This year has seen us building confidence in our work and building on key relationships. Through workshops, trails, murals and research, we backed communities to tell their own stories and take action. We focused on practical, low barrier art and engagement rooted in Asset Based Community Development and the COM B framework. We delivered this in our doodle galleries, walkshops and board game style tools that make participation simple and welcoming. Here are some examples of our projects: People of Paulsgrove (mural). Co designed with residents. Installation began this year. Local stories, maps and symbols became a permanent piece. Hilsea Station micro hub. We gathered ideas on uses for the small building and station area. A walking trail, doodle boards and short recordings captured needs and offers. Ideas included a warm space, a coffee window, a micro library, art displays and a cycle hub. In partnership with Communication Spotlight CIC. Seekers Social Travel Club. Now an eight week independent travel offer with SEND families and schools. Sessions cover route planning, safety, confidence and time skills. We provide an alternative activity each week for those not ready to travel. Young people help design the materials and games. Breathe (youth vaping insights). We collected anonymous views from young people. Clear themes emerged on triggers, access and support. A short brief now guides local services. Live Longer Better. We listened to older adults on activity and connection. Using COM B, we identified barriers, enablers and quick wins with partners. Local Life mapping. Asset mapping sessions surfaced connectors, places and stories. We produced simple maps that feed into local actions. Space Research x Gosport. With the University of Portsmouth team, we ran a doodle game and workshop. We agreed next activities and content for a trail. Pioneers Discovery Days. With museum partners, families explored maritime stories through creative tasks and map making. Feedback now shapes the next round. Find Your Thing. A light programme that helps people try small creative acts, name interests and take a next step. We used prompts, zines and mini challenges in schools, at events and online. People left with a tiny plan and a supporter. Festivals and pop ups. At Victorious and other events, our doodle galleries and trails gave fast, friendly ways to take part. Access support with SEND Faces and Portsmouth Creates helped many first time contributors. Partnerships deepened with councils, schools, universities and charities. Highlights included community engagement for the University of Portsmouth Space Research project in Gosport, Pioneers Discovery Days with museum partners, and a steady run of family events and festivals where you could join in, doodle and be heard. Accessibility guided delivery. We used portable formats, clear prompts and visual tools so people could contribute quickly. We offered alternative activities for those not ready to travel. We kept consent, safeguarding and GDPR at the core of every session. We kept costs tight and value high. Budgets favoured local materials, reusable assets and in kind support. Day rates covered delivery, prep and reporting, with discounts for community partners when needed. Funds went where they made the most difference, into activity with people. What’s next. We will deepen our station and mural work. We will extend the Travel Club with more routes and safe space partners. We will open more co-created trails in neighbourhoods. We will publish short, useful briefs so you can put learning to work quickly. Seekers Create CIC, Portsmouth

Stakeholder consultation, engagement and evaluation shaped this year’s service requests. Across residents, schools and colleges, universities, heritage partners, council and public health, transport, community groups, police, STEM partners, businesses and funders, the ask was clear: use creative methods to connect people with place and report impact in plain language. Communities, including SEND families, prioritised independent travel training through Social Travel Club. They also asked for more place based murals, simple trails and pop up doodle galleries with family workshops in everyday venues. Schools and colleges wanted in school creative workshops linked to curriculum aims, short take home tasks and light support for student councils. Universities asked for co produced community projects with meaningful student involvement, plus public talks and exhibitions to share findings. Museums, libraries and heritage partners requested heritage linked murals, trails and gallery pop ups that draw local stories in and attract new audiences. Council and public health teams called for place making programmes with visible outcomes, supported by evaluation that pairs lived experience with clear numbers. Transport partners focused on staged independent travel training, station based engagement and wayfinding pilots. Community and youth organisations asked for low-barrier creative sessions they can host and adopt. Police partners highlighted artist led workshops as positive outlets in parks and skate spaces. Space and STEM partners asked for accessible, place linked activities that connect science with daily life. Businesses and funders requested community facing art and engagement on site, sponsor options for murals, trails and school activity, and concise reports with legacy plans.

One director received a remuneration of £12,500

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration