vinvolved projects for June 2010 will include:

Thu 3rd : Parkin' Mad!
Working with the BTCV, we will be in Fleming Park in Eastleigh, clearing away invasive plants along Monks Brook Bank. Perfect for those of you with a destructive side!
Project time: 10am - 2pm
Lunch will be provided

Tues 15th : The Jumanji Jungle Clearance
We are at the Community garden in Lymington again this month to do more tree, shrub, bramble, weed and sapling clearance. This is a big job as we hope to get it cleared before the end of the summer, ready to start planting things.
Project time: 11am - 2pm
Lunch will be provided

Sun 20th : Conservation with the BTCV
We are working in West End Copse to build steps in the natural beauty spot, making it safer and more accessible to members of the public.
Due to health and safety reasons, places on this task are VERY limited, and only available to those living close to the Eastleigh Borough, sorry.
Project time: 10am - 1.30pm
Lunch will be provided

The Street Art Project is an activity that has as its aim the improvement of the environmental impact of a bridge structure on its regular users.

The bridge is a well-used pedestrian route to a local school, as well as being the major pedestrian link from the City Centre to the local football stadium which is the home of Southampton FC. This route was considered to be dreary and depressing.

The young people involved in this project volunteered their time and also undertook the Encams training, which showed how to carry out an environmental audit. They were also accredited with v50 and some with vimpact certificates.

The young people then worked with artists to design a theme for the mural which was to decorate the bridge.

The next stage was to consult with regular users of the bridge both to seek their approval of the idea and the intended design.

The actual work of painting the bridge was carried out during the summer school holiday period. The artists attended on two days a week and facilitated the work on the mural.

The group of young people involved will continue to monitor the effects of the mural on bridge users. They will also monitor the condition of the mural with regard to random tagging.

In the past, it has been found that street art projects that have involved local young people remain almost tag free.

It appears that people involved in random tagging have a healthy respect for the skills involved in the production of creative pieces of street art.

Ten Solent Youth Action volunteers travelled across Hampshire in hot cars last week to help marshall the Marwell 10k and Fun Run.

Despite the very early start, all the volunteers turned up ready and raring to go, even with an 8am pick up.

The first job of the day was to sign in, don our bright yellow plastic marshal bibs and slap on the sun cream.

Once we were inside the zoo we were allocated tasks such as handing out medals and goody bags, manning the water station, taping off the start line and most importantly giving support to the runners by cheering, clapping and wooping throughout the event!

Hundreds of children were the first on the course to complete the mile long fun run through the zoo.

Next was the turn of the adults and with nearly one thousand participants running 10k in 27 degrees we were on cheering overdrive!

Five Solent Youth Action volunteers from across Hampshire got together last week and used their gardening skills to transform the Lee on the Solent Library garden from glum to glam!

The day started nice and early outside a sunny but very windy Lee-on-the-Solent Library in the ornamental garden. Volunteers were tasked with removing dead plants to make way for the new summer flowers. In the spirit of recycling, volunteers saved the bulbs that they dug up to reuse in the garden next spring.

Once the beds were cleared, we were allowed to get a bit creative and choose where each new plant would go. After finding the best places to plant everything, we gave the flowers a good watering and swept away all the debris.

As we were working, visitors to the library commented that our efforts had really brightened up the library front and should hopefully encourage more people to appreciate the garden and even come into the library.

After all the volunteers hard work in the garden we decided to set them their next task of helping Priddy's Hard Nature Reserve in Gosport with their willow problem.

The tree had overrun the site and so armed with our loppers we set about chopping as much of it down as possible.

Whilst we were chopping and dragging the willow branches around the reserve we were lucky enough to spot some unusual animals like lizards and birds of prey that call the Reserve their home.

Do you have an old or unused mobile phone lying around?

Why not donate it to Solent Youth Action?

We are taking part in the FoneAid mobile recycling campaign and will take any mobile phone, in any condition, off your hands.

By donating your phones, FoneAid will give us money towards our charity - It pays to recycle!

On Thursday 6th May, two vinvolved volunteers returned to Darwin House to continue with gardening work that was desperately needed!

The volunteers returned to continue work for the care home of Darwin House in Portsmouth. A rose bush was cut down and weeds removed. This has made a huge difference to the small plot and the residents are always so pleased with our presence.

We were even rewarded with bacon sandwiches!

His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex officially opened The Hilt Community Centre in Hiltingbury, Chandlers Ford this week.

Local schools, community groups and volunteers congregated at the community centre to see His Royal Highness unveil the official plaque, tour the building, and meet some of the users of The Hilt's facilities.

Rather than just talking to the Prince, Solent Youth Action decided to show His Royal Highness what young people get up to in The Loft.

Volunteers from SLAMS, J's and Buddies demonstrated just how to rock out by showcasing their skills on "Guitar Hero".

Although His Royal Highness kindly refused to give the drums or guitar a go, he seemed to enjoy their rendition of "Kung Fu Fighting".

On a b-e-a-utiful sunny Sunday in April, a group of willing local volunteers and Solent Youth Action's Vinvolved project volunteers chose to forgo the beach to build paths and protect the wildlife at Itchen Valley Country Park in the Eastleigh Borough.

Armed with sun cream and saws, SYA volunteers worked hard to block unsafe trodden paths with holly, hawthorn and black thorn trees whilst BTCV volunteers built new fences and laid gravel to make the nature walks more accessible to members of the public.