fiestafm.co.uk/
Unity 101 https://unity101.org/
Voice FM 103.9 FM & online https://www.voicefmradio.co.uk/
VOLUNTEERING
Southampton Voluntary Services (SVS) (umbrella body for local voluntary and community groups, offers information on volunteering in the city) https://southamptonvs.org.uk/ Kingsland Square
Many groups listed in this guide welcome volunteers, including our Repair Cafe and other projects. See also SO:Linked https://solinked.org.uk/
The Hawthorns Urban Wildlife Centre (information about our city’s biodiversity; also has a cafe) Southampton Common https://www.southampton.gov.uk/people-places/parks-open-spaces/hawthorns/
The Conservation Volunteers (help reclaim green places, creating healthier and happier communities for everyone) https://www.tcv.org.uk/
Friends of the Earth (local action on issues such as climate change, biodiversity pollution) email foesoto[at]gmail[dot]com
Greenpeace (peaceful direct action on environmental issues) https://greenwire.greenpeace.org.uk/s/group/0F94H000000CHgCSAW/greenpeace-southampton?language=en_US
Southampton Real Nappy Network (Local action, support and socials on nappies and wider green parenting advice) https://www.facebook.com/groups/SouthamptonRealNappyNetwork
Hampshire Conservation Volunteers (HCV) (maintenance work on paths, fences, ponds, trees on sites that support wildlife) https://hcv.org.uk/
Sholing Valleys Study Centre (Environmental Study Centre set up to preserve Millers Pond and educate the public about this unique place and its wildlife) Station Rd, Sholing https://sholingvalleyslnr.wixsite.com/sholing
LOCAL “FRIENDS OF” GROUPS
Friends of Daisy Dip https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofDaisyDip
Friends of Freemantle Lake Park https://www.facebook.com/groups/155030348372433/
Friends of Peartree Green https://www.friendsofpeartreegreen.org.uk/
Friends of Portswood Rec https://friendsofportswoodrec.uk/index.php
Friends of Riverside Park https://friendsofriversidepark.org.uk/
Friends of Shirley Park Pond https://www.facebook.com/Friendsofshirleypondpark
Friends of St James Park https://fosjp.org.uk/
Friends of Town Quay Park https://friendsoftownquaypark.org.uk/
Friends of Weston Shore https://westonshore.wordpress.com/
Living Lordswood https://livinglordswood.org.uk/
Outer Avenue Residents Association https://outeravenueresidents.co.uk/
Southampton Commons and Parks Protection Society https://scapps.org.uk/
Southampton Old Cemetery https://fosoc.org/
Woolston Millennium Garden http://woolstonmillenniumgarden.org/
See also https://www.southampton.gov.uk/search/?query=friends+of+groups
MONEY
Money spent in big chain stores often leaves the city. How can we spend and invest our money to support thriving local shops and help protect the planet?
SOUTHAMPTON POUND
Not a ‘local currency’ like the Bristol pound https://www.bristolpoundlegacy.info/or Lewes Pound https://www.thelewespound.org/ but a term used by Southampton City Council for actions to promote social value and community wealth building – the idea that money generated by Southampton’s economy should be kept within our local economy. The imminent loss of much-loved shops like Portswood Hardware shows how important it is to support local retailers. See also SoCAN’s film about Doughnut Economics and Community Wealth Building, Local is the new Global https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=1nDKm1sLycGp7ySy&v=SOs5T-R2p8k&feature=youtu.be
Positive Money Southampton (part of national campaign to redesign our economic system for social justice and a liveable planet) https://positivemoney.org/uk/local-groups-uk/
Make my money matter (national campaign to spread the message that we can use our money to reduce climate change) https://makemymoneymatter.co.uk/
LOCAL INVESTMENTS
Opportunities to invest in local ethical businesses sometimes come up – in recent years these have included West Solent Solar Coop and October Books as well as the ill-fated Rice-Up deli. (Remember that the value of investments can go down as well as up!) When we hear of local opportunities we publicise them in our newsletter, which you can sign up for at https://transitionsouthampton.org/
ETHICAL BANK ACCOUNTS
Wessex Community Bank (exclusively serves local people across Hampshire, reinvests profits into the local community) https://wessexcb.org/
Triodos Bank (only lends to businesses that promote positive change; totally transparent about who it lends to; current accounts) https://wessexcb.org/
Co-operative Bank (now back in mutual hands and still one of the most ethical banks; current accounts) https://www.co-operativebank.co.uk/ There is a customer union dedicated to ensuring it keeps its ethical principles https://customerunion.coop/
Ecology Building Society (ethical savings, offers discounted mortgages for green measures/ eco builds) https://www.ecology.co.uk/ 01535 650 770
THE POWER OF IMAGINATION
The interlinked crises of climate change, resource over-use and biodiversity loss are urgent and we are past the point where small individual actions are enough. We can all play our part by setting an example in our own lifestyle, using our vote wisely and helping create a climate where politicians feel empowered to take the hard decisions needed. Real action on these issues needn’t make us poorer – it could instead help us to live happier, healthier greener lives where everyone on the planet has enough and we don’t take more from the earth than it can give.
The Green Stories Project aims to create a body of work that entertains and informs about green solutions, inspires green behaviour and raises awareness of the necessary transformations towards a sustainable economy. It includes free writing competitions, publications and partnerships with writers and policymakers www.greenstories.org.uk
Trees for Life
Annual free event for families to plant a tree to celebrate babies born in Southampton, leaving a lasting legacy for everyone to enjoy and helping to make the city greener www.southampton.gov.uk/ people- places/parks-open-spaces/trees/trees-for-life/
THAT FINAL JOURNEY…
If you’ve tried to live sustainably you may want to carry on your principles after your life is over. For advice on green funerals contact the Natural Death Centre In The Hill House, Watley Lane, Twyford, Winchester SO21 1QX naturaldeath.org.uk
NATURAL BURIAL GROUNDS
None in Southampton, but (fairly) nearby we have:
South Downs Natural Burial Site Droxford Road, East Meon GU32 1HR sustainability-centre.org
Hinton Park Woodland Burial Ground Wyndham Road, Walkford, Hinton, Christchurch, BH23 7EJ
www.hintonparkwoodlandburial.co.uk
To leave your body to medical science contact Centre for Learning Anatomical Sciences, Mailpoint 845, South Academic Block, Southampton General Hospital SO16 6YD southampton.ac.uk/clas/bequeathals/
Dead Good Days Southampton …for anyone in our city who might, one day, die https://www.deadgooddays.com/
Links to other sections:
INTRODUCTION << HOMES << WATER << STUFF << TRAVEL << FOOD << COMMUNITY