Find Your Thing!
Find Your Thing was a brand new project for 2024, which aimed to inspire communities across Gosport to get outdoors and move more.
We have now concluded phase one of the funded part of the project, however we are keen to build on what we have learnt and move forward with phase two to provide more opportunities to get outdoors and move more in 2025 and beyond.
The start of phase two has been the launch of our ‘Box of Things’ (a fantastic box of fun activity equipment) and badminton sets which are now available to borrow for FREE from:
Bridgemary Library, Brewers Lane, Bridgemary, Gosport
Rowner Community Trust, Nimrod Centre, Rowner, Gosport
Coming soon- locations in Forton and Town.
We will also soon be launching our ‘Book of Things‘ a creative colouring map of adventure linking the key outdoor spaces with communities. Keep an eye on our Facebook page and join our Find Your Thing Community Group so you don’t miss a thing.
We’ll also be launching our ‘Map of Things’ interactive mapping tool on this website so that you can find out more information about the outdoor places, spaces and groups available.
Finally, we aim to run more activities in parks and some additional Thingfest try out events this Summer. Keep your eyes peeled and if you’d like to get in touch or get involved please visit our Contact Us page.
PROJECT IMPACT:
We are proud to share that we engaged with 589 people in our target areas and who completed the birdbox challenge at the 12 events we attended and 4 Thingfests that we ran. Approximately 400 people attended our Thingfests and 272 completed our game cards. The favourite activities were games, bubbles and dancing. We then engaged a further 188 people in activities we ran across parks and outdoor spaces including friendly games and tai chi in the park, learn to kayak and paddleboard and a nature and activity club. We worked with 15 different organisations and partners and held two evaluation events where we engaged with almost 30 people. Read more information about the project including the legacy and our future plans here: Find Your Thing impact boards
Read below to find out more about what we did in 2024, and watch our Thingfest video.
If you attended any of our events- community engagement, Thingfests or activities, you were invited to attend either one of two Celebration and Community Gathering Events. These FREE events provided a free lunch, activities and offered participants a chance to have their say on what they loved and would like to see happen in the future.
Event 1: Saturday 18 January, 12pm-2pm, Rowner Community Trust.
Event 2: Sunday 19 January, 12pm-2pm, St Vincent’s College (sports hall).
What has the project been doing?
We have been focusing on four key communities in Gosport: Rowner, Town, Forton and Bridgemary. Between March and September, we spent time finding out which activities the people living in these communities would like to take part in, and what would encourage them to use outdoor places, spaces and parks.
Overall across all areas, the top choices have been revealed as:
1) In Nature, 2) Aqua, 3) Friendly Games
Over the summer we ran four Thingfests in parks across Gosport. The Thingfests offered a chance to try out the activities that communities had been asking for in a relaxed, fun environment suitable for all. We actively encouraged people to come along, bring a picnic and have a go.
Watch our video of what happened at our Thingfests here.
Everything was free and all events ran from 12pm-3pm on the following days and locations:
Sunday 23 June, Town (Walpole Park).
Saturday 27 July, Rowner (Rowner Rec)
Saturday 31 August, Forton (Forton Rec)
Sunday 22 September, Bridgemary (Bridgemary Park)
We also ran activity sessions based on the requested themes, across the summer, autumn and even now as we approach winter. To make sure you find out what is coming up in your area, and to sign up for available activities, please complete the sign up form below or keep an eye on this page or our social media.
What is the Find Your Thing project?
Find Your Thing is a 1 year funded project led by Love Outdoors CIC, working in partnership with Seekers Create CIC, Gosport Primary Care Network, Hampshire and IoW Integrated Care Board, Gosport Borough Council and Gosport Voluntary Action. To keep updated on the project and get involved please register your details below.
