Community News Update

Our Community Learning Officer, Nina, has been collaborating with many inspiring and supportive local community members and organisations; planning and developing work for our National Lottery Heritage Fund projects – ‘Ages of Motoring’ and ‘My Generation’- connecting people with our museum collections, sharing ideas and experiences.

Plans are progressing with a pilot reminiscence project – ‘Motoring Memories and Shared Stories’. This pilot project in collaboration with Hampshire Community Heritage and the Totton and Calmore Dementia Care Hub, seeks to engage adults in our local community who are living with dementia. Specifically, the project aims to support wellbeing through personal motoring heritage connections and shared memories. Longer term we are keen to share the project with other local groups and care settings.

Alongside this project, another in the early stages of development is an oral history project with members of all ages from our local community.  And a project with the Minstead Trust which will see conversation, creation and collaboration with recent college leavers with learning disabilities.

Pending progress on this project, Nina had the joyous opportunity to attend Minstead Trust’s recent ‘Awards Showcase’ at Hanger Farm in Totton. This annual event celebrates the people who are supported and empowered by the charity who are breaking barriers and changing lives.

Staying with college students, we are also delighted to be working with Brockenhurst College on a ‘Youth Views’ film and media project, engaging Level 3 students to create new and exciting content for our You Tube and social media channels.  We’re looking forward to their insights, inspiration and interpretation!

Lastly but by no means least, our ‘Caravan for the Community’ project has literally moved on since the summer update. The caravan ventured from Hythe Shed to Holbury, where with the generous support of HD Sprays it received a new coat of exterior paint, bringing back its shine and 70s vibe.

The work has revitalised our super 1971 Sprite 400.  The caravan (aka @chatty_caravan on Instagram…do give us a follow!) will be overwintering in the museum. In the new year it will be supported once again by volunteers from Hythe Shed as they begin to work on some of the interior repairs.

Meanwhile, if you’re visiting over the festive period, make sure to visit the caravan alongside the Caravan and Motorhome Club Collection. Take a look through the windows…a small but fabulous 70s Christmas celebration is happening! Celebrating what has been and what is to come for 2025. Watch this space for more community activities and an exciting vintage Sprite rally event taking place here in the Spring.