Mayor Launches Woolston Window
Tuesday 17 May 2011
Victoria Road, Woolston
The Right Worshipful Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Carol Cunio cut the ribbon and launched a new drop in and information centre in Woolston. She said what a wonderful opportunity it was for local people to have this right on their doorstep.
Giv Thornton, Community Development Officer with the Solent Area Community Involvement team has been working on this project for well over two years and was really pleased to see it open at last. If you ever wondered about the kind of work we do here at Radian, this is a great example of what goes on behind the scenes.
We started with a public consultation in June 2009 and identified a number of concerns that local people had. We talked to other agencies and organisations involved in Woolston and the eastern side of Southampton and together we raised enough money to refurbish an empty shop owned by St. Mark's Institute Trust on Victoria Road - right in the middle of the main shopping area. The Trust have a committment to supporting the local community and allowed use of the shop at a low rent just to cover any costs involved. Money came from Radian, Southampton City Council, Raglan Housing, Spectrum Western Challenge, Crest Nicholson and Citizen Choice which is an arm of Carers Together Hampshire. Other supporters included Communicare East who will be based in the shop, Southern Domestic Electrical, Woolston Community Assoication and Woolston Traders Association.
As well as the shop there is a small kitchenette and we shall have use of the hall for events and to run an Internet Cafe. At present Communicare East are in the shop Monday to Thursday from 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. Time Bank are there some days, the Police Community Safety Team intend to hold surgeries there as will local councillors. Raglan Housing, Spectrum Western Challenge and Radian will all be holding surgeries and doing outreach work from the shop. Carers Together Hampshire are currently here on a Friday morning but this may expand as more actives come on stream.
For our residents the best time to call in as a Tuesday afternoon from 1.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. when someone from Radian will be there. You can pop in at any time to pick up leaflets or to leave messages for any of the agencies and organisations involved. We are hoping to run some activities or clubs to support our residents with finding work, accessing benefits and to develop the Woolston community.
If you want more information, check out our What's On pages and as we know what days activities are running and what times they will be taking place, we will put them in. In the meantime if you want any information contact Giv Thornton at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
