Don't Miss CB Music Event @ Pilands!

CB has been working with the Pilands Wood Community Centre Volunteers as well as local talent from the area to put on a live music evening, the first of it's kind at the centre.

The evening will feature the vocal talents of local singer Candice Casey, as well as work on the decks from local DJ MC Dare (aka Ronny Wood).

The event finishes with a professional Rock Band
(inc. ex-session players), performing a mixture of orginals and covers.

The evening includes Free Food and Drink and a subsidised Creche (so there's no excuses!!)

for only £4.50 that's a very cheap evening out.

more info from CB at 02380 915414 or from

Pilands Wood on 02380 405119

Dice Group Update

Dice group had another enjoyable session with community artist, Rose Perry, leading a workshop using sand. Dice is proving very successful with over 20 members coming each week.
We are currently working with co-ordinator Adam Williams, to find funding to continue the project beyond the pilot period. We have a strong case as there are very few day services for learning disabled residents in Eastleigh and a project of this kind which is more independant and member driven, is proving very popular among service users.

CB working with New Milton Gateway Club

We had a great night at New Milton Gateway Club, meeting many new Faces. Stuart has been supporting David (pictured), to take on a volunteer helper role at the club, and be proactive in running new activities. We are also planning to involve the club in the Sway Carnival in June.

Bargate Mums' Arts Group - taking glamorous photos

Bargate Mums' Arts Group - learning to take portraits in a 'studio setting'

Today, the ladies in Bargate put themselves and their hats under the spotlight - quite literally. Artist and Photographer Vicki created a 'studio set', suggested by the women in previous sessions.



They then took it in turns to photograph themselves and their children in front of the studio backdrop and with its studio lamps. They took a mix of digital photos and 35mm film. For some, taking 30 photos to get 10 good ones on film was too much to take in, and they were much more comfortable using the digital - at least you just press delete!






Using these skills, the women then took portraits of the show girl hats they had created in the session before. And look at the glam results!

Next session they'll be learning how to manipulate these digital images on the computer in Photoshop - Katy our Photographer will be leading the session, showing people how to crop, resize, cut out redeye, brighten and darken photos, and change them into black and white. It will basically be the chance to have a play with the potential digital photography has to offer.

So come along on Friday April 11th, 10.00 -12.00 noon at Orchard Lane Church

Mini Millbrook Group - in the Rema Hut

Mini Millbrook Group in the glamorous Rema Hut at Newlands School

The group celebrated an excellent report from the NVQ Assessor's visit last week, by having nibbles and treats at their Thursday session. And it was all very comfortable, as the ladies sat back and enjoyed the new, plush furnishings of the brand new Rema Hut community room in Newlands School.

Kerry has been working flat out with the school to get the hut ship shape and ready for community groups to use - and the Mini Millbrook ladies were very impressed.

Plans are now in place for the ladies to run a carnival workshop at an upcoming festival event in April. The group has therefore booked themselves 3 days of training with a carnival artist, to make sure they have all the expertise they need to run a safe and successful outdoor event for the community.

Bargate Mums' Arts Group - Making show girl hats

Mums' Arts group in Bargate gets hands on - making show girl hats!

Southampton Scrapstore has some exciting new suppliers providing jewellery and hair accessories that make excellent decorations for hats. To make the most of this, the Mums in Bargate decided to make themselves some show girl hats to wear in their photos.

There were plenty of ribbon, flowers, feathers, beads and netting to choose from - and with a needle and thread, a glue gun and a bit of imagination, the ladies got stuck in and made some beautiful creations.

Next session on Friday March 14th, we'll be picking up our cameras again to take portraits of ourselves in the glamorous show girl hats we've made. Vicki our Photographer will be onhand to give top tips, and we'll be fixing our glamorous poses in our very own studio setting.

So come and get glamorous!

Park Rangers meet Artists!

Last night, despite the weather, we had a really excellent meeting where the Park Rangers met local Artists. The CB project has been helping the Central Parks Ranger, Gary Oscroft, to set up a Friends of The Parks Group to encourage community involvement. CB facilitated the meeting at the Art House (a Community Arts gallery in the centre of Southampton), which was attended by Park Rangers and Gardeners, as well as, local Artists, Poets and Musicians.

It was agreed that the Rangers would support Art events in the Parks that would enhance the use of green space by local people. Gary gave the example of the Friends of St. James Park Group (Shirley) which now has 400 members!. the Art House were also keen to host some future events as outreach work for the gallery, possibly under the banner 'the Out House'.

Everyone went away having enjoyed a very open and exciting brainstorm, with numerous creative ideas coming to the fore, and with new contacts made on both sides. the CB project was very pleased to have bought these two groups of people together and who knows what might result! could be very exciting....